Around and about Manchester United

1. Some people say that Manchester is England’s second city. Is this true?
The people of Birmingham certainly don’t think so. Birmingham is normally described as England’s second city. However, a recent BBC opinion poll showed that more people consider Manchester to be England’s second city.

2. Why?
Manchester has a great deal to offer in terms of music, nightlife and business. Manchester Airport is the UK’s busiest outside London, and many countries have consulates in Manchester, reflecting the city’s international importance. They include Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan, Poland and Sweden. The British Council also has offices in Manchester.

3. So which is bigger: Manchester or Birmingham?
It’s not easy to say. The city of Birmingham has around twice the population of Manchester.  Manchester has just 450,000 inhabitants, making it only the sixth biggest in England. But all the towns and cities around Manchester, what is called Greater Manchester, have a population of 2.56 million, which is more than the West Midlands area around Birmingham. So it is the UK’s second largest conurbation (after London).

4. What sort of people live in Manchester?
Like a lot of UK cities, it is quite cosmopolitan. There is a lot of religious diversity.  It has the second largest Jewish population in the UK after London and Greater Manchester has one of the largest Muslim populations in the UK. There is a small Chinatown  in the city centre and Manchester holds one of the largest St Patrick’s Day parades in Europe outside of Ireland.

5. Who is Alex Ferguson, and why is he so famous?
Alex Ferguson has been Manchester United’s manager since 1986, and has been in this role longer than any other Premier League manager. United were having difficulties when Ferguson took over, but with Ferguson as manager, they have been Premier League champions 11 times out of 16 since the Premier League began in 1992. He was made a knight (Sir Alex Ferguson) by the Queen for his services to football.

6. Is Manchester United’s stadium also used for cricket matches?
A lot of people get mixed up about this. United’s ground is called Old Trafford. Five minutes away, there is another large sports ground, but this one is used for cricket, not football. But confusingly, the cricket ground is also called Old Trafford! But they are not the same building.

Click here for a vocabulary activity

What do you remember about Manchester United?

Read the statements about Manchester United and decide if they are true or false.

Exercise

Which of the following famous Australians were actually born in Manchester?

• Kylie Minogue
• The Bee Gees
• Mel Gibson
• Shane Warne 

To find out more about city of Manchester, look at the entry for Manchester City.

Find out more about Manchester from Visit Britain’s Manchester destination guide.