Sir Alex Ferguson unveils Salford City’s new stadium as Manchester United legends Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville watch on

MANCHESTER UNITED icon Sir Alex Ferguson was invited by a trio of United legends to open Salford City’s new ground on Thursday.

The National League North club have unveiled the Peninsula Stadium – which has a capacity of 5,000.

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A handful of United legends from the Class of 92 acquired the club in March 2014, along with businessman and Valencia owner Peter Lim.

Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville agreed to buy the club to put something back into grassroots football, which nurtured them as kids.

The new stadium has been named after a new five-year sponsorship deal with employment law experts Peninsula was signed.

During the official unveiling on Thursday, the former United boss said: “What you’ve done is given something back into the area that gave you the platform for your life.

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“And a lot of people, maybe including myself, thought you were off your head, but nonetheless, putting something in is a measure of the character you’ve got and right through your lives.

“Whatever you’ve achieved, whatever you’ve tried to achieve has always been done with purpose, energy and belief in what you’re doing.”

The club are hoping to completely transform the Moor Lane ground as the club plans to be a Football league club by 2020.

They are also hoping to introduce a 600-capacity supporters’ club.

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The five former players have also announced their intentions to open a new university in nearby Trafford.

After the unveiling, Gary Neville took to the stage to reflect on his journey so far with Salford.

He said: “It was quite a crazy idea to have a football club and it needed to be somewhere that is true to our roots.

“Salford has helped to shape us – whether we have played here, lived here or were born here. We learnt everything we know at The Cliff.”

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