Qualla: Wembley Stadium (1923)

Wembley Stadium (1923): Introduction

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Unknown author, Public domain. Pele called it "the cathedral of football." George V cut the first turf with a silver spade in 1922. The Empire Stadium - later just called Wembley - opened with what should have been a disaster and instead became the building's defining story. On 28 April 1923, somewhere between 240,000 and 300,000 people poured through 104 turnstiles to watch Bolton Wanderers play West Ham in the FA Cup Final. The official capacity was 127,000. The crowd spilled out of the terraces and onto the pitch itself. The match should not have happened. Then Police Constable George Scorey rode in on a horse named Billy and, over 45 minutes, slowly walked the crowd back to the sidelines. The match kicked off. Bolton won 2-0. David Jack scored the first ever goal at Wembley. The horse was white. The footbridge outside the new Wembley is now named after Billy.

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Image: Unknown author | Public domain

Wembley Stadium (1923): Built in 300 Days

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Unknown author, Public domain. The site of the stadium was a strange piece of property. Edward Watkin's failed attempt to build a British rival to the Eiffel Tower had left a crater of broken foundations where the Empire Stadium would rise. Architects Sir John Simpson and Maxwell Ayrton designed the structure ...

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Image: Unknown author | Public domain

Wembley Stadium (1923): The Matthews Final and the 1948 Games

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Stanley Matthews was 38 years old when he played in the 1953 FA Cup Final for Blackpool against Bolton - his third FA Cup Final, and as it turned out, his last chance at a winner's medal. He had lost the 1948 Final to Manchester United and the 1951 Final to Newcastle. Blackpool w...

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Image: Unknown | CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Wembley Stadium (1923): 1966

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Sunil060902, CC BY-SA 3.0. England played its first Wembley international against a non-British team in 1951. Until then, the only opponents the national team played at Wembley were Scotland. Wembley hosted nine matches at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, including the final on Saturday 30 July 1966. England wore ...

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Image: Sunil060902 | CC BY-SA 3.0

Wembley Stadium (1923): Live Aid and the Concert Years

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit LONDON: FLEETWAY PRESS LTD., 3-9, Dane Street, High Holborn, W.C.1, Public domain. Wembley became a concert venue gradually. The London Rock and Roll Show in August 1972 was the first major popular music event in the stadium. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young played in September 1974. The Who, AC/DC and the Stranglers played in August 1979 - the Who's first major ...

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Image: LONDON: FLEETWAY PRESS LTD., 3-9, Dane Street, High Holborn, W.C.1 | Public domain

Wembley Stadium (1923): Demolition

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit The original uploader was King Robert at German Wikipedia. (Original text: King Robert. Mein ehemaliger Kumpel Björn K. hat mich mit Kevin K. in meinem Auftrag fotografiert.), CC BY-SA 3.0. The 1966 World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore opened the doors on the last week. The stadium closed in October 2000. Chelsea won the last FA Cup Final played there on 20 May 2000, beating Aston Villa 1-0 on a goal by Roberto Di Matteo. The last competitive club match was the 200...

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Image: The original uploader was King Robert at German Wikipedia. (Original text: King Robert. Mein ehemaliger Kumpel Björn K. hat mich mit Kevin K. in meinem Auftrag fotografiert.) | CC BY-SA 3.0