The Manchester Half, the largest of this marathon distance in the entire North West, is back for 2025 this weekend, and literally tens of thousands of Brits and more are set to descend upon 0161 for the big race. And that’s just the runners…
It’s estimated that 26,000 participants are set to lace up their running shoes for the ninth edition of the Manchester Half, which also marks the third and final year of their ‘Express Yourself’ campaign.
This year’s event is also expected to raise £1.5 million for various organisations, with thousands running in support of partnered charities like the Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK and The Christie. One of the best days of the year and all for a good cause.
With all that in mind, whether you’re taking part or just spectating, we want to do everything we can to help to get ready for the event; here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Manchester Half.
Manchester Half 2025 guide – all the important info
What time does the Manchester Half start?
Elite wheelchair participants will set off first at 8:55am, followed promptly by the elite wave at 9:00am.
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Following this, the rest of the participants will get going in roughly 10-minute intervals, depending on their allocated colour, with staggered waves setting off up until approximately 10:48am.
You can see all the waves and their relevant start times below:
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Credit: MCR Half (supplied)
The Manchester Half route: start and finish line + key checkpoints
Access to the start process is adjacent to Trafford Town Hall; those wishing to use the bag drop can enter the Emirates Old Trafford (Lancashire Cricket Club) stadium via gates 5 and 10.
Marshals will then direct participants to the start line from both locations.
On the route, participants will head towards the city before looping back, passing through Stretford, Sale, Chorlton-cum-Hardy and eventually the finish line back along Talbot Road.
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The full participant guide, containing start times, a detailed breakdown of the route and more, can be viewed here, but you can see a helpful map of the Manchester Half route down below.
Check out our new updated Activations Route Map, featuring @AppliedNutrition
Where are the toilet locations, water and nutrition stations on the MCR Half?
As you can see, there will be a total of four drink stations along the half-marathon course. Isotonic Energy Gels from Applied Nutrition will be available at stops two and three.
Similarly, there will be portaloo toilets at each of the water stations, as well as plenty at the Event Village for those pre-race precautions (time that morning coffee carefully, folks…)
Road closures for the Manchester Half
Road closures will be in effect along and around the half-marathon route starting from early on Saturday, 11 October.
Those affected should allow extra time for journeys, as open roads in the surrounding areas will be busy.
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Many bus services will also be diverted due to these closures, and you can also expect added congestion further out into Greater Manchester, especially towards Trafford.
Full details of road closures can be found HERE, and you can consult an interactive map below:
How to get to Event Village for the Manchester Half
The tram network will allow both runners and spectators the best access to and from the event.
For a quieter journey, the Imperial War Museum stop is a 15-minute walk to the Event Village. The closest tram stations are Old Trafford (a 3-minute walk) and Trafford Bar (a 10-minute walk), but these will be very busy and will likely have significant queues.
As mentioned, buses will be disrupted by road closures, meaning those arriving in Manchester by train are advised to take the tram directly to the Event Village if and wherever possible.
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Participants are advised to avoid driving to the event due to the increased level of traffic already brought about by the well-attended annual event.
For those who do plan on driving, however, there is no official parking, but Manchester United do offer pre-paid parking spaces at Old Trafford. They are available for £18 when booked in advance.
Make sure to double-check your Manchester Half guide on race morning, too. (Credit: Supplied)
How to track runners and watch the 2025 Manchester Half remotely?
Once again, countless numbers are expected to line the Manchester streets in support of those running the MCR Half, but for those who can only cheer on from afar, the race will be available to view via livestream on the full Manchester Marathon YouTube channel.
If you’re looking to see where a participant is along the route, you can find more help on how to best utilise all the recommended tracking features like the ‘Find My’ app, ‘share my location’ on WhatsApp and the Strava beacon function HERE.
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Supporter hub and dedicated cheer zones
As for where is best to cheer on the 26k or so legends running the Manchester Half, the temporarily re-named Deansgate ‘Inter-rave’ (Deansgate-Castlefield Interchange) will see hordes of spectators amping up the atmosphere at mile 1 with a Cybertruck DJ and ‘kick-off cam showing live starts.
