Sport

Manchester United to replace executive seats with general admission in Stretford End next season

The club says it's part of "ongoing efforts" to enhance the Old Trafford atmosphere.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 23rd January 2023

Manchester United is to replace the executive seating area in the Stretford End with general admission season tickets next season.

For decades, the Stretford End has been the matchday home of some of Manchester United’s most passionate supporters, and now, following what has been called a “constructive consultation” with the club’s Fans’ Advisory Board, it has been agreed that all the seating in the stand will be returned to general admission for the start of the 2024/25 season.

The club says this decision is in support of “successful ongoing efforts” to enhance the Old Trafford atmosphere.

This decision adds to a series of fan-centric steps that have already been taken by The Reds, including the installation of rail seating, and the creation of a dedicated atmosphere section in the Stretford End.

A part of Old Trafford since the stadium’s opening in 1910, the Stretford End is named after the area of Trafford that the stand backs on to, and for decades, it was a standing terrace before being redeveloped into all-seating in the early 1990s.

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The International Suite was opened with a small section of executive seating in the first tier, and a second tier was added in 2000.

But from next season, all executive seating is to be removed.

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“Fans and fan groups have long campaigned for us to remove the executive seats from the heart of the Stretford End and to make them standard tickets and therefore more accessible to all fans,” explained Rick McGagh – Head of Fan Engagement at Manchester United.

“We have listened and agree that as many fans as possible should have the chance to be a Stretford Ender, so we have worked with our Fans’ Advisory Board in recent months to make this happen and we are all looking forward to an even louder Stretford End from August 2024.”

Manchester United to replace executive seats with general admission in Stretford End next season / Credit: Vince Connaire (via Flickr)

Collette Roche – Chief Operating Officer at Manchester United – added: “Structural work will take place over the coming year to return the Stretford End to general admission seating and create a new concourse.

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“During this period, we will be consulting fans to understand how best to repurpose the space currently used by the International Suite, as we very much value our executive club members who currently sit in the Stretford End and recognise the impact this change will have.

“The club is committed to working with those affected to find alternative seating where necessary ahead of the 24/25 season”

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Manchester United has also revealed that plans for the long-term redevelopment of Old Trafford “continue to progress”, but the club will simultaneously take steps such as this one to improve the matchday experience in the near-term.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

Sport

Manchester’s 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness returns with its biggest venue host yet for 2024

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Manchester 24 Hour Charity Run Against Homelessness 2024

November is well underway which means that not only have the likes of the annual Christmas Markets begun but Manchester is once again ramping up for the latest edition of The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness.

Although the holiday season is a jolly one for many, we’re always reminded that for lots of those less fortunate, the colder months signal an even more difficult time for lots of people all over Greater Manchester, with the region still suffering with the third highest rate of homelessness in the UK.

That being said, each year volunteers from founding organisation, Run Wild MCR (the University of Manchester’s long-standing running society), team up with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to help put in the hard yards on their behalf and raise as much money as possible.

Marking the sixth year of the heartwarming and vital fundraising event, the 2024 edition of The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness is hoping to be the most impactful yet, landing even more support from local clubs and businesses than ever, as well as their biggest host venue yet.

For anyone still unaware of the event, the annual 24-hour relay run sees thousands of runners turn up from all over the 10 boroughs to participate in 5km laps around the city centre to witness the effects of homelessness first-hand.

Those lacing up their trainers – be they from local clubs like Manchester Road Runners, charitable organisation, Northern business or just a Manc who fancies doing their bit for a good cause – can do as little or as few laps as they like, as well as contribute to the fundraising with donations on the night.

Now with national vehicle marketplace AutoTrader named as the principal sponsor for this year’s run and the Together Co. social charity pledging to match public donations up to £20,000, The Manchester 24 Hour Homeless Run is hoping to achieve its biggest goal to date.

There have already been some serious records broken in past iterations, with multiple runners even going for upwards of 100k in total distance covered and staying overnight in sleeping bags to get their laps done over the 24 hours.

Having made upwards of £30,000 since it started, amassing more than £25,000 during its fifth anniversary in 2023, and raising over £1,400 with its first spin-off event in Birmingham earlier this month, this is set to be a hugely impactful year for the team and Manchester’s ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme.

The growth of the event speaks for itself, with Mayor Andy Burnham now a regular attendee on behalf of his namesake charity, an increase in clubs, influencers and national coverage, not to mention the event landing Freight Island as the 2024 host venue.

You can see a quick run-through of the city centre route here:

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Having sent a huge message to the previous government regarding comments about the homeless community and directly contributing to approximately 842 rough sleepers being given a bed in Manchester during last year’s run, they’ve done incredible work in just a few short years.

With the profile of the ever-important event bigger than ever, as it looks to continue expanding into different cities – especially following the success of its debut Brummy run – we’re expecting big things and even more wholesome vibes as the crowds gather at the now well-and-truly festive Freight Island.

Members of The Manc will also be taking part and putting in as many miles as we can, so come and say hello if you can or, even better, come join the countless other volunteers going for a jog from 12pm on Wednesday, 13 November until noon the next day.

More importantly, please give even a little bit to this crucial cause HERE if you can; the charity livestream will also be active on our Facebook page throughout the duration and QR codes for direct donations will be available at Freight Island on the night.

You can see a full list of the organisations taking part down below. This really is a time when Manchester shows its best face and we can all be very proud that we’re putting in the graft to combat a global crisis.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied

Sport

BBC confirm Gary Lineker will leave Match of the Day at the end of the season

Danny Jones Danny Jones Gary Lineker leaving Match of the Day at the end of the season

Following reports late on Monday evening, the BBC has now officially revealed Gary Lineker is leaving Match of the Day at the end of the current Premier League campaign.

Lineker, who has hosted Match of the Day (MotD) since 1999, is set to leave the long-standing British TV and sporting institution after 25 seasons but will still remain associated with the BBC on various other projects moving forward.

Confirming the news on Tuesday, 12 November, the network said that while his MotD tenure will conclude come May 2025, “The BBC and Gary Lineker have agreed in principle a contract extension through to the 2026 World Cup”.

The former footballer will also continue to host the MOTD Top Ten podcast and his The Rest is Football podcast on BBC Sounds alongside fellow co-presenters Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

Lineker said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”

The ex-Leicester, Everton, Barcelona and Spurs player was famously suspended from the show back in March 2023 after comments made about the previous Conservative government’s “dangerous” rhetoric.

Shearer and Ian Wright (‘Wrighty’ having also announced he will be leaving the show at the end of the season) both walked out in solidarity with their close friend and colleague before being reinstated after issuing an official apology.

Putting the brief separation aside, Lineker has enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship with the BBC for more than two and a half decades and when the title race does conclude at the end of next spring, he will have been one of the most recognisable faces in British football for 26 years.

Many have rightly pointed out that he served as the Des Lynam – the former MoTD host for 11 years – for multiple generations of young football fans.

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This past August marked Match of the Day‘s 60th anniversary, making it one of the longest-running programmes in British TV history, and to say that the household name and ever-entwined Walkers ambassador has made up nearly half of that is no mean feat.

Lineker has yet to issue a personal response via any channels by the official BBC statement, but viewers can expect to address the situation on the likes of The Rest is Football soon enough.

Thanks for the memories, Gary – especially for honouring your promise and hosting in those comically big white undies.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC

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