MANCHESTER UNITED
Premier League, Sunday 30 October 2022, 4.15pm
West Ham United complete another busy week with a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in Sky Sports’ Super Sunday fixture, with kick-off at 4.30pm.
Old Trafford, of course, is the largest club stadium in the British Isles, with a capacity of 76,000, and 3,000 Hammers fans will be among them this weekend.
Under new head coach Erik ten Haag, Manchester United’s home for this season has been improving, with defeats by Brighton and Hove Albion and Real Sociedad in the opening weeks being followed by Premier League victories Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and a midweek UEFA Europa League success against Sheriff.
Personnel-wise, the Red Devils made big moves in the summer, signing the likes of Brazil internationals Anthony and Casemiro, Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen.
How to get there…
As is the case with so many football stadia these days, it is recommended that supporters take public transport, rather than driving to the game.
If you are taking the train up from London, take a service from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. However, journey times on Sunday are longer than normal, with services taking well over three hours in both directions.
From Piccadilly, take the Metrolink towards Altrincham and get off at Old Trafford. From there, it is a ten-minute walk to the stadium. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, which should cost you around £10.
After the game, direct trains depart Piccadilly at 19.15 and 20.21, with the 19.35 service in between requiring a change at Stafford.
If you do opt to drive to the game, you can purchase matchday parking permits to park near Old Trafford for £12 by clicking here.
Alternatively, park elsewhere and take the Metrolink to the ground.
Where to stay…
As England’s second-largest urban area, Manchester and its surrounding towns have plenty of accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes.
There are some sensational hotels in the city, many of which are either within walking distance of the Metrolink or a short taxi ride to Old Trafford.
For those for whom price is more important than style, there are the usual chain options in and around the city centre.
What to do…
As a city that flourished and grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, many of Manchester’s major sights derive from the Victorian period.
If you arrive in the city with some time to explore before heading to Old Trafford, the Science and Industry Museum is a fascinating museum based in the country’s first railway station, Liverpool Road.
If you’d rather stick to the Beautiful Game, the National Football Museum is situated in Cathedral Gardens to the north of the city centre, and houses the world’s finest collection of football objects and memorabilia, the English Football Hall of Fam, as well as interactive games for all the family.
Many of the exhibits have a link with West Ham United, including Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore’s boots and Hurst’s shirt from England’s 1966 FIFA World Cup final win over West Germany.
For further information, head to visitmanchester.co.uk.
What’s happened there before…
In truth, Manchester United has not been a happy hunting ground for West Ham United down the years.
Since winning 2-1 at Old Trafford on our first-ever visit in the old Second Division on Christmas Day 1922, West Ham have been to M16 on 77 occasions in league and cup and tasted victory just 14 times, with nine draws and 54 defeats.
That said, one of those 14 wins came last season, when Manuel Lanzini’s goal secured a 1-0 victory in the EFL Cup third round in September 2021.
Premier League-wise, our most-recent success at Old Trafford was the 1-0 victory courtesy of Carlos Tevez’s goal that completed the Great Escape in May 2007.
