Cheers I'll try that tomoz

We go every year without fail no matter who gets there. We always get a duo ticket at Wallgate about 10.30am. Breakfast in Manchester and drinks. Tram to the stadium. Watch the match. Drink in one of the local before getting tram back into Manchester . Few more drinks and then last train back to Wallgate. Always works for us. Never had a problem.

The trains are fine, its just catching the tram back to Manchester to get on the train. It can take ages to get through the cattle pen at the back of the cricket ground. Unless you know what you are doing

Caught the tram to the Lowry Outlet place couple years ago, probably going to do that again. Pretty quiet, only a few mins from the ground and there's plenty of food options.

Same sort of question was asked recently on another thread.
Personally, as the weather forecast is, I think, reasonable, thinking of walking to OT from Manchester city centre and back and picking up the tram from Victoria home.
One tip is to go to Trafford Bar (the stop before OT), turning left on coming out, and walking down Talbot Road towards the cricket ground, and then turning right towards the football ground.
On returning, pick up the tram marked for Rochdale, as this uses the same line as the one for the cricket ground (Altrincham). This return will take you to Victoria rail station, but NOT Piccadilly rail station.
You could pick up the cricket ground tram at Trafford Bar as well if you're lucky to find one with room on, but, as stated, it's likely to be packed.

Gotta say, you deserve all you got only going to manchester at 1pm. !!
most peeps are on their umpteenth pint by then, on top of a good breakfast in manchester.
This is the Grand Final ................ what you doing up until 1pm ?
Get into Manchester, join in the singing and jollity outside of Mitre / Old wellington /Sinclairs pubs, Beltin.

Some of us are going to watch a game of Rugby League also.

Was gonna say im not planning on getting a train until early afternoon to be honest. Hoping to get to manchester around 2 then have a few drinks before heading to the stadium.

Might look at going a bit earlier now reading some of this

Getting to Manchester isn't the problem it's getting over to old Trafford

If you're fairly fit, walk from Deansgate or Salford Crescent.

To be honest we are thinking of getting a cab to the stadium when we are ready. For the sake of a couple of quid each looks worth it to skip hassle. Dont mind wandering back or getting a tram maybe.

I'm coming in from the south of Manchester on the tram. I am hoping the East Didsbury to Trafford Bar route isn't all that busy, and going home I think I will being going against the flow.

Same, we're getting the East Didsbury to Trafford Bar tram early in the afternoon, then having a few drinks round the ground. The atmosphere in the city centre's usually brilliant on GF day, but I really can't be bothered being squashed in a tram from Piccadilly to Old Trafford!

Northern normally run special trains to and from Old Trafford
Piccadilly > Oxford Road > Deansgate > Old Trafford station.
The last time I caught it, I seem to recollect that the journey was covered (but please check when you purchase!) by the "Machester Stations" on the ticket into Manky.
Failing that, and you use the tram, don't get the tram to Old Trafford, use the Eccles line and get off at Exchange Quay... less busy, and probably a shorter walk.