Manchester United, their chief architects and the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force have finally revealed their first impressions of what the new stadium and surrounding area could look like.
After naming Foster + Partners as the lead designers on the new ‘Wembley of the North’ last week and teasing further details surrounding their Old Trafford masterplan, supports now have their first glimpse at what the task force is hoping can be achieved with the soon-to-be-redeveloped stadium and region.
In addition to creating over 92,000 jobs in the immediate area and across nearby boroughs, one of the biggest claims they have made is that the regeneration scheme will inject an “extra £7.3 billion in GVA [gross value added] for the UK economy each year.”
Presuming these projections are to be believed, Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham might be right when he says this could be “the biggest regeneration scheme ever seen in this country.”
Old Trafford update 🏟️
An economic report has explored the benefits of regenerating our stadium and surrounding area ⤵️#MUFC
Man United shared the lengthy reel featuring concept art and quotes from figures partnering with the Old Trafford Regeneration scheme, including Mayor Burnham, club legend and local entrepreneur Gary Neville and task force’s chair, Lord Sebastian Coe, among others.
ADVERTISEMENT
Coe, a retired Olympic track and field athlete himself turned sports administrator and former politician, echoed Burnham’s sentiment, adding: “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something special.”
Lord Foster (of Foster + Partners), who was born just down the road in Reddish, Stockport, also expressed his excitement about being part of the project and building upon “the foundations of Manchester’s industrial heritage.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The club stated that the overall scheme “will benefit the local community, attract new residents, increase job provision, and make it a vibrant destination for visitors from Manchester, the UK and all around the world”, and the Mayor assured no public money will be used in the development.
You see some snapshots of the would-be teaser video down below:
The first impressions of what a new Old Trafford stadium could be look like (Credit: Man United via screenshot)
The plans will see ‘New Trafford’ – we have no idea if that’s actually its name or not, by the way, just an easy working title for our purposes – erected as the first 100,000-seater stadium not only in the North but the entire country, surpassing the current largest (Wembley) by a full 10k.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, as the full update from United explains, the plans go far beyond just creating a new football ground: they want to develop the entire Old Trafford district and pump money into both already valuable areas like the Trafford Park industrial complex and under-utilised areas.
The regeneration team has also been tasked with helping carve out plans for “new mixed-use developments around the stadium and in the adjacent Trafford Wharfside area” as well as along the River Irwell towards Salford Quays.
As you see, while these small snippets might only be artistic impressions at this stage, the CGIs have also been backed up by the first models designed by the architects.
You can see more here:
The plan is to make the Old Trafford area a full on sporting, leisure and entertainment destination.Credit: Man United x Old Trafford Regeneration (screenshot)/Sky Sports (via YouTube – screenshot)
Other stats about the Old Trafford Regeneration scheme that follow these first impressions include an estimated 1.8 million additional visitors to the multi-purpose stadium and more than 17,000 new homes following investment in the surrounding areas.
ADVERTISEMENT
The club and their regeneration task force are eyeing up a total of one million square meters of new developments/redeveloped plots, so it goes without saying that this could change the face of a good chunk of Greater Manchester forever.
With talk that Man United now intend to keep the existing Theatre of Dreams to house the women’s team and preserve their storied history – rather than bulldoze as many first feared – what you do make of this first look at the potential future of your stadium, Reds?
The annual Manchester Remembers Foundation charity football match has shut down
Danny Jones
The annual Manchester Remembers charity football match has been cancelled for 2025, and unfortunately, the wider Foundation has also shut downfor the foreseeable.
Set up back in 2020, the Manchester Remembers charity game was created to help raise funds for the families of those lost in the tragic 2017 Manchester Arena attack, raising nearly £200,000 in donations for multiple organisations.
It has been a truly treasured community event across Greater Manchester, welcoming thousands to the likes of Manchester City Academy Stadium and Oldham Athletic‘s Boundary Park, as well as spotlighting local musicians and notable figures volunteering their help for a deeply important cause.
However, the Foundation is now set to hang up its boots. Confirming the news over the bank holiday weekend, founders Aaron Lee and Paul Corrigan shared “a difficult statement to make and a decision not taken lightly.”
