When the Salford Star was first published in 2006, we blagged our way into Manchester United's training ground at The Cliff, which was vacated by the first team in around 2000 as the club moved to swanky new facilities at Carrington.
The building that housed the old gym, baths and Alex Ferguson's office had been untouched ever since, with the players' fitness regimes still showing for the likes of Roy Keane, Jesper Blomqvist, Quinton Fortune, Nicky Butt and Teddy Sheringham.
Inside it was a real time capsule, with Fergie's ace 80s phone at the ready for transfers, some footy mags on his desk and even the hallowed Fergie mushroom coloured en suite toilet and shower, left as pristine as the day he vacated the premises. Meanwhile, the car park had the initialled reserved places for players marked down...our photo shows RG for Ryan Giggs and RK for Roy Keane.
The Cliff, with all its memories and, most of all, accessibility for fans who could watch the team train and meet them afterwards, should really have been turned into a museum, and the Star understands there were plans to do this, with architects actually designing such an iconic draw but it never happened, kiboshed, we believe, by the Glazers. Now, apparently, the place has been cleared, although the huge indoor training pitches and outdoor pitch are still in use.
Back in 2006, the Star exclusively spoke to John Aston, the legendary 'outside left' who played in that 1968 European Cup winning team, about The Cliff and all its 'magic'...
"In the early 1960s The Cliff was used as a training ground for Manchester United's youth and second team. It was very basic and freezing cold most of the time alright, it was the 1960s but we had no personalised kit, it was first come best dressed which led to all sorts of health problems, like everyone used to get sweat rash and things like that. I can remember one instance when I was playing for the B team and one of the opposition broke his leg the groundsman had to unscrew a door to carry him off because we had no stretchers.
"My father played for United before me and he was the trainer at the time. He was a very practical man so the lads who were to become very famous and who were playing in the youth or second team at the time - including George Best, David Sadler and Jimmy Rimmer - actually built the car park at the The Cliff.
"After training we came back in the afternoon and pulled down an old derelict house that was in the grounds to use for hardcore, we mixed the concrete, shovelled it and levelled it off and all those players actually built the car park. When you look back I suppose it was a great camaraderie building exercise although we didn't think so at the time!
"United was never as advanced as other clubs, like Burnley, in terms of facilities but The Cliff was part of our upbringing, and it was a great time to be there. It was also the time that a great crop of players the Busby Babes came through to the first team and it was nice to be involved in that
"
But The Cliff wasn't a paradise. It had no gym, so if the weather was bad we had to leg it down to Littleton Road because they didn't want to disturb The Cliff playing pitch. Then we'd go on runs past the Racecourse, down to the Griffin pub and past Cussons.
"Football was a game for the common man and although it's tried to make itself more upmarket I think it's still a working class game that's trying to talk posh. I loved the United fans and that's how it should be with those who get their lifeblood from the sport.
"Salford's a big city without a football club* and because Salford Docks were near to Old Trafford the people have historically supported United. That Salford connection is very important and by ignoring it the club would be ignoring the everyday guy who goes along."
When the article was first published, the Star called for The Cliff to be listed as a heritage icon but the Club stated "Manchester united do not propose to seek listed status for The Cliff Training Ground but are interested in seeking ways in which the importance of The Cliff can be illustrated." 15 years later, and nothing's happened. Maybe it's just not 'big business' enough...
Brief History of The Cliff...
1938 Manchester United move to The Cliff, previously used by Broughton Rangers Rugby League Club, as a training base and ground for Manchester United Junior Athletic Club
1940-45 The Cliff used as a barrage balloon base by the RAF
Post-war The Cliff used to develop youth players, including the Busby Babes
1951 Floodlights installed and The Cliff became the venue for Manchester United's first competitive home match under lights, as the A team beat Leek Town 3-2 in a replayed Gilgryst Cup 2nd round match.
1952 United purchase freehold of The Cliff from the Clowes estate.
1966 Construction of a £60,000 indoor all-weather training area.
1968 New facilities block erected with changing rooms, a sauna, offices, dining room, medical room and kit store.
1973 - £30,000 gym added.
2000 The first team, reserves and Academy move to new facilities in Carrington.
2000 onwards The Cliff becomes the base for United's Football in the Community scheme and hosts junior and women's team matches.
* Obviously Salford City FC have come on a bit since 2006 and are now a Football League team, owned by some of those very players who made up the Class of '92 and cited The Cliff as their inspiration.
Main photo shows Alex Ferguson's desk at The Cliff
Photos by Steven Speed
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Salford Stars Part 2 click here
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Nigel Pivaro Looks Back Over 15 Years of the Star click here
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Eight Happenings That Encapsulate Salford: Part 2 click here
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