The Theatre of Dreams, eh? For opposing teams this place is more likely to resemble the Theatre of Nightmares, as team after team collapse under the twin weights of United's legendary attacking style on the pitch from the latest all-conquering side, and ear-splitting support from the vocal and belligerent Red Army fans off it.
Well, that's the theory, but in the interests of accuracy it must be said that a combination of the sanitisation of English football grounds, corporate junkies and over fifteen years of Fergie's success - seeing the current crop of United fans gorge themselves silly on trophies and silverware, have taken their toll. As a result the red-hot atmosphere of legend raises its head only rarely now. But when it does, oh yes. (Ask Roma in 07, on the end of a thunderous Champions League 7-1, or Arsenal in 08, simulataneously annihilated and deafened 4-0 in the FA Cup).
As for the stadium, the teams enter the arena via the only corner-located player tunnel in Englands top flight, and, walking onto the raised pitch, are immediately dominated by the giant 26,000 capacity triple-tiered North Stand, which towers over everything and glares moodilly at anyone not in the United red camp.
Just to remove any lingering doubt as to where the opposing players have found themselves, 'Old Trafford, Manchester' spells it out in bold red letters on the leading edge of the towering roof.
Twin-tiered East and West stands holding around 14,000 sit behind each goal and the South Stand - once considered the 'main' stand is now the smallest, paling in comparison to the recently developed three sides of Old Trafford. The North Stand is connected to the East and West by sweeping corner 'quadrants. The current all-seater capacity is 76,212, with the club effectively sold-out for every game.
My only serious complaint is the sharply sloping roof design which almost hides the true size of this fantastic stadium from the casual observer, especially on the North Stand. Pretty it isn't, but this is in the North-West industrial heartland, so let's be generous and say the sharp-edged design embraces a certain no nonsense, 'industrial brutallity'.
Should the South Stand be developed (and perhaps re-align that roof while they're at it) to firstly balance the stadium visually, and secondly realise its full potential, not only would Old Trafford's capacity be extended to between 88-98,000 depending on design, but it really would then take on the mantle of one of the world's truly drop-dead awesome football arenas.
Floodlights were upgraded to the highest Uefa standards in 2007, gaining additional lights to the side of each goal, giving night-time games even more of the stunning atmosphere we all love.
Old Trafford has a superb array of executive and corporate facillities, behind the South Stand, sweeping all around the ground at first tier level, and also in the new corner quadrants. They are to a standard befitting a Uefa 5-star stadium.
Away fans number between 2-3,000 for league games up to 10,000 for FA Cup ties, and many times they save their best away-day vocal efforts of their season for the trip to see United. Though the heady days of serious football violence are long gone from Old Trafford due to a huge CCTV presence and excellent policing, you can be sure of a tasty 'welcome' to fans of Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea. Oh, and should they ever get up to the dizzy heights of the Premier League again, expect a special welcome committee for Leeds United
The club museum is a must-see, (though closed on match-days for security reasons) and yep, there's the Red Cafe if you're feeling peckish.
Externally, the stadium reflects a towering modern steel and glass facade, allied to respecting the amazing history of United. The 'Munich Tunnel' - recently re-named to commerrate the 50th anniversarry of the clubs darkest hour, the 1958 Munich Air Disaster, is a must-see, as the club have struck a superb balance between celebrating now immortal sporting icons and honouring a respectful and dignified reverance to the victims.
Additional homage is paid in the form of The Munich Clock, set permanently at the time of the air-crash that decimated the fabulous 'Busby Babes', and the original plaques from 1958. A comparitively recently displayed pair of statues, one of the legendary manager Sir Matt Busby and another for his greatest player trilogy of Charlton, Law and Best, stand guarding the East Stand end of Old Trafford.
There you go then; the biggest, best and most famous club football stadium in England; Old Trafford. Home of the 2008 English and European champions, Manchester United. read more