The Busby Era

The Busby Era is a wonderful DVD that chronicles the period which made Manchester United a household name. It includes previously unseen footage, including amateur film in colour from the 1950s and scenes from the Wembley dressing room following the 1968 European Cup triumph. Watch all the great teams that Sir Matt Busby built and admire those amazing games and goals that took Manchester United to the top of world football. In my opinion, this is essential viewing for all true Manchester United supporters, especially those not old enough to remember the period which made the club great.

The Beautiful New Stretford End

Close up picture of the Old Stretford End

Police watch a section of the crowd in the old Stretford End, (1969).

Stretty End Clock

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!

Beautiful Getty Image of the Stretford End

In this rare beautiful black and white photograph, the real beauty of the Stretford End comes alive. It shows a small, close up section of the crowd standing on the 13th December 1980 at the Old Trafford match, when Manchester United played Stoke City.
Look at another fantastic Stretford End 'Getty' picture here!

The Green & Gold campaign

The Green & Gold campaign symbolises Manchester United supporters desire to rid the club of the Glazer family. Instead of the traditional red, fans can don the colours of Newton Heath, from whom United was formed. Under the umbrella of the Manchester United Supporters and Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, Green & Gold is a clear statement to the Glazer family, we don't want you, or your £700 million debt that threatens the very existence of our club.

Support Green and Gold here

Stretford End Sympathy?

This picture shows how Old Trafford looked like from above in 1984. Still not completely covered, the old Stretford End stands alone in the left of the image (west). The west side of the ground for many fans, will always be the legendary Stretford End. Crammed behind the goal was a heaving mass of almost 20,000 standing United fans who were amongst the loudest in Britain.

As Alex Ferguson prepares to pass Sir Matt Busby as the club's longest-serving manager, many people do not remember that he has survived chants of "Fergie out" from the Stretford End, taken himself to the brink of retirement and been re-energised by the youth within his squad, yet even Ferguson admits his looming milestone is not one he expected to pass.

'I could never have imagined that I would surpass Sir Matt's longevity. When I came here, my main thought was to win the league and that was my driving force. I couldn't visualise that I would end up with 24 years behind me, going into my 25th year. When I came to United, I had Sir Matt at the club and Bobby Charlton also. They were a comforting part for me. I knew they could understand what I was looking to achieve.'

However, the Stretford End congregation still has little sympathy for their prodigal son Wayne Rooney.

Stretford End Protest

Witness to the growth in the green and gold anti-Glazer protest scarves in and around Old Trafford, as Manchester United fans turn against the red and white with an old-fashioned green and gold protest against the American Glazer family. The Stretford End sing anti-Glazer protest songs and unfurl banners at Old Trafford.

This video was filmed by a United fan in the Stretford End.

Fans remembering the Old Stretford End

A few loyal United fans share their memories about the Old Stretford End at Old Trafford, and what went wrong.

"Yes I remember the 70s at OT, Docs red army. We used to have a fantastic time in the stretford end and sometimes the scoreboard end in the absence of any visiting fans, singing to each other. I went to every Saturday game home and away. I would never think about going now it's far to sterile. I also remember Jimmy Hill saying we will have no fans in the 2nd div and over 60,000 turned up to the first game against Sunderland. Oh they were the days."

"I hope one day the powers at Old Trafford realise that unless they create some standing terrace in the Stretford and East stand we will never create the atmosphere at home games that the club really deserves. The fans deserve it."

"You can be outside nowadays and not hear a thing; I grew up in Whalley Range and on big games you could hear the crowd at our house (and from Maine Rd. - this isn't just a Utd problem). The atmosphere grew from 1pm on SATURDAYS!! Now it's all manufactured - screaming tannoys, too many women, too many foreigners (love Utd being globally popular but THEY don't add to the atmosphere), too high an ave age, too expensive and ALL SEATED! I followed MUFC not MU plc."

"I was a wee Stretford Ender back in the late 70's and all that magic at OT has now gone forever, you start shouting a song out now and so called utd fans look at you as tho you are fookin stupid. Corparate shite and marketing has totaly f**ked our vibe for the club at OT its only European games when ya do get to hear that magic roar....its very sad indeed!!"

Manchester United Stretford End Jigsaw

Check out all the great Manchester United Jigsaws

Why not rebuild the famous old Stretford End at Old Trafford and relive those wonderful memories everyday. This unique 300 piece Old Stretford End Jigsaw Puzzle, makes the stunning picture shown below, which was taken in 1988, prior to the introduction of the all-seater stadium.

View of the Old Stretford End, from the Old Scoreboard End

Those Were The Days - Singing on the Old Stretford End

What a beautiful picture this is. Taken on the 26th April 1980, it shows thousands of Manchester United fans on the Stretford End at Old Trafford with their flags proudly held high during United's home game against Coventry City.

Manchester United - A short history of the Stretford End

Manchester United Fan Video - A short history of the Stretford End
The Stretford End, once the spiritual home of Manchester United supporters everywhere, is now part of the Glazers' corporate strategy for the global domination of the brand. They need to find $100 million a year just to pay the interest charges on the loans they took out to buy the club. How they are they are going to pay off the debt itself remains a mystery.

