Ton our way to Wembley
100 years of the iconic stadium
Victorian railway magnate Sir Edward Watkin wanted to build an awe-inspiring tourist attraction, a British Eiffel tower taller than its Paris rival.
Sadly, his vision for the north west London suburb of Wembley turned out to be a huge flop. But what he began there would morph into a towering icon unrivalled around the world.
It is 100 years today since Wembley Stadium opened and in its old and new incarnations it has witnessed many of the century’s defining moments – from England’s 1966 World Cup victory to Live Aid in 1985.
But the man who first breathed life into Wembley died in 1901 believing it would be remembered for failure. In the 1880s he had bought 280 acres in the area hoping Victorians would flock there to marvel at his 1,174ft tower – 150ft higher than the Paris landmark
– and enjoy the surrounding park.
But soon after the first stage was built, what became known as Watkin’s
Folly began to lean. It had to be demolished in 1907.
However, the park around it proved popular. And when a venue was needed for the 1924 British
Empire Exhibition, work began on “a great national sports ground” precisely on the site of Watkin’s doomed tower.
The stadium with its trademark twin towers cost £750,000 – the equivalent of £58million today – and took 300 days to build.
It was ready on April
24, 1923 – four days before the first football match there, the infamous “White Horse”
FA Cup final between West
Ham and 2-0 winners Bolton Wanderers. With no tickets issued, more than 200,000 fans swarmed in, thousands ending up on the pitch. The defining image was that of policeman George Scorey on his white horse Billy trying to restore order. Wembley survived threatened demolition at the end of the exhibition and became the scene of some of our most treasured memories.
Players around the world dreamt of scoring on its famous turf.
Unforgettable moments include Stanley Matthews finally gaining a Cup winner’s medal in 1953 and Bobby Charlton’s brace as Man Utd beat Benfica 4-1 to win the 1968 European Cup. And it was the scene of England women’s World Cup win over Germany last year.
Down the years Wembley has hosted the 1948 Olympics, wrestling, boxing and the Rugby League Challenge Cup final. In 1968 a packed stadium saw Wakefield Trinity’s Don Fox miss the last kick of the game in front of the posts, costing his side victory.
Evel Knievel chose Wembley for his 1975 bid to jump 13 doubledeckers. He failed and broke his hand and pelvis instead.
In the 2012 Olympics more than 70,000 saw the GB women’s football team beat Brazil and progress into the quarter finals.
For music lovers the stadium holds just as much status. In 1985
Live Aid featured The Who, Paul McCartney, David Bowie and Queen raising money for famine relief. The Spice Girls – minus Victoria Beckham – played three sold-out nights in 2019.
But the years had taken their toll and a full rebuild was overdue.
Jon Bon Jovi played the last concert at old Wembley in August 2000. The final match was two months later, England losing to Germany in a World Cup qualifier. The new stadium opened in 2007.
It cost £700million and featuring a 440ft arch to replace the Twin Towers.
But the reborn Wembley has lost none of its magic. When workmen bulldozed the old stadium they found under the pitch remnants Sir Edward’s Tower. His now seems a modest ambition compared to what Wembley has become.
HAPPY 100th birthday to Wembley.
The stadium has not just been the home to England’s national sport, it has been the scene of some of the greatest moments in its history.