Floodlights were soon erected at The Cliff – an improvement that Old Trafford did not receive until March 1957 – and a rugby league amateur international match was held there in 1952.

[6] At the end of the 20th century, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson came to feel that The Cliff had become too open to the press and the public for him to successfully run the training of the club's first team players, with journalists and opposition spies able to get a look at his tactics all too easily and supporters holding the players up for hours after training with requests for autographs.

[9] In 2003, plans were put forward by Manchester United for a set of 16-metre-tall (17 yd) floodlights at The Cliff, but this was met with opposition from local residents.

[10] On their establishment ahead of the 2018–19 season, it was announced Manchester United Women would train and play their home games at The Cliff, subject to redevelopment.

With no progress three years after the initial announcement, tensions surrounding the lack of backing and resources from the club, particularly training facilities, led to the resignation of Casey Stoney in May 2021.