Salford City FC 5-1 Man Utd Class of 92 FT Linwood, Platt, Marsh, Seddon, Oates Giggs pen The AJ Bell Stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell is more used to the oval ball with Super League's Salford Red Devils and Rugby Union team, Sale Sharks being the tenants. Not that the round ball is totally excluded as Manchester United U21's play their games on the ground.
However, for one night only a sell-out crowd of around 12,000 fans, who suffered a delayed kick-off because of traffic congestion, were treated to the legends of Manchester United past, in particular what has become known as the Class of '92.
Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Gary and Phil Neville took part in a game against Salford City, the team they now own and who compete in the Evo-Stik League Division One North, the eighth tier in the Football League pyramid.
These quintets were part of the famous United team that won FA Youth Cup in 1992 and later formed the nucleus of Sir Alex Ferguson's successful dynasty.
The long term plan is for Salford City to advance through the divisions and take their place in the Football League with the former United stars keen to give something back to the grassroots game after such successful careers.
As part of the owners commitment to community involvement an announcement was made at half-time that the University of Salford had agreed a five-year partnership with the Salford City owners for academics and students to become involved in the development of the club, Old Trafford Supporters Club and Hotel Football which is due to open next to Old Trafford in November.
Unsurprisingly, not all non-league fans are happy with this situation, feeling the financial clout of this arrangement gives Salford City an unfair advantage.
Similar arguments were used further up the food chain with Jack Walker at Blackburn, Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan with Manchester City. The subtext to all this disgruntlement from fans is not that rich owners are buying club's but that they are not investing in THEIR club!
But all such concerns were forgotten tonight with any ill feeling being directed towards the Pantomime Villain, AKA Robbie Savage (he of the shorn hair), who we tend to forget was also part of this illustrious young group of United players. The former Birmingham and Blackburn player was generously booed when the team's were announced.
The match itself was a gentle affair as was always likely between employees and employer, neither wanting to upset the other.
There was the occasional glimpse of the Scholes 'tackle' whilst Giggs converted an outrageous penalty with a cheeky chip after committing the keeper, whilst CO92 custodian Raymond VD Gow made two fine stops but was helpless to prevent Salford scoring twice in the first period before a generous penalty award reduced the deficit just before the break.
Tomasz Kuszczak went in goal for the CO92 in the second 45 minutes and was beaten three times as Salford City showed that youth and fitness was more than a match for their more professional opponents.
In the second half former England cricket skipper Michael Vaughn and bowler Steve Harmison took the field for the CO92. Vaughn had dashed from his commentating duties at Old Trafford cricket ground, and after seeing India collapse to 8 for 2 at one stage probably expected to see as many goals as runs during his appearance.
Savage was also subbed after the break, even the gentle pace of the game proving too much for the midfielder playing as a central striker.
