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Paul Merson slams ‘pathetic’ plans for Manchester United’s new stadium

'Circus tent', 'alien city', 'UAE-esque' or 'showstopper'?

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 13th March 2025
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Ex-footballer and pundit Paul Merson has branded the recently revealed plans for Manchester United’s new stadium as “pathetic” in a recent interview.

The former Arsenal and Aston Villa turned manager, commentator and TV personality spoke to Sky Sports this week after the CGIs for what some supporters are already dubbing ‘New Trafford’ were shown to the world on Tuesday.

Now, while it’s fair to say the designs have been pretty divisive, for Merson it’s still a headscratcher as to why United supporters want to leave such a historic ground and one that is still the second-largest football stadium in the country for something new and so different.

The 56-year-old didn’t hold back when giving his opinion on the matter, insisting, “If I was a Man United fan I’d be fuming.”

As you can see, ‘Merse’ begins by saying he has “no interest at all”, adding that he thinks “It’s pathetic […] they’ve got one of the biggest stadiums in the Premier League” and therefore aren’t necessarily crying out for more seats, nor an entirely new sporting arena.

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It’s worth noting that Old Trafford’s capacity hasn’t necessarily been the issue or priority in recent years: dated facilities, lack of technology such as screens for VAR and the infamous leaking roof, which has been taken into account by architects Foster + Partners.

“Why would you need a new stadium?”, he asks, before going on to suggest that they “need new players” instead and should be more worried about the team and finishing in the top six, “let alone Champions League.”

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It’s no secret that the Red Devils’ steady slump out of the premier European competition has cost them significantly in recent years, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe delivering some alarming revelations about the state of the club’s finances in an interview with Gary Neville prior to the stadium reveal.

Merson summarises his opinion by saying, “I can’t believe what I’ve been seeing over the last couple of days – I’m flabbergasted.” Meanwhile, many people are chiefly concerned with how the stadium is going to be paid for, despite Mayor Andy Burnham’s reassurance that “no public money” will be used.

‘New Trafford’ is set to cost £2 billion and could be completed within five years.

Merson might have very strong opinions on Man United building a new stadium, to begin with, but what we’ve really enjoyed is seeing people’s reactions to the admittedly striking design.

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The 100,000-seater venue will be the biggest in the UK, with its main features including a giant tent-like eco-friendly weather-shielding roof as well as three tall spires to mirror both the trident on the club’s badge and carry over the historic ‘Trinity’ theme.

However, not everyone can agree on whether it’s a masterpiece or an eye-sore…

We went out On The Street in Manchester to see what people made of it:

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

Featured Images — Sky Sports/Foster + Partners

Sport

Soccer Aid is back for 2025 and returning to Old Trafford

Danny Jones Danny Jones soccer aid manchester old trafford tickets 2025
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One of the biggest, best and most wholesome charity events on the UK TV and sporting calendar is coming around once again for 2025 and we can’t wait to have it back home: that’s right, Soccer Aid is back at Old Trafford.

The annual charity match on behalf of UNICEF first kicked off at the Theatre of Dreams almost two full decades ago, with the inaugural fixture set up by Robbie Williams back in 2006.

Fast forward to 19 years later and the fantastic fundraising game has grown massively, attracting huge attendances and practically sold-out crowds whenever it comes to Old Trafford, where this whole wonderful thing first started.

Sharing the first trailer for the game this week, the Soccer Aid 2025 is shaping up to include some serious big personalities from football, sport, entertainment and beyond.

As you can see, not only will the next instalment of Soccer Aid feature familiar faces but there are some new kids on the block ready to mix things up.

First off, not only will Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney be serving as player/manager for the first time – carrying on the baton from the days Robbie running on and off the pitch – but he will also be joined by none other than Tyson Fury in looking after the Three Lions.

This a first for the event so we hope there are no fisticuffs between the gaffer and his assistant. After all, they both have priors when it comes to getting out the boxing gloves.

As for the World XI’s technical area, actor Vicky McClure (This Is England, Line of Duty) will also be on the touchline alongside English footballing veteran Harry Redknapp. Meanwhile, ex-national team and Man City goalie, David James, will be serving as the keeper coach.

