The Evolution Of Old Trafford

On 25 March 1939, a crowd of 76,962 fans crammed into Old Trafford for an FA Cup semi-final between Wolves and Grimsby.

That attendance remains a record for the Reds' world-famous stadium, even though it's been gradually developed since the Second World War to become the magnificent arena it is today.

Bomb damage during the war forced Matt Busby's men to vacate Old Trafford and play at Manchester City's Maine Road ground. When United made the emotional return in 1949, standing was still the norm - only 3,000 seats were installed in time for the homecoming match against Bolton Wanderers.

A stated ambition in September 1957 to house 100,000 spectators was shelved as the Munich air disaster the following year refocused the directors' minds to saving the club.

In 1960, the capacity was increased to 66,500 following work on the Stretford End and the neighbouring paddock and, four years later, a cantilever stand on United Road was installed with 10,500 seats and the first private boxes in the country. With Old Trafford due to host World Cup games in 1966, the £350,000 investment was assisted by the government.

The Theatre of Dreams was really starting to take shape. Another cantilever stand with 5,000 new seats extended the Scoreboard End in 1971 and more executive boxes were opened in 1973.

The 1980s brought only minor changes although seats were installed in the Stretford End paddock in 1985 and the Family Stand was introduced.

Following the Taylor Report recommendations in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, the Stretford End was demolished in 1992 and replaced by the new £12million West Stand. Another major development came before Euro '96 when the giant North Stand took the capacity to over 56,000.

The dawn of the new Millennium saw a second tier added to the East and West Stands which increased the size of the ground even further - to circa 67,500 - and the North-West and North-East Quadrants took Old Trafford past the 76,000 mark in 2006.

Consequently, most of the Reds' record attendances since that 1939 cup fixture have been in the past five years or so. The biggest-ever Premier League crowd witnessed the 4-1 beating of Blackburn in 2007 - 76,098. Only 25 less fans saw the 3-1 triumph against Aston Villa earlier the same year.

United's record FA Cup (v Arsenal) and European (v Olympique Lyonnais) home attendances came in 2008 and even as recently as last year, the stadium was still hitting new heights as the thrilling semi-final second-leg success against Manchester City was in front of a record League Cup crowd of 74,576.

So while the stadium's attendance record, set 72 years ago today, is out of reach for the current capacity of 75,797, Old Trafford remains the biggest club ground in England and a stage fit for some of the best football in the world.