History
of Manchester City Football Club
MCFC was
originally formed as St Mark's in West Gorton, Manchester in
1880, and played on a piece of waste ground at Clowes Street.
Several name changes during the following years (including "Gorton"
and "Ardwick") the name Manchester City was adopted in 1894.
Oddly, soccer
football was not very popular at that time, Rugby being the
most widely supported team sport, and City had difficulties
in finding other local teams to play against.
However,
many successes led to the team reaching the Football League's
Second Division in 1892, and finally into the First Division
in 1899, when their famous Welsh winger, Billy Meredith scored
29 League Goals.
Major rivals
to Manchester's other great football team, Manchester United,
local "derby" matches are eagerly supported and competitiveness
is always high amongst players and fans alike.
A devastating
fire at their Hyde Road ground in 1920 had completely destroyed
the stadium and it was this event which prompted the teams move
to a new purpose-built ground which was opened at Maine Road
in Moss Side, Manchester in 1923.
Site
of the old Maine Road Stadium
Aerial Photo Courtesy of www.webbaviation.co.uk
© 2005
CLICK
ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
The club's
fortunes have been erratic, from promotions to the top of First
Division and numerous cup championships, to relegation to lower
divisions.
However,
their descents have more often than not been matched with equally
meteoric rises and Manchester City can truly be said to be one
of the greatest of British football teams, in a city which takes
its football very seriously.
Rivalry
between City ("the blues") and Manchester United ("the
reds") are intense, and, though local football derbys are
rare and regarded as virtual public holidays.
The
City of Manchester Stadium
The 48,000
seat City of Manchester stadium was first occupied by the Manchester
City teams at the beginning of the season in August 2003.
The stadium
had originally been built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games
in Manchester.
It had
been decided that on conclusion, Manchester City Football Club
would inherit the stadium as their new home ground to replace
the old (but much loved) Maine Road stadium in Moss Side (see
above).
City
of Manchester Stadium
Aerial Photo Courtesy of www.webbaviation.co.uk
© 2005
CLICK
ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
After the
Games the Stadium was further developed, a new North Stand was
installed and the running track was removed and re-laid at other
sporting venues.
Many fine
new facilities were also added, including six restaurants and
purpose-built function rooms which provide bookable on-site
hospitality on both match days and non-match days.
There are
also over 2000 car parking spaces on site, (a vast improvement
over the old street parking at Maine Road), and a further 8,000
accredited car parking spaces in easy reach of the Stadium.
The Stadium
can also be easily reached by rail and bus, being just a 20
minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station and the city
centre.
Reebok City
Situated
adjacent to the Stadium, Reebok City is home to the City Superstore,
City Social and the City Experience
City
Superstore
The City Superstore stocks a wide range of Manchester City souvenirs,
leisurewear and training gear from kit sponsor, Reebok. The
Store is open seven days a week, Monday to Saturday 9.00am-5.30pm
and Sunday 11am-3.00pm.
City
Social
City Social is a Sports Bar offering drinks, sandwiches and
hot food. It has large on-site television screens to allow you
to watch the latest matches via Satellite TV.
City Social
is also available for private hire for meetings, parties and
events.
For further information telephone 0161-438 7650 or email: hospitality@mcfc.co.uk
See
Also:
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