Whilst FC United are trying to have plans accepted to build their own ground, at the moment they still have no home on their own - luckily for them they're allowed to pay £5000 a game to use Gigg Lane when Bury are away (sometimes playing at Stalybridge's Bower Fold if this isn't an option but on the whole the fixtures have been set to avoid them clashing).
In truth it is a little bizarre a side with Manchester in their team name playing at a ground so far away from Manchester - it's odd enough them playing some games in Stalybridge, but it felt odd yesterday to get the train to Manchester, then get a 40-something minute bus away from Manchester to get to the ground.
Gigg Lane seems to be in a decent enough area, which surprised me a little as I'm used to league teams tending to have grounds in poor areas. The ground itself looks pretty dull on the outside, as you can see in the picture above, thankfully it's much better on the inside.
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With a capacity of 11,840 it seems far big for FC United to be honest - two stands are left empty for all their games, and the stand on the opposite side to the main stand seems to be there as a possible spillover option - there were 20 people sat in it yesterday. Only the one stand is used, and really the United fans fit into 2 blocks of it - the main stand holds 3,400 so half of that stand covers their attendances. Really a ground like Stalybridge would be more suitable for them until they have their own ground, in terms of them being able to fill a ground and create more of an atmosphere.
I'll give info for Gigg Lane from the perspective of if going to it for an FC United match - fans are segregated, something quite rare in lower divisions of non league, so visiting fans need to enter in turnstiles 8 and 9 (as you approach the main stand from the car park it's the turnstiles on the far left) with the rest for the home fans. It's pay on the gate and £8, consistent with the rest of their league which is quite reasonable for a team who could easily bump the prices up to cash in on their big crowds.
Colours programmes are £2 (seems to be becoming the norm for non league clubs lately). If going to the ground by car there are 280 parking spots, else look for nearby side streets (not right next to the ground though - traffic cones are out on a lot of those streets.) If going via public transport there is the metro option, to me the easiest option is getting the 135 bus from Manchester (stops include near Piccadilly and Victoria stations).
The advice from those who go regularly is to avoid buying food and drink in the ground itself, it's £3 for a pie and £2 tea and coffee. There's a mobile catering unit just next to the car park that charges more reasonable prices - I got a bottle of fanta at £1.50 (I had to get something in yesterday's heat!) which is still a little steep but I'd imagine going off that a tea or coffee would be not much more than a quid so clearly cheaper. I think they're ok with you buying things from here and taking them into the ground, nothing was said about me taking the fanta in anyway!
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