Star date: 28th May 2017

MAIN STAND AT MOOR LANE MEETS THE BULLDOZERS

The iconic concrete main stand at Salford City's Moor Lane stadium has almost been demolished, as part of the Class of 92 makeover for the new ground. First to go at the stand was the 'Integrity' sign put up by Gary Neville and co, and currently all that's left is the word 'Industry'.

Here we look at the recent history of the stand that has featured in films, including The Miracle of Moor Lane, about the fight for the spirit of non-league football, and even a World Cup song featuring The Fall's Mark E Smith.

Full details and photo history here...

'The Soul of football seeks sanctuary at Salford City FC' proclaimed a BBC film six years ago, which starred the 2011 manager and star player, Rhodri Giggs, and chairman, Darren Quick, saving the spirit of football...

'The big clubs have sent their monsters to crush the Soul of football' ran the caption in The Miracle of Moor Lane... 'It's almost too late as the monsters suck the purity and fair play from our Soul'...

...The Soul of football was only saved by Sir Rhodri of Giggs and chairman, Lord Darren of Quick... 'Our heroes from a local club for local people have saved the day'...

The classic film, with the iconic main stand as the backdrop, was shown at The Lowry as part of the Salford Film Festival (see here)...

...Cut to six years later and Rhodri's brother, Ryan Giggs, has bought Salford City FC, along with his 'big club' mates, and rival fans rejoice in singing 'You're buying the league', while renaming the club £alford...as the huge change to professional status takes place this summer, backed by the Class of '92 and zillionaire off shore money man Peter Lim (see here).

The most symbolic statement of the future has been the demolition of the main stand, dating from the early 1900s, which began last week...The Class of '92 had put the words 'Integrity' and 'Industry' on the back wall of the stand – and, as the bulldozers moved in, first to go was 'Integrity'...

...There is now only a quarter of the stand left, with the word 'Industry' still proudly standing.

The demolition hasn't been without its problems, with residents continuing to complain about how the club treats its neighbours. It was such complaints that led to the Labour Party losing the local ward seat for the first time in decades at a recent by-election for not listening to neighbourhood views on the stadium redevelopment (see here).

Last week, residents held a protest when the stand was being demolished with no protective sheets or street closure, leaving lumps of concrete to fly into the road.

They are further complaining that, despite a bat survey being carried out before the demolition - which gave the all-clear - one resident found a dead bat in his garden shortly after the bulldozers had begun tearing down the structure. Residents are set to discuss the bat with Gary Neville at their next meeting where, the Salford Star understands, the evidence may well be presented.

As the shiny new stadium takes shape, however, many old fans, as well as the bats, will miss the main stand – the only stand – that has remained a backdrop for classic Ammies' matches, as well as on-field footy battles starring Andy Burnham and Ed Balls (see here), feature films and adverts, and even an England World Cup song video in 2010 by Shuttleworth, featuring The Fall's Mark E Smith, Ed Blaney and Girl Peculiar (see here)...

*To view The Miracle of Moor Lane – a classic three minute silent film, see the BBC website – click here