Over at Wharfside, the ‘Buzz Hub’ will enable spectators can see participants twice on their journey past the iconic Old Trafford stadium, before heading toward Stretford. There will also be inflatable dancing bees and a DJ.
Other prime viewing spots include Stretford, Sale and Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The Event Village at LCCC will also have a large screen showing live finish line coverage, as well as food outlets and activities from partners for everyone to enjoy.
It’s highly recommended that supporters avoid going directly to the finish line, where viewing will be limited due to large crowds and one-way systems.
Easy bit of advice that often gets forgotten for you here: organise a specific meeting point to reunite with those runners beforehand – saves a lot of time and faff among the crowds.
What/who else to look out for at this year’s Manchester Half…
Other things to keep in mind include the official Manchester Half shakeout run, which is being hosted by lead sponsors PUMA and Runna, and takes place the official Manchester Half shakeout run will take place on Saturday, 11 October.
Having set up another pop-up for this year’s event, where top-end running trainers, merch and other goodies can be picked up, they’re just one of many brands getting involved with the wider 2025 Supporter Hub.
For instance, ERDINGER’s – who will be handing out alcohol free beers for those crossing the finish line – are also serving as this year’s team of pacers.
If you’re looking to get a certain time in your race, as well as assembling with the rest of your wave at the start line, look out for your relevant pacer at the start on the day.
That should be just about all the key details you need to know for this year’s Manchester Half-marathon guide, but if in doubt, you can always check the event website for more info.
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Last but not least, make sure you get a good breakfast in, prepare your race kit all ready the night before, get plenty of rest and drink even more water.
Best of luck to all those running, not that anyone needs it – you’re going to absolutely SMASH it and we’ll see you at the pub for plenty of celebrating afterwards!
Salford Red Devils supporters meet winding-up adjournment with a petition of their own
Danny Jones
Large numbers of Salford Red Devils supporters are currently rallying behind the push to remove their current ownership group, meeting yet another delay to the winding-up petition with a petition of their own: one that would see the owners kicked out of the club, full stop.
Shared online yesterday, the ‘Salford Red Devils Fans Against Jacobsen Venture Group’ (JVG) petition has amassed more than 1,000 signatures and is rapidly gaining traction.
But these supposed assurances all sound far too familiar and are clearly no longer enough for most fans. They no longer care about future investment from those currently behind the scenes: they just want them gone for good.
For context, in addition to more than £700,000 in outstanding fees owed to HMRC, the 152-year-old sporting organisation is also estimated to owe in excess of £5m to various other creditors.
As a result, after a third stay of execution earlier this week – but one that has done little more than prolong this long-drawn-out uncertainty – most fans have simply had enough.
Following up with a lengthy open letter on Wednesday evening, 29 October, the increasingly militant fan group known as The 1873 said of the potential new funding, “Let us be absolutely clear, we have heard all of this before.”
Even poking holes in the board’s own statement, noting that it suggests that “funding has been formally secured” before noting that it has not yet officially arrived.
“This kind of vague language”, they say, “is exactly what supporters have been subjected to for months: a cycle of empty promises and missed deadlines.
Helping spearhead the ‘JVG Out’ petition, leading member Nick Holt went on to tell BBC Sport Manchester that the patience and blind faith have simply run out.
🗣️ "We do not want these within our club"
Salford Red Devils' owners announced they have secured new funding to settle outstanding debts and clear a winding-up petition against them.
The 1873 went on to write: “Back in September, the same individuals told the courts that funding would arrive ‘within 10 days’. It never did. In August, at the meeting with The 1873, they claimed money would be in place by the end of that month. It wasn’t.
“Every single time, the same promise and every single time, the same failure to deliver. False hope and no real investment. It is vital [that] supporters understand what is actually being proposed. The owners are not clearing the club’s debts, including the millions they have personally run up.
“Instead, they intend to roll all debts into one high-interest loan, a move that only deepens the long-term financial hole. How do they plan to service such a loan? Next season, the club’s central distribution is set to drop from around £1.3 million to less than £100,000.”
Noting that the recent IMG grading drop and subsequent relegation from the Betfred Super League will mean a significant drop in revenues across the board, they have quite rightly asked where the higher-ups expect to find the funds to make their already heavily overdue repayments.
