Away Day Guide – Manchester United
Kicking off the new season away at Old Trafford – it’s bringing back some excellent (of course heartbreaking) memories of our Premiership return in 2001. No King Louis, but also no Van Nistelrooy, so there is hope! Here’s our guide.
GETTING TO OLD TRAFFORD
BY CAR
Exit the M6 at Junction 19 and take the A556 towards Altrincham. From the junction with the M56, follow the A56 towards Altrincham. Continue along the A56 for six miles, when Sir Matt Busby Way will appear on your left. The stadium is approximately half a mile down Sir Matt Busby Way on your left, but the road itself will probably be closed to traffic on a matchday.
There are a number of small private car parks utilised by home fans on matchdays and we wouldn’t advise risking street parking with civil enforcement officers regularly in operation. Away fans can park at the nearby Old Trafford cricket ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket Club, for £10 but are urged to arrive at least two hours before kick-off as exiting the car park following the final whistle will incur a significant delay afterwards. Alternatively, you can park at the at the Salford Quays Lowry Outlet Mall (M50 3AH), a ten-minute walk from Old Trafford, for £4 for four hours.
BY TRAIN
Most Fulham fans will arrive via train to Manchester Piccadilly. Supporters should be advised that the train service from London to Manchester with Avanti West Coast remains intermittent and could be subject to late cancellations. You can reach Old Trafford by bus, train or the Metro Link tram service. Old Trafford station is both wheelchair accessible and a five minute walk from the ground, whilst the Imperial Wharf Museum and Wharfside are the closest stops on the newly-opened Trafford Park Line. Supporters are advised to plan their journey by consulting the Transport for Greater Manchester Journey Planner.
AWAY PUBS
Most pubs in the vicinity of Old Trafford will not admit away supporters, even without identifiable colours. The closest options will be in Salford Quays, around a mile from Old Trafford, where the swift-serving Lime Bar (Unit G1, The Quays, Salford M50 3AG) regularly welcomes away supporters and The Matchstick Man (Capital Quay, Salford M50 3WL), has hosted Fulham fans in recent years. Old Trafford cricket ground (Talbot Road, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M16 0PX), the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club, also runs an outdoor bar on football matchdays, where away fans are welcome.
Fulham fans could also opt to drink at one of the stops on the Metrolink and then make their journey to Old Trafford. Away fan friendly venues in nearby Altrincham include excellent real ale pubs such as the Jack In the Box (20-24 Market Street, Altrincham, WA14 1PF), Pi (18 Shaw’s Rd, Altrincham, WA14 1QU) and Costello’s (18 Goose Green, Altrincham, WA14 1DW). There are, of course, any number of popular venues in Manchester City Centre.
It would be remiss of us not to mention the most popular haunt in Manchester for Fulham fans. Duffy’s Bar (398 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 8AD) in Chorlton is run by a Fulham fan Peter, and has a George Best shirt from his Fulham days as well as plenty of other football and sporting memorabilia on the walls. The beer is very reasonably priced and all Fulham fans are assured of a very warm welcome. Saturday night is usually live music night if you fancy making an evening of it – or are staying over.
