 F.C. United initially proposed a stadium at Ten Acres Lane in Newton Heath , on the site of an existing leisure centre and Astroturf outdoor football pitch . The plans indicated that these community facilities would have been maintained within the new scheme . Newton Heath is 2 @.@ 8 miles ( 4 @.@ 5 km ) east north east of Manchester city centre and has close links to Manchester United , who were formed in the urban area and were originally known as Newton Heath LYR Football Club between 1878 and 1902 . However , on 4 March 2011 it was announced that Manchester City Council had backed out of plans to fund the new stadium with grants , despite the fact that the previously agreed £ 1 @.@ 5 million was close to being raised by fans , and F.C. United moved to search for other sites . Despite this the Council stated that they were still committed to helping F.C. United build a ground in Manchester and on 5 April 2011 it was announced that , after considering three possible alternative sites , Ronald Johnson Playing Fields in Moston was the preferred location for the stadium to be built according to Manchester City Council . 
