Things to do in Manchester for football fans

Even if you’ve lived here all your life, you’ll likely learn something new on a Jonathan Schofield Manchester Tour. And if you’re visiting from further afield, they’re one of the best ways to discover the city’s stories, secrets and hidden gems.

Manchester United Foundation is an independent charity that supports young people in the local area. Football reaches people in ways other organisations can’t. The foundation uses the power of sport and the Manchester United legacy to help children and teenagers make the most of their potential.

Want to fall in love with your city all over again? Take a boat tour from Manchester River Cruises, and you’ll see its iconic views from a new and surprising perspective.

If dancing on tables with two-pint steins is what you’re after, head to Bierkeller in The Printworks. This Bavarian-themed bar is best known for its live oompah bands which play at weekends. It’s a raucous night out complete with lederhosen and copious amounts of German beer.

BOX is all about big-screen sports, booze (including two-for-one cocktails) and blokes singing – ‘bandeoke’ is a thing and it exists here. The Manchester outpost of a popular Yorkshire concept, head here if you want a front-row seat at every match, game, fixture and fight on a high-definition wide screen. Whatever sports are being shown by Sky, BT and Box Office, you will find them on one of the 25 screens.

The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes has a more grown-up look than most sports bars, all muted greens rather than shouty neon. However, when it comes to atmosphere, it’s a great place to watch live events.

Calcio! is a sports and retro gaming bar on Dale Street in the Northern Quarter. As anyone who remembers watching Italia 90 will know, football is the focus here, but old-school consoles provide the drama when there’s not a match on.

Manchester isn’t just home to two of the best-known football teams in the world – it’s also home to one of the best known football shirt shops. The Classic Football Shirt Shop was born here in 2006, when two Manchester University students Matt Dale and Doug Bierton hit upon the idea of selling secondhand footy shirts after they graduated. They now sell millions of shirts all across the globe online – and a smaller but still substantial number from their trio of shops in London, New York and – where it all started – Manchester.

Hotel Football is about as near to Old Trafford as you can get without camping on the penalty spot. Located directly opposite Manchester United’s ground, the hotel is as on-brand as you’d expect. After all, it’s the work of Gary Neville and some of his Class of 92 counterparts.

Even if you’re not a Blue you can’t help but be impressed with the scale of the Etihad Stadium in this regenerated area of East Manchester.

If you’re looking for a cooler, classier level of souvenir than a keyring with Manchester printed underneath a big red London bus, head to The Manchester Shop. This home-grown success story next to the main entrance to Afflecks on Oldham Street sells Manchester accessories and gifts that will appeal to Mancunians as well as visitors from further afield. 

Even if it’s not a match day, there’s plenty happening at the iconic Old Trafford stadium. The best way to experience it (aside from watching a game, of course) is to go on the behind-the-scenes Manchester United Museum and Stadium Tour.

Where else but footy-mad Manchester to house the National Museum of the UK’s favourite sport? Explore the history of the beautiful game inside the unusual-looking Urbis building next to Manchester Victoria train station.