You can see the full Soccer Aid 2025 player lineup down below:

  • Steven Bartlett
  • Leonardo Bonucci
  • Alex Brooker
  • Jermain Defoe
  • Diamond
  • Toni Duggan
  • Mo Farah
  • Angryginge
  • Tom Grennan
  • Joe Hart
  • Steph Houghton
  • Kaylyn Kyle
  • Paddy McGuinness
  • Gary Neville
  • Nadia Nadim
  • Lee Mack
  • Wayne Rooney
  • Paul Scholes
  • Jill Scott
  • Sam Thompson
  • Louis Tomlinson
  • Sam Quek

Better yet, the exhibition’s beloved halftime show also returns this year and while the full list of the performers is yet to be confirmed, we have our money on a few names in particular.

Who knows, maybe we’ll be ‘loving angles instead’?…

Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 gets underway this summer on Sunday, 15 June and besides being for a deeply important cause, one of the best parts about it is that the tickets are always affordable.

With general admission already live, tickets start from £20 for adults and just £10 for kids – plus there are plenty of premium packages and accessible options too.

Grab yours HERE.

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

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/The Manc Group

Sport

The female-only five mile trail race that’s been running through Salford for over three decades

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The running boom in Greater Manchester is getting bigger every year but for lots of locals, it’s been a regular pastime for much longer and some events like this women’s trail race in Salford have been going for more than thirty years.

Jogging and road racing are one thing but trail running is a discipline all of its own and with such wonderful landscapes to traverse all over the North West let alone just the 10 boroughs, thousands get stuck into it every year.

With that in mind, 2025 marks the 33rd edition of the annual Ladies Trail Race hosted by Swinton Running Club, which sees hordes of female runners turn up to take part and, most importantly, have fun every single year.

Taking place this spring, the latest event makes use of Salford’s largest conservation area and is expecting yet another solid turnout.

Credit: Swinton Running Club (supplied)

Aiming to provide a welcoming space for all women, regardless of background or experience, the Ladies Trail Race gives Mancs a chance to run through some of the most stunning parts of Salford.

The race is a single-lap course spanning five miles that passes the lake at Old Warke Dam and includes sections of Greater Manchester’s famous Bridgewater Canal as well as the beauty of Worsley Woods.

Alternating between trails, woodland terrain and sections of tarmac path, the ease of traversal does fluctuate but is still considered a very accessible level of difficulty, meaning no one should be put off.

Having run through this particular area of Salford ourselves separate from the event itself, we can confirm it’s a wonderful route and a brilliant way to immerse yourself in nearby nature too.

Better yet, it’s a fantastic female-focused event in a space that can often feel intimidating for some.

As Swinton Runners put it, “It’s no secret that women are underrepresented in races and we want to bring women together to push their boundaries and gain a sense of achievement.”

Credit: SRC

For context, when running-based campaign group SheRaces took a poll of 400 female runners to see if they’d be interested in a women-only race, the response was conclusive: 87% said they would – sadly the figures in

Speaking to The Manc, one of the event’s founding members, Margaret McClelland, told us: “I was there back in 1991 when we started the run.

“It was the brainchild of one of our members, Marie Henderson who found when she joined that the club, which even at the time had a high percentage of women runners compared to most clubs, that she enjoyed the camaraderie, the joy of running together with a supportive ‘family’.

“The club had hosted the ‘Women’s Own 10km’ run for a number of years […] Marie thought that we should get our own race back up again and whilst the men were very much involved it was a race for women, organised by women.

“The aim was to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for women to run, whatever their ability or goals. The first, last and everyone in between is as important as each other and for them to keep going, showing what running can do in terms of feel good, with the bonus of it not costing very much to do.”

It’s events like this and the strong base of female runners here in Greater Manchester that have helped pave the way for contemporaries like the upcoming Women’s Run Series by RunThrough to come to Heaton Park.

You can watch the 25th-anniversary video made for the City of Salford Women’s Run down below, and if you’re interested in taking part in the 2025 Ladies Trail Race, it takes place on Sunday, 4 May with a bright and early 9am start time.

You can sign up HERE – best of luck, runners!

There’s passion, heritage and female empowerment behind this much-loved and long-standing running event.

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

Featured Images — Swinton Running Club (supplied)

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