Manchester United FC - Stretford End: stretty end

Roberto Mancini is determined to go down in history as the man who ended Manchester City's 35-year trophy drought. Last year Mancini famously declared his intention to rip down the taunting clock that hangs from the Stretford End at Old Trafford, ticking round each season that ends without silverware on the blue half of Manchester.

Money may help Roberto Mancini win a trophy, but money will not make Manchester City as famous as Manchester United. Only footballing history, constant success, and longevity will achieve the impossible goal. Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson worked long and hard developing their great football teams, sometimes under immense pressure on and off the playing field. That is why Manchester United and the Stretty End is world famous. So, that clock hanging from the Stretford End will continue to tick for many years to come!

The world famous Stretford End in 1990.

The famous blue 'Wonderfuel Gas' banner which covered the top of the Stetford End for many years.

In the corner of the Stretford End was the Old Stretford Paddock terrace, offering room for thousands of standing United fans. Notice the beautiful old red fences all around the ground. Old Trafford became the first stadium to erect perimeter fencing in the late 1970's to combat crowd disturbances.

Loyal Stretford End fans at Wembley with their flags and banners. (Manchester United's Jubilee FA Cup victory 1977).

Manchester United team playing in front of the Stretford End

Manchester United 1970's team playing in front of the Old Stretford End. Fans would hang their flags and banners over the Stetford End Tunnel.

A view of the Stretford End from the player's home and away team seats.

The Old Stretford End and Old Stretford Paddock from the outside.

Policemen watching over the famous stand. There were no big red fences before 1976, and fans regularly invaded the pitch to celebrate a United win.

Standing in a packed Stretford End. All together as one! (If you look carefully you will notice the 3000 extra seats at the very top of the Stretford End that were installed for the 1966 World Cup.)

Take a Tour of Old Trafford

Sir Alex Ferguson Quotes

"We have people coming here to admire the scenery and enjoy their crisps."

"When an Italian tells me its pasta on the plate I check under the sauce to make sure. They are the inventors of the smokescreen."

"Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you've got in your own field. It's a fact. Right? And it never really works out that way."

"Go and make your mistakes in the first team. You'll learn more in a month in the first team than you will in two years in the reserves."

"You can't applaud a referee."

Sir Matt Busby Quotes

"It was a very simple team talk. All I used to say was 'Whenever possible, give the ball to George'"

"Nobby Stiles a dirty player? No, he's never hurt anyone. Mind you, he's frightened a few!"

"He (George Best) was able to use either foot - sometimes he seemed to have six."

"I never wanted Manchester United to be second to anybody. Only the best would be good enough."

“In all modesty, my summing up of 1955-6 and 1956-7 must be that no club in the country could live with Manchester United.”

"He (Bobby Charlton) was idolized from his twentieth year on."

"If you don't put them in, you can't know what you've got."

"Germany was one thing and facing Old Trafford another. When I approached the ground and moved over the bridge along which our supporters had squeezed fifty abreast in there tens of thousands to shout for us I could scarcely bear to look. I new the ghosts of the babes would still be there, and there they are still, and they will always be there as long as those who saw them still cross the bridge, young, gay, red ghosts on the green grass of Old Trafford."

"Over the years people called several players the new Duncan Edwards. First Dave Mackay, then Bryan Robson. But none of them came close. He was the only player that made me feel inferior."

"I do not worry about conceding goals because I know my forwards will double it at the other end."

"Manchester is my Heaven."

Manchester United FC - Stretford End

Stretty End Clock

Pictures Of The Old Stretford End