There’s only five days to go before people take to their seats for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League Manchester derby, and it’s fair to say that this is a pretty special one.
It’s true that derby matches are always known for having that extra competitive edge.
No matter the city, no matter the competition, and no matter what’s at stake, if you ask any player or fan, a derby is undoubtedly one of the biggest matches in the football events calendar, and even though the want to win games is what drives clubs all season long, there’s just something about a derby victory that’s a little bit sweeter than the others.
In a city that’s as football-obsessed as Manchester, a derby win is the chance to claim some bragging rights, the chance to feel a sense of pride in the shirt you’re wearing, and crucially, the chance to paint the city red or blue.
The history of the women’s Manchester derby may only date back a couple of years, but there’s been no shortage of memorable moments – and this one looks set to be the same.
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After COVID-19 restrictions forced stadiums across the world to fall silent from March 2020, this upcoming derby is the first to be held at Manchester City Women’s home ground of the Academy Stadium where fans will be allowed inside – but when is the derby, what time does it kick-off, how do you grab tickets, and what are the players saying ahead of the match?
We’ve rounded up everything you need to know before the big day.
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When is it, and what time is kick-off?
There’s really not long to wait now, as the Barclays FA Women’s Super League Manchester derby is happening on Sunday 13 February 2022, and it’ll be the ninth time the two heavy-hitting teams have faced each other.
The match will be kicking-off just after midday at 12:30pm GMT.
Where is it taking place?
This derby will be taking place at City’s home ground of the Academy Stadium.
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The stadium is a part of the wider, state-of-the-art, 80-acre training facility known as the Etihad Campus in East Manchester.
Situated only 400 metres from the City of Manchester – or ‘the Etihad’ – Stadium, the Academy Stadium is linked to the mother ground via a 190-metre bridge across the intersection of Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way.
The derby will be taking place at the City’s home ground of the Academy Stadium / Credit: Charlotte Tattersall / Manchester City FC
How do you get there?
The Academy Stadium is easily-accessible, and there’s plenty of ways to get there.
Car
Supporters can park in the Blue Car Park (M11 3DU) free of charge for Women’s games.
Accessible parking is available onsite at the Academy Stadium in the North car park – which needs to be pre-booked in advance by contacting [email protected] before each game – and a resident parking scheme is in place in the streets around, which is strictly enforced and identified through on-street signage.
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There are also a number of satellite car parks around the stadium, although Manchester City does not endorse these.
Walking
According to the official Manchester City website, it will take approximately 30-minutes to walk to the Academy Stadium from the city centre, and there is a safe, well lit, and signposted walking route available from Manchester Piccadilly Station if you follow the ‘City Link’ signs.
Buses and Cycling
If you’re looking to get there by bus, then there are bus stops adjacent to the stadium, and the stop is the Asda superstore opposite the North Gate entrance.
There’s also a number of bike racks around the stadium too.
Metrolink and Metrolink Park & Ride
Metrolink runs from the city centre, including Manchester Piccadilly station to the Velopark stop and on towards Ashton, and the journey time from Piccadilly Station takes 12-minutes.
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Journeys to the stadium are really easy from the many Park & Ride sites on the Metrolink network, and parking is free for Metrolink passengers, with the journey time to the stadium is approximately 25-minutes.
There’s dedicated fanzones, the chance to ‘meet the Moonies’, and more / Credit: Tom Flathers / Manchester City FC
What are the players saying?
Ahead of the Manchester derby, The Manc got the chance to sit down with Manchester City Women forward Ellen White to chat about all things City, her time at the club so far, the best advice she’s ever been given, life outside the world of football, and most importantly, how she’s feeling about the biggest game of the season.
“I think one of the most exciting things for us is to be playing at home and having our fans there to support us back in the stadium,” White explains.
“As much as we want everyone to stay safe and we understand why we couldn’t have fans in the stadium, for us, they really give us an extra edge and they give us energy, so it’s really special to have them back and to feel closer to them.”
She continued: “A derby day’s always feisty, it’s always competitive, and I think both sets of fans and staff understand what’s at stake because of the rivalry – but for us, we want Manchester to be blue, so that’s our priority.”
“We’re not underestimating this derby, so it’ll be a really exciting one for us.”
This is the first derby at the Academy Stadium where fans will be allowed inside / Credit: Tom Flathers / Manchester City FC
Where can you get tickets, and how much do they cost?
Tickets for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League Manchester Derby on Sunday 13 February 2022 are available from £8 for adults and from £3 for Under 16’s, and you can also grab Hospitality Tickets – which include a padded seat located on the halfway line, a three-course meal, and access to the cash bar – from £72 too.
Manchester City said they are selling fast and are expecting a packed crowd for the game.
You can grab tickets from the Manchester City website here.
What can you expect on matchday?
Fans heading to the Academy Stadium on the day of the derby can expect everything from dedicated fanzones, and the chance to ‘meet the Moonies’ – City’s much-loved mascots, Moonchester and Moonbeam – as well as DJs playing lots of live music, and free hot / soft drinks included in ticket prices.
