| Summary : Moor Lane sports ground has remained in use for organised sport for over 320 years; longer, it is thought, than any open space in Manchester. The ground once formed part of Kersal Moor racecourse, which dates back to 1681. From 1847-1919 it was called Kersal Cricket Ground. But in 1881 it also staged the Northern Tennis Tournament; this was the Northern's second year, the first having been held at Broughton CC. Moor Lane was also used from around 1780 by the Broughton Archers, and in 1887 for a meeting of the newly-formed Manchester Athletics Club, which would later move to Fallowfield. In 1919 Moor Lane Lane became home of the Manchester Football Club, the city's oldest rugby club (despite the tage FC, formed in 1860. It was during its tenure, in the 1930s, that the concrete post and beam stand was built. Manchester FC moved on in 1968 (they are now based in Cheadle), and were briefly replaced by Langworthy Juniors, an amateur rugby leage club. They in turn were followed by the present custodians, Salford City FC, who have maintained Moor Lane since 1976 on a lease from Salford City Council. More recently, from 2002-04 the ground was also rented by Swinton Rugby League Club. |