A huge new bus network initiative is set to be trialled over the coming weeks as Transport for Greater Manchester is hoping to help Man City fans get to the Etihad Stadium.
With the Etihad Campus located along the busy Ashton-Eccles Metrolink line, tram services to and from Man City’s home ground can get extremely busy and other forms of public transport in and out of the city are regularly populated by other everyday commuters and so on.
That being said, as part of Greater Manchester’s ever-expanding Bee Network, TfGM is now set to introduce as many as 17 new dedicated bus routes around the region from this month onwards, with bus services and park-and-ride facilities stretching across the boroughs and leading to the Etihad.
The newly proposed network covers 60 stops and will cover a combined total of more than 340 miles, with the first of the new bus services set to launch on Saturday, 17 February ahead of City‘s home match against Chelsea.
Credit: The Manc
As per a statement by TfGM, the new bus routes to the Etihad are said to have been carefully selected following a detailed analysis of fan data which identified areas with limited existing travel options, or those with a dense population of Season Ticket Members.
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Tickets in Zone 1 will be priced at £6 for a return and those in Zone 2 will cost £8. These zones have been decided in line with the existing Metrolink zoning system and must be purchased on the day when boarding the bus.
Not unlike existing coaches organised by football supporters groups around Greater Manchester and beyond, one bus will operate per route and there will be space for an average of 80 fans per bus, dishing out seats on a first-come-first-serve basis.
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The new additions are also not expected to disrupt existing routes. You can see more detailed information about the stops HERE but TfGM has also published a helpful map outlining the new network:
Stretching as far as Macclesfield, New Mills, Haughton Green, Radcliffe, Flixton, Hale and many towns across the 10 boroughs, the 17 new City buses should help countless more Blues make their way to the game without having to use their own cars, source parking or add to congestion on established routes.
By connecting fans across the region through a direct and reliable mode of travel, the newly proposed bus network will create a low-priced option for fans, making travelling to matches more efficient and increasingly sustainable.
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Commenting on the introduction of the bus network, Managing Director of Manchester City Operations, Danny Wilson, said: “We want all our fans to have an amazing experience when they come to the Etihad Stadium, and we know that travelling to and from a match can play a key part in achieving this.
“The introduction of this trial follows a detailed analysis of fan travel arrangements which has helped us to identify areas with limited travel options, and develop a bespoke, large-scale operation tailored to our fans.” Fingers crossed the trial goes successfully and the scheme is fully greenlit.
Mayor Andy Burham added: “This is an exciting trial that will give Manchester City FC fans another option for getting to and from matches at the Etihad in an affordable, convenient, safe and sustainable way.
“This month we have already introduced a new six-minute Metrolink service between the city centre and Etihad Campus – and this new partnership between TfGM and Manchester City Football Club demonstrates a wider vision for helping people travel to one of the city’s most iconic sporting venues.”
Ruben Amorim reacts as Manchester United are booed off after Malaysia friendly
Danny Jones
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a fairly brutal response after his club were booed off by supporters during a friendly in Malaysia.
The Red Devils recently embarked on a post-season tour following a calamitous 2024/25 campaign, both domestically and continentally, with that limp loss in the Europa League final, but have already resumed what has become alarmingly normal service with yet another defeat.
Finding themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against ASEAN All-Stars in Kuala Lumpur – a squad comprised of various talents from around the region who had never played together before and were only founded as an actual team back in 2014 – it was all far from clean slates and fresh starts.
In the wake of the shock result, Man United were booed off by the Malaysian and other international fans inside the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, which saw more than 70,000 in attendance.
It’s the end and that’s it. Man United got boo’ed by the fans after the final whistle.
They got beaten by non-full team Asean All-Star who just trained together as a group few days before the match. pic.twitter.com/fBxnMiZPN8
For context, the ASEAN All-Stars had only trained together for the first time just days before the game itself, but the de facto exhibition outfit still managed to break the deadlock in the 71st minute against a United side that rarely looked like scoring.
All that being said, Amorim had some choice words for his own players in his post-match duties after their first post-season tour fixture, insisting that while he always remains accountable, those out on the pitch perhaps received somewhat of a deserved reckoning too.
He began by stating, “I’m always guilty of the performance of the team, no matter what. [I have been responsible] since the first day”, but went on to argue: “The boos from the fans, I think it something that we need, maybe.”
Citing that the Old Trafford faithful and die-hard away fans have always been loyal and supportive despite frustration in the league, he suggested that “maybe they will change the way they behave” following this latest reality check.
Despite adding that he has seen reasons for optimism in performances against Man City and Liverpool, for instance, where he felt he saw “belief” and seeds of what’s to come, he’s made very few excuses for the poor displays up to now.
United face the Hong Kong national team in their next friendly on Friday, 29 May, and it’s fair to say anything less than a win would be beyond bad for the predictably unpredictable Premier League club.
You can see his full post-match press conference down below.
Featured Images — Manchester United (screenshot via YouTube)/Edward Kuruvilla (via X)
Sport
Stockport County to introduce safe standing at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County will soon be introducing safe standing at Edgeley Park as part of the pending stadium development plans.
The Hatters may have just missed out on promotion to the Championship, but it’s still been an exciting few years for the club that has seen a fresh surge in young new supporters in addition to their passionate lifelong followers.
In more fantastic news for fans, County have announced that brand new safe standing sections will be installed across the ground.
Confirming the news on Wednesday, the club said: “After receiving all necessary approvals and working closely with safety authorities, we are set to install rail seating in two designated areas of the stadium.
Stockport County is thrilled to announce the introduction of safe standing areas at Edgeley Park ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Visit the club site for more details on this exciting new development ⤵️#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 28, 2025
As detailed on the club website, there will be two new dedicated safe-standing/rail-seated zones – one in each main stand: the back five rows of seats in the Cheadle End’s upper tier and the back two rows of the Vitality Railway End.
With Stockport Council greenlighting plans for League One side to expand their home capacity, this reconfiguration is set to accommodate a total of 849 County fans and/or supporters.
Although this all depends on final approval from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the aim is to deliver a “vibrant and dynamic environment for both home and away fans at Edgeley Park.”
The official statement goes on to explain that the push for safe standing is not just to provide more matchday options for those in attendance, but in hopes of further “enhancing the atmosphere and improving the overall matchday experience for those who prefer to stand.”
Couty has insisted that “The rail-seating system incorporates a barrier for every seat, ensuring that supporters are protected from a sudden surge or crowd movement.”
Safe standing is part of the larger Stockport County stadium redevelopment plans.
Addressing early concerns in a ‘What This Means for You’ section, they go on to add: “Season ticket holders currently in the affected rows will be contacted directly by the Club over the coming weeks with details on their options, including relocating to a seated area if they prefer not to stand.
“Information regarding new season tickets and matchday tickets in the safe standing areas will be released in due course.
“We believe this is another significant step forward for Stockport County and will further enhance the already incredible atmosphere at Edgeley Park. We look forward to seeing and hearing the renewed energy in these new sections.”
The safe standing plan is set to be introduced for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with the administration hoping to make this their last in the third tier. Do you see them going up next year?
Danny Jones -
9th February 2024 