“Season ticket sales are expected to collapse under the current ownership”, they continue, “and major commercial sponsors will not associate with this regime.
“To claim that this ‘funding’ secures the future of a 152-year-old club is not just misleading, it is an insult to every supporter who has kept this club alive through generations.”
A petition like this and further demonstrations were guaranteed from the moment Salford Red Devils were relegated.
The impassioned response from the group signs off by adding: “The ownership’s reference to a so-called ‘strategic plan’ for a return to Super League in 2027 is beyond belief. Where is this plan? Why has it not been shared with supporters?
“At this moment, there is no head coach for 2026, no contracted players, and no football department infrastructure. To talk about a Super League return within two years is pure fantasy […] The reality is simple: This ownership group has repeatedly failed to deliver on its promises.
“It has mismanaged and misled, time and again. Every new statement only confirms how detached they are from the damage they continue to cause.”
Most drastically, they insist that supporters will no longer “be fooled” nor continue to recognise the current ‘stewards’ failing to live up to that title by giving their own time and money to the regime, urging fellow fans to refrain from renewing season tickets, purchasing any merchandise, or attending games.
It’s a bold stance, to be sure, but it’s clear that those most fiercely loyal of supporters are looking to wrestle back control however they can; if you’re one of them, you can sign the petition HERE.
Dream Days return at Manchester United as first-team stars meet fans face-to-face
Danny Jones
Man United have made more unforgettable memories with their fan base as they once again invited supporters to the club’s training ground for the latest edition of Dream Day.
Now a bi-annual occurrence, the Dream Day events are not only yet another way of giving back to the local community, but also to give those less fortunate and facing difficult life circumstances a truly wholesome experience.
Set up by the Manchester United Foundation, the player meet-ups provide an opportunity for Reds with life-limiting illnesses to meet their heroes up close and personal.
They’ve always been such special days, and after more than two decades, they’re still bringing smiles to fans’ faces both in the flesh and online.
Commenting on his first attendance as a United player, recent and high-flying signing, Bryan Mbeumo, said: “It’s been a really good experience to take part in the Foundation’s Dream Day. To be able to meet the families, take photos and sign the shirts, I’m just grateful to be here and to make them smile.”
Being cheered as he entered the room at Carrington Training Complex before walking around to meet and greet, he went on to describe it as “just amazing to meet everyone, especially because they are cheering us on every weekend.”
Fellow newboy Benjamin Sesko was also clearly moved by the whole thing, adding: “It’s really special for us, because we can help to put smiles on fans’ faces and answer some questions. I know it helps them a lot, it gives them a great feeling, and for me it’s really nice to give back and help in any way I can.”
With so many senior United squad members in attendance, from established starting XI players like Mbeumo, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Noussair Mazraoui, to youth graduates like Kobbie Mainoo, Ayden Heaven, and many more, virtually everyone possibly available made an appearance.
One particularly touching sight was seeing young Jayden meeting his idol in club captain Bruno Fernandes, who shared a heartwarming embrace.
You can find out more about how to be part of a Man United Dream Day HERE. (Credit: Supplied via MU Foundation)
Speaking on yet another emotional day, Fernandes said: “It’s important as a Manchester United player to take part in these days and to give back to the fans.
“It’s always great to see the kids smiling when they meet us. We can sense the love and support they give to us on and off the pitch – being with them in these little moments is what it’s all about.”
The 12-year-old matchgoer himself was understandably over the moon to meet the ‘Portuguese Magnifico’, telling the Foundation: “It’s been amazing today; I was quite star-struck when they all walked in, I didn’t really know how to react!
“I love all the players, Bruno is my favourite, and he even recorded a message wishing my football team good luck ahead of our game.”
As for his dad, he went on to note: “To see him experience it after everything he’s been going through, you just can’t put it into words. “It means an awful lot to him, and I can see that meeting the players has been so inspiring. They were really lovely with him, and so nice and welcoming.”
From regular school and hospital visits to the return of the upcoming winter Stadium Sleepout, the United Foundation does incredible work across Greater Manchester all year-round, and we’ll never tire of seeing moving scenes like these.
Danny Jones -
10th October 2025 
