Manchester Sport

Manchester is not just a football city - it is the most complete sporting city in England, and probably the world. Start with the obvious: Manchester United at Old Trafford and Manchester City at the Etihad. Two global clubs separated by three miles of east Manchester. Derby day at either ground is unlike anything else in English football - the noise, the stakes, the history. United's Theatre of Dreams has stood since 1910; a planned rebuild will push capacity beyond 100,000. City's Etihad opened in 2003 on the Commonwealth Games site and now holds over 55,000. Both clubs have women's teams competing at the top of the WSL. But Manchester sport is far wider than the Premier League. Salford City have climbed from non-league to League One under the backing of Class of '92 and a proper fanbase growing at every level. FC United of Manchester, founded by supporters in 2005 as a protest against the Glazer takeover, play at Broadhurst Park in Moston - proper community football, one of the best atmospheres in non-league. Lancashire County Cricket Club host Test matches, one-day internationals and T20 at Emirates Old Trafford in Stretford. The ground has been staging international cricket since 1884 and the recent redevelopment added a hotel and new stand without losing the old character. Sale Sharks are Gallagher Premiership rugby union at AJ Bell Stadium in Salford - they share the ground with Salford Red Devils, one of rugby league's founding clubs, which gives AJ Bell a unique place in English sport. The Manchester Giants bring BBL basketball to the city, and the Manchester Storm play Elite Ice Hockey League at Altrincham Ice Dome - fast, physical, and genuinely good value for a night out. The National Cycling Centre - the Manchester Velodrome in Clayton - has produced more Olympic gold medals than any other track in the world. British Cycling is based here. The Manchester Aquatics Centre on Oxford Road hosts elite swimming and is open to the public. Belle Vue dogs still run on Friday nights for those who know. On the roads: the Great Manchester Run draws 25,000+ each May, one of Europe's biggest 10k events. The Manchester Marathon through the south of the city follows in spring. Community sport runs deep. Parkrun at Platt Fields in Fallowfield, Heaton Park in the north, and Wythenshawe Park in the south - free, every Saturday morning, hundreds of runners. Hough End playing fields in Chorlton host dozens of teams every weekend. Five-a-side leagues run across the city at Goals and Powerleague sites from Stretford to Failsworth. Whatever your sport, Manchester has it, and it takes it seriously.