This is what one Manchester United fan said:
"Yes I remember the 70's at Old Trafford, 'Docs Red Army'. We used to have a fantastic time in the Stretford End and sometimes the Scoreboard End in the absence of any visiting fans. We would all sing to each other across the pitch. I went to every saturday - game home and away. I would never think about going now, it's far to sterile. I also remember Jimmy Hill saying we will have no fans in the 2nd division and over 60,000 turned up to the first game against Sunderland. Oh they were the days!"

Wayne Rooney - Stretford End King?

Will Wayne Rooney become a Stretford End King? Only Denis Law and Eric Cantona hold that special title, chosen by the United faithful.

Wayne Rooney is perhaps the best example of an English player who has been outstanding for his club and disappointing for his country. In the 2009-10 season at Manchester United, Rooney scored 34 goals in 44 appearances and was chosen as both the Players Player of the Year and the Football Writers Association Player of the Year. No other England player is as renowned internationally. But in South Africa 2010 he barely made any impression, and has now played eight games in a row in an England shirt without scoring a goal. In his excellent book, Rooney's Gold , John Sweeney documents all the major events, on and off the pitch, from Rooney's short life so far: his humble origins in the Liverpool suburb of Croxteth, otherwise famous for its gang violence, where his father, Big Wayne, an ex-boxer, earned £120 a week as a labourer and little Wayne dreamt of playing for Everton; the goal he scored for Everton against Arsenal five days before his 17th birthday; the £25 million transfer to Manchester United when he was 18; the alliances with prostitutes, including, allegedly, though it was never proven, a grandmother; the red card for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho's testicles during England's defeat to Portugal in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals; the multimillion-pound wedding in Italy to childhood sweetheart Coleen McLoughlin, with the pictures in OK!; the twisted ankle in the Champions League quarter final against Bayern Munich this year, which may or may not have had something to do with his lacklustre World Cup performance. Plus, much more juicy gossip about England's most famous footballer.

Who is the Stretford End King!
Wayne Rooney, Denis Law, or Eric Cantona?

Old Trafford Floodlights

How things have changed! This picture shows the front of Old Trafford as it looked in 1984. You can clearly see three of the original floodlights, that were used for evening matches.

Impressive New Stretford End...??

Thousands of glorious red seats spell out the words 'STRETFORD END', and make for a spectacular sight at Old Trafford. The Red Devils will always live on, but what has happened to the passion that was the Old Stretford End? Where is that roar that welcomed the teams onto the pitch, and celebrated every United goal, where is the dancing and cheering, where are the mass of red, white, and black scarves swaying in the Manchester rain?

Famous Stretford End Songs

He is a nice little selection of famous old Stretford End songs. So, sit back and sing your heart out. (Sorry for any bad language!)

Bertie Mee said to Matt Busby
Bertie Mee said to Matt Busby,
"Have you heard of the North Bank, Highbury?",
"No" said Matt, "You cockney twat",
"But I've heard of the Stretford Enders!"

Stretford Enders
Stretford Enders, we are, we are... zigga zagga zigga zagga oi oi oi..!!
Stretford Enders, we are, we are... zigga zagga zigga zagga oi oi oi..!!

Best Behaved Supporters
We're the best behaved supporters in the land,
We're the best behaved supporters in the land,
We're the best behaved supporters, best behaved supporters,
Best behaved supporters in the land (when we win!)

We're a right bunch of bastards when we lose,
We're a right bunch of bastards when we lose,
We're a right bunch of bastards, right bunch of bastards,
Right bunch of bastards when we lose.

Those Were The Days
Those were the days my friend,
We thought they would never end,
We'd sing and dance,
Forever and a day.

We'll live the life we chose,
We'll fight and never lose
'Cos were the Stret,
We are the Stretford End.

We are the Stretford End,
We are the Stretford End,
We are the Stret,
We are the Stretford End....

Manchester United Anti Glazer Song

The Stretford Ender's have released their own special Anti Glazer song. The record is called Green and Gold after the scarves that have become an emblem of the protest against the club's American owners.



What do you think of it? Will it catch on in the Stretford End?

Stretford End Fans New Row over Glazer Protests

Police and stewards in the aisles in the Stretford End

A safety row has erupted at Manchester United over claims that the club ordered stewards to block Old Trafford exit aisles to stop anti-Glazer protests. Rebel supporters in the Stretford End have been unveiling banners in the final minutes of matches as they protest against the club's American owners. In response, stewards and police blocked exit aisles before the end of Saturday's game. Reds fans complained that the move puts them at risk and a complaint has been made to Trafford council, which issues the ground's safety licence. A spokesman for fans' group IMUSA said the club was 'playing a dangerous game' and breaching safety regulations. But the club insisted that the action protects fans safety and has the backing of the police.

Welcome to Manchester

A warm welcome from the Stretford Ender's. The new Manchester United banner is proudly waved by the faithful fans of the Stretford End. 'Welcome To Manchester' - winners of 18 Championships, 3 European Cups, 11 FA Cups.