Wembley from the air in 1924.
By Philip Barker
On January 10th 1922, construction began on what was to become one of the most famous sporting arenas in the world at Wembley in North London.
The official ‘Court Circular’ records how Prince Albert, Duke of York, (later King George VI) “inaugurated the building of the Empire Exhibition at Wembley Park this afternoon.”
Wembley Stadium was to be the centrepiece of a huge exhibition to be held in 1924.
The launch ceremony was attended by Lord Morris, chairman of the committee to build the stadium and other dignitaries.
A crowd of curious spectators also gathered to see the arrival of the Royal visitor.
“I am one of those who believe in sport,” the Duke told them.
“Here in this beautiful park will I hope, be enshrined, a permanent testimonial to what the Empire can do in peace,” he continued.
“I must confess that one of the reasons that this gives me the greatest possible pleasure, is that more work may be found for the great army of men who through no fault of their own are suffering distress and anxiety from unemployment.”
£1 million had been raised for the construction of the new National Stadium. No less a figure than David, Prince of Wales, (later King Edward VIII) had led the calls for its construction. It was built in only 300 days.
Terracing and stands were anticipated to accommodate 130,000.
“A banqueting hall and restaurants behind the chief pavilion will enable refreshments to be obtained at all times,” said publicity.
The 1923 FA Cup Final between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United was the first to be played at the new stadium.
The match was not “all ticket,” and the official FA history by sportswriter Geoffrey Green described “the stadium invaded by a multitude, like some tidal wave carried along by its own momentum pouring over the lush green pitch.”
Over 200,000 were present but mounted police moved the crowd back. Most famous was a white horse called “Billy” ridden by Police Constable George Scorey. When the pitch was finally cleared, Bolton won the match 2-0.
Many ex-Servicemen found employment at the 1924 Exhibition. Amongst them, Arthur Elvin, put in charge of a cigarette kiosk at the princely sum of £4.50 a week.
He later acquired demolition rights for the exhibition, an early example of sustainability as fixtures and fittings were dismantled and reused elsewhere.
Elvin eventually persuaded city investors to finance the purchase of the stadium and soon he had become managing director.
When London bid for the 1944 Olympics,
Newspapers reported how the IOC members “after being shown all round by Mr. Elvin, decided that with all the alterations and the increased accommodation he had in mind, it would suit their purpose admirably.”
They later watched a pageant organised by the “Women’s League of Health and Beauty.”
London was duly elected as the host city for 1944, well ahead of Rome, Detroit and Lausanne.
Of course, war ended all Olympic thoughts for 1944, although the stadium continued to stage football and other