There’s so much for fans to get involved with at the Academy Stadium on matchday / Credit: Tom Flathers / Manchester City FC
Is it being shown on TV?
Yes it is.
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As the 2021-22 season is the first WSL campaign to have games shown on network free-to-air TV as part of a landmark broadcast deal, fans who aren’t able to make it to the game on Sunday will be able to watch it live on the BBC.
The match will be shown on both BBC Two and on BBC iPlayer.
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Featured Image – Manchester City FC
Manchester
Manchester announces ‘poignant’ plans to mark Remembrance Sunday with free city centre service
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to honour the ‘service and sacrifice’ of members of the armed forces community during this year’s annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
With Remembrance Day only a couple weeks away now, just as it does each year, Manchester City Council has now revealed how the city will mark this important occasion, and has confirmed all the details of the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade.
Proceedings will start on John Dalton Street at 10:30am, and run right through until midday – with the service itself being held at 11am.
Veterans, military personnel and cadets, all led by Greater Manchester Police‘s Band, will march from John Dalton Street to the Cenotaph St. Peter’s Square.
This will be followed by a short return march to Mount Street across St Peter’s Square.
The service will begin at the Cenotaph at 10:58am, and a two-minute silence will be observed at 11am in tribute to those who have lost their lives in conflict. The start and conclusion of the silence will be marked by the firing of a maroon.
/ Credit: Manchester City Council
Following the service, veterans, military personnel and cadets will take part in a short return march across St Peter’s Square to Mount Street.
As the Council marks another year of its partnership with the Royal British Legion, further the Remembrance Sunday events will take place across the city following the service – including arts and crafts sessions, memorial services, and performances.
“Remembrance Sunday is one of the most important occasions in Manchester’s civic calendar,” declared Councillor Shaukat Ali, who it the Lord Mayor of Manchester.
“It is a time for us to come together as a city to remember and honour the courage, sacrifice and service of those from our diverse communities who have given so much in times of conflict. I want to encourage residents, families and visitors to join us at the Cenotaph as we pay our respects and ensure that the contribution of past and present generations is never forgotten.”
Manchester’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations will take place on Sunday 8 November from 10:30am onwards.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
Manchester
Manic Street Preachers and Suede at Co-op Live, Manchester – stage times, setlists, and more
Daisy Jackson
Beloved British bands Manic Street Preachers and Suede are back on the road with another co-headline UK tour, including a massive Manchester date.
The two seasoned UK rock artists have teamed up for a huge run of live shows, which will bring them to the Co-op Live this week.
Both will be playing tracks from their newest releases – as well as a fair few of the hits.
The Welsh rock icons and the long-standing 1990s favourites from the London scene have more than 75 years of experience between them, with both outfits forming in the mid to late 80s.
This co-headline arena tour marks the biggest collaboration to date for both legendary bands and offers a unique opportunity to experience their renowned live performances.
If you’re heading to see Manic Street Preachers and Suede in Manchester, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know.
Manic Street Preachers and Suede UK tour dates
Wednesday 28 October – Glasgow OVO Hydro
Friday 30 October – Leeds First Direct Bank Arena
Saturday 31 October – Manchester Co-op Live
Tuesday 3 November – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Wednesday 4 November – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Friday 6 November – London The O2
Saturday 7 November – Birmingham Utilita Arena
Wednesday 11 November – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Thursday 12 November – Bournemouth International Centre
Tickets for Manic Street Preachers and Suede in Manchester
If you’ve not yet snapped up tickets to see Manic Street Preachers and Suede, worry not – there are still some on sale even this close to the show.
Floor standing tickets are available for £70.90 each, or seat are priced at £70.90 or £87.95 each.
You can see the latest availability and grab tickets HERE.
Stage times for Manic Street Preachers and Suede
Suede and Manic Street Preachers are on a joint tour and coming to Manchester. Credit: Publicity picture
Co-op Live hasn’t yet confirmed stage times for the show, other than the general admission doors will open at 6pm.
The bands are actually taking it in turns as to who plays first and who closes out the show – but apparently for Manchester it will be Suede first, Manic Street Preachers second.
Setlist for Suede
Disintegrate
Dancing With the Europeans
Trash
Animal Nitrate
We Are the Pigs
Personality Disorder
The 2 of Us
My City
Filmstar
Antidepressants
June Rain
She Still Leads Me On
Trance State
The Wild Ones
So Young
Metal Mickey
Beautiful Ones
Setlist for Manic Street Preachers
Motorcycle Emptiness
Ocean Spray
Faster
Decline & Fall
You Stole the Sun From My Heart
Everything Must Go
Walk Me to the Bridge
No Surface All Feeling
Autumnsong
A Design for Life
From Despair to Where
The Everlasting
Slash ‘n’ Burn
Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
La tristesse durera (Scream to a Sigh)
Die in the Summertime
You Love Us
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Emily Sergeant -
8th February 2022 