— The McrRemembers Foundation™️⚽️🐝 (@McrRemembers) May 3, 2025
As explained in the lengthy and emotional post, it is with a “heavy heart” that this year’s charity match has now been officially cancelled, and tickets already purchased up to this point are now being refunded.
Having played a small part in helping spread awareness around the game and the Foundation since it began, we were gutted to learn of this sad news.
The 2025 MCR Remembers game was scheduled to take place this June at a new venue for the event, Bury FC’s home ground at Gigg Lane, but following what they have labelled “a lack of support” from Greater Manchester leaders and “influential people needed to carry the event forward.”
Lee – a former police officer turned firefighter who was one of the emergency responders on 22 May, 2017 – went on to share a follow-up video reflecting on the announcement.
As he puts in the piece to camera, he says that even if those who had been reached out to in recent times were to suddenly respond, that it is “sadly too late.”
Taking time to thank not only past sponsors, managers, ex-pros and celebrity players who have been part of the event in the past, but everyone who bought tickets to the event(s) over the past few years, stating simply: “We cant thank you enough.”
Lee, who was given both a Chief Fire Officers Commendation and British Citizen Award in 2024, went on to address those “so-called leaders and influential people” in a subsequent post, adding: “All we needed was a bit of help. But we were ignored. Thanks for the memories.”
Unsurprisingly, the comments on social media have been awash with messages of love, support and sadness upon learning of this year’s cancellation and the end of The Manchester Remembers Foundation after more than half a decade.
There is some hope, though, as he ends the video by saying, “Who knows if this is the end or not? […] I dare say we’ll be back at some point.” We can only keep our fingers crossed he’s right and the MCR Remembers charity game won’t be shut down for good.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Manchester Remembers Foundation
Sport
25,000 free footballs are being given away across the UK
Danny Jones
A total of 25,000 free footballs are up for grabs this month as part of a new scheme from Barclays, who are giving them away to mark a special anniversary.
The British multinational universal bank, which boasts over 850 branches and more than 48 million customers worldwide, has been supporting the beautiful game for a quarter of a century now and has been the primary Premier League sponsor since the 2001/02 season.
Approaching 25 years helping fund and promote English football, they’ve come up with a new initiative to celebrate, simply called the ‘Lost Ball Project‘.
We’ve all seen scenes like these before.
Credit: Barclays (supplied)
Tapping into the national and generational memory of losing a ball to a pond, up a tree, over a fence or on a roof and so on, Barclays are making up for those heartbreaking little losses – one ball at a time.
Lost Ball will see the bank give away 25k footballs across the UK, with Barclays customers able to claim a free ball for themselves or someone else who has lost theirs.
Already up and running, the scheme is off to a flyer and free footies will be available until Thursday, 22 May, so we wouldn’t wait around.
The bank has played an integral role throughout the British football pyramid for decades now, sponsoring to only the Premier League but also the WSL, Barclays Women’s Championship; the Northern Irish Women’s Football Association, Scottish Women’s Championship and the Scottish Women’s League One
They’ve even put together this emotive, albeit a bit tongue-in-cheek video:
As they put it, the mission of the Lost Ball Project is simple: “Let’s keep the nation playing the beautiful game. Because there’s no football without grassroots football.”
In addition to backing established leagues, they have continued to support the country’s footballing community at large, especially in terms of the women’s game.
For instance, the Barclays Girls’ Football School partnership with The FA has seen the number of participating schools rise from 3,000 in 2019 to 20,000 in 2024, helping more than 2.5 million schoolgirls access football.
Important work done from the ground up.
Credit: Supplied
Barclays’ Group Head of Sponsorship, Tom Corbett, said in a statement: “We are immensely proud of our pioneering work and funding to grassroots football over the past 25 years.
Giving away 25,000 balls to replace our customers’ ‘Lost Balls’ means they will never be without the one thing you need to be able to play the game we’ve supported at Barclays for all these years.”
If you bank with the group, you can find out how to claim your free football HERE.
Danny Jones -
24th September 2024 
