Gerard Piqué
The stadium was officially opened by Sir Alex Ferguson. For the first game at the new ground, Curzon played a Manchester United XI which included Gerard Piqué, Giuseppe Rossi, Fraizer Campbell and Jonny Evans. Outside the stadium, a statue stands commemorating three locally born footballers associated with the World Cup; Geoff Hurst (born in Ashton), Jimmy Armfield (Denton), and Simone Perrotta (also born in Ashton).