Maine Road was a football stadium that was home to Manchester City, before their move to the City of Manchester Stadium. It was shared by Manchester United for a period after the Second World War, since Manchester United's Old Trafford ground had been partially destroyed during the Manchester Blitz. The highest attendance at an English League game was at Maine Road on the 17th January 1948, when Manchester United played Arsenal in front of 83,260 fans.

Set amongst terraced housing normally seen only in episodes of Coronation Street, the stadium was about 20 years past its sell-by date when it was demolished in 2004.

The stadium was reputedly cursed by a Gypsy when Manchester City evicted a Gypsy camp from the area. The history of Manchester City certainly suggests that there might be something in this story. A group of Manchester United fans "helpfully" arranged for a Gypsy to transfer the curse to the City of Manchester Stadium in 2003.

The Gypsy curse seems to be endemic to a large percentage of football league grounds as indeed does the sad tale of the donkey falling down a pit.