Manchester United sell preserved Old Trafford turf for £125 as new stadium era looms

Manchester United have put pieces of the Old Trafford pitch on sale for £125 each, with preserved sections of turf mounted in glass cubes available to supporters as the club edges closer to leaving its historic home.

The turf dates from a full pitch renovation carried out in June — the first time the surface had been stripped back to its foundations in 14 years. The project was led by award-winning groundsperson Tony Sinclair and his team, with the work aimed at improving player welfare and water drainage. Sections of the old surface were carefully preserved during the process before being encased in glass.

“Wins and losses, successes and failures, highs and lows. We’ve seen it all. Now, supporters can own a piece of the pitch,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.

Old Trafford has served as United’s home since 1910 and has been the backdrop to some of the most significant moments in English football, including the club’s record 13 Premier League title wins. The ground is set to be vacated in favour of a new £2bn stadium, with the move potentially completed in time for the 2030/31 season.

The launch of the memento scheme comes at a turbulent moment for the club. United sit 12th in the Premier League table after just one win from their opening five league games, a sharp contrast to the third-place finish they managed last season.

Financially, the picture is equally difficult. On Wednesday, the club also reported a seventh consecutive annual loss, with costs linked to player acquisitions and the sacking of former head coach Ruben Amorim this year pushing the deficit further.