Wembley Stadium: 50th Anniversary

Questo campo da calcio famoso in tutto il mondo celebra il suo primo centenario; può ospitare 90.000 spettatori ed è la sede della nazionale inglese. Sebbene l’edificio storico sia stato demolito e ricostruito quasi integralmente nel 2007, la sua importanza emblematica per la società britannica è rimasta invariata.

Bandera UK
Daniel Francis

Speaker (UK accent)

Aggiornato il giorno

Wembley 50th anniversary april 23 shutter

Ascolta questo articolo

Stampare

Inaugurated by King George V in 1923, Wembley Stadium — or the Empire Stadium as it was initially known — was built in less than a year at a cost of £750,000 (around £46 million today). Located in the northwest London suburb of Wembley, it was destined to be the centrepiece of the bombastic British Empire Exhibition. However, a more popular event launched the venue: the FA Cup, a football tour- nament first held in 1871, pitted English teams from all divisions against each other. It was decided that the 1923 final, between West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers, should be held at Wembley.

 

white horse

On Saturday 28 April 1923, enormous crowds showed up at the stadium for the match. Originally designed to hold 125,000 people, it is thought that more than double tried to get through the turnstiles. After an hour’s delay, the game began; but spectators were so close to the pitch that the ball was constantly kicked back into play when it looked like it was going out. A mounted police officer had to keep the crowd from spilling onto the pitch. This iconic game (which Bolton won 2-0) would become known as the White Horse Final.

GREYHOUNDS AND LIONS

Unfortunately, the British Empire Exhibition of 1924 was a financial flop. With the stadium’s future in doubt, a self-made businessman called Arthur Elvin raised the funds to save it. He relied on the growing popularity of greyhound dog racing but retained the connection with the English Football Association. Some of the most emotional moments of English footballing history have centred on Wembley. On 30 April 1938, the first live TV broadcast of the FA Cup Final was held. International games began at Wembley in 1945, with England (or the ‘Three Lions’ as they are known, because of the crest on the shirt) remaining undefeated at home for thirty years. England’s proudest moment, though, was in 1966 when they became world champions.

THE LIONESSES

As the 20th century came to an end, it was clear that the original Wembley was no longer fit for use. In 2003, it was demolished to make way for a modern stadium, accessible to all. Today’s Wembley is a ninety thousand all-seater stadium with a gigantic arch, 133 metres tall at its highest point. With its lifts, escalators and huge hospitality areas, it is in the top rank of stadiums anywhere in the world. The stadium is home to the England senior men’s team and the senior women’s team, the Lionesses — European champions in 2022.

Diverse Events

Wembley has, of course, also hosted other events than football: it has been a venue for two Olympic Games, in 1948 and in 2012. It has also hosted rugby matches, world title boxing fights, NFL clashes, speedway, show-jumping, Gaelic football, hurling, motorsports and greyhound racing. Most famously, however, it is a world-renowned music venue. The stadium hosted the multi-act Live Aid concert in 1985, broadcast live to more than one billion people across 110 countries. It has also hosted huge individual acts, including Madonna, Queen, Beyoncé, Pink Floyd, U2 and coming up this year Coldplay, Mötley Crüe and Harry Styles.

 

457 Cover April 23 457

Questo articolo appartiene al numero April 2023 della rivista Speak Up.

The Serum Run: Heroic Dogs and Mushers

Places

The Serum Run: Heroic Dogs and Mushers

Cento anni fa, venti uomini e centocinquanta cani percorsero più di mille chilometri attraverso la gelida Alaska per prevenire una mortale epidemia di difterite.

Talitha Linehan

Beatles Films: Top 5

Entertainment

Beatles Films: Top 5

I Beatles non sono stati solo popstar, ma anche icone del cinema. Dalle commedie surrealiste alle innovazioni nell’animazione, la loro eredità cinematografica prosegue.

Conor Gleeson

More in Explore

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Oxford v. Cambridge: The Boat Race

Culture

Oxford v. Cambridge: The Boat Race

Oxford e Cambridge sono da secoli simbolo di eccellenza accademica, ma la loro rivalità sportiva è altrettanto famosa. Scopriamo come si preparano alla celebre regata annuale sul Tamigi immergendoci nel cuore di questa tradizione.

Melita Cameron-Wood