During Manchester United’s recent game at home to Ipswich Town – a drama-filled encounter which United didn’t lose – I was sent a statistic: the last time United led at half time in a league game at Old Trafford and then lost that game was against Ipswich Town back in 1984.
And I remembered it well, since that game was my first at Old Trafford. Aged 10, I was invited to attend as part of a friend’s birthday party. My dad, a footballer, didn’t take me to the match since he played every Saturday. That was when Manchester United games were played on a Saturday, rather than on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as they have been mostly this season. Times have changed and so must football stadiums, but the idea of that pitch, which I first saw in 1984, moving doesn’t invoke happiness.
On that day, we went into the wooden Stretford Paddock terrace, a dark, corner segment between the main stand and the Stretford End. And there it was. Wow! A verdant green oasis amid the billowing smoky, grey industry of Trafford Park. I was mesmerised just staring at the pitch; it remains one of the greatest moments of my life. As kick off approached, the noise built, tens of thousands singing and swaying in harmony. It felt exciting, visceral. I ached to go again and it was the first of hundreds of visits.
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I’ve experienced so many great Old Trafford moments. The atmosphere was loudest on the terraces in the late 1980s and becoming all-seater in 1994 sucked so much life out of it. By then, the team were brilliant. Blackburn Rovers at home in 1993 was a day-long party to celebrate a first title in 26 years. Any win against Liverpool or Manchester City; Barcelona at home in ’94, ’98, ’08 and ’23: stunning games with noise to match.
It’s home, a special place, but it had failed to keep pace. Under the Glazers ownership investment stalled, steel girders peeled and rival stadiums closed the gap. In 2006, Old Trafford’s 76,000 capacity was 25,000 seats bigger than the next biggest stadium, at Newcastle United. By next year, six other Premier League clubs had more than 60,000 seats. Others are catching up off the pitch. On it, they’ve already gone past United.
The idea of a new Old Trafford divides opinions among fans. Some want to stay at the existing stadium, others want to move. Opinions are strong – 93 per cent of young supporters polled by United’s youth supporters group are against a new stadium. The club’s own surveys show a preference from fans for a new stadium.
I was long in the stay and redevelop/expand the existing Old Trafford camp, but I’ve been fortunate to see some of the superb new stadia where United have played their pre-season games in the United States and been impressed with the architecture, if not the price of tickets and refreshments.
Something had to be done and Tuesday’s designs for a new 100,000 capacity home were daring and vast. The biggest question has yet to be answered: how will it be paid for? But Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the leading decision maker at United despite being the minority shareholder, wants a new stadium to underpin a vast regeneration project in west Manchester, with new housing, which the city needs. The location is a privileged one, the transport links already established.
It’s vital that longstanding fans are not priced out of any new stadium, that fans are properly consulted about the atmosphere.
I feel conflicted. Sad that Old Trafford may no longer exist. Don’t listen to the naysayers, it’s a very good stadium, but it’s riddled with fault lines and it’s tired. Yet I’m excited about an idealised brighter future for United, a club currently mired under a cloud of despondency amid a poor season where the first team are 14th in the Premier League.
The design? It’ll take getting used to. It’s an assault on senses and sensibilities, but it’s bold and maybe brilliant. It doesn’t look like Manchester United, but what does? The current team doesn’t, the league table doesn’t. But it didn’t when I first went in 1984 either.
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Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
Semi-final fixtures
Portugal v Chile, 7pm, today
Germany v Mexico, 7pm, tomorrow
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
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The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
