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On This Day in Football: Old Trafford reopens, Bundesliga begins

Related Topics: Old Trafford

During World War II, German bombing runs across Manchester had destroyed much of Manchester United’s iconic Old Trafford stadium.

The FA had already suspended league football in 1939, but even when it returned in 1946, Old Trafford was still in the rebuilding phase. United rented the Maine Road stadium, home of their bitter rivals Manchester City, for £5000 a year and a percentage of gate receipts to play their home games for three seasons.

But on this day in 1949, United returned to Old Trafford to play Bolton Wanderers in front of 41,748 excited fans, and won 3-0.