Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium stands in the London Borough of Brent. It occupies the site of Watkin’s Tower, a folly built in the 19th century. The first stadium opened in 1923 as the Empire Stadium and hosted the FA Cup final that same year. Known as the White Horse Final, the match saw 240,000 to 300,000 fans cram into a ground meant for 127,000. Mounted police, including PC George Scorey and his white horse Billy, cleared the pitch so the game could start 45 minutes late. The stadium became famous for its Twin Towers and the 39 steps to the Royal Box. It held five European Cup finals, the 1966 World Cup final and the Euro 1996 final. Brazilian legend Pelé once called it the cathedral of football. The ground also hosted the 1948 Summer Olympics, rugby league finals and major music events like Live Aid in 1985. After financial troubles in the 1920s, Arthur Elvin saved the stadium by introducing greyhound racing. Visitors find the modern stadium’s all‑encircling aluminium and glass roof striking. The pitch is surrounded by steep, covered stands that seat 90,000. Outside, the White Horse Bridge commemorates the 1923 final. Nearby, the old Twin Towers’ top section stands as a memorial in a local park. The stadium’s museum collection is held by the National Football Museum.