Wembley Stadium

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Built on the site of Watkin's Tower folly in exactly 300 days, the stadium faced an uncertain future when the British Empire Exhibition ended. Originally intended for demolition, it was saved by Arthur Elvin, who purchased the financially unviable asset from the British Empire Exhibition committee (or Wembley Stadium Ltd.) for £127,000 in 1927. Elvin secured his position as chairman and saved the ground by introducing greyhound racing in 1927. The stadium became defined by its iconic Twin Towers and the 39 steps leading to the Royal Box. In 1963, an electric scoreboard and a roof made of aluminium and translucent glass were added. Following a pitch invasion during an England vs Scotland match in 1977, fences were erected around the pitch, only to be removed after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

In Their Own Story

The stadium's history is anchored by the 'White Horse Final' on 28 April 1923. The new venue opened just four days prior, but the FA had grossly underestimated attendance, leading to crowds exceeding the official capacity of 127,000. Estimates suggest between 240,000 and over 300,000 fans crammed through 104 gates, spilling onto the pitch until mounted police, including Constable George Scorey on his white horse Billy, cleared a path for kickoff. The match ended in a 2–0 victory for Bolton Wanderers, with David Jack scoring the first ever goal at Wembley. Decades later, in 1953, the stadium hosted the 'Matthews Final', where Stanley Matthews led Blackpool to a 4–3 comeback win over Bolton, featuring a hat-trick by Stan Mortensen—the only one scored in an FA Cup Final at the original venue.

Reader's Guide

The first Wembley Stadium served as the primary venue for England's football team and hosted major events including the 1948 Summer Olympics, five European Cup finals, and the Euro 1996 final where Germany defeated the Czech Republic with the first international golden goal. It also hosted rugby league's Challenge Cup and World Cup finals in 1992 and 1995. Beyond sports, it was a hub for music, including the 1985 Live Aid charity concert, and wrestling, hosting SummerSlam 1992 as the first major pay-per-view outside North America. The stadium closed in October 2000, with demolition commencing in December 2002 and completing in 2003. A piece of one Twin Tower now stands as a memorial in the Saint Raphael's Estate park.

Did You Know?

• The stadium was constructed in exactly 300 days at a cost of £750,000.
• Police Constable George Scorey and his white horse, Billy, are credited with clearing the pitch for the 1923 FA Cup Final, inspiring the name of the White Horse Bridge at the new stadium.
• The only hat-trick ever scored in an FA Cup Final at the original Wembley was by Stan Mortensen during the 1953 'Matthews Final'.
• Arthur Elvin saved the stadium from demolition by forming the 'Wembley Stadium and Greyhound Racecourse Company' and introducing greyhound racing in 1927.
• SummerSlam 1992 was the first major professional wrestling pay-per-view event to take place outside of North America.