ON THIS DAY

On August 24th 1968 The First Division fixture between Nottingham Forest and eventual champions Leeds United was halted when a fire broke out in the Main Stand at the City Ground. Although the wooden stand was destroyed in similar circumstances to what would happen at Valley Parade 17 years later thankfully none of the 31,126 fans present at the ground that day suffered injury. The match was abandoned shortly before half time with the score at 1-1.

Bomb damage had seen Old Trafford closed for the first three post-war seasons with Manchester United setting up home at Manchester City's Maine Road ground. But against Bolton at the start of the 1949/50 season United came home and life at Old Trafford resumed. A crowd of 41,748 saw United beat Bolton 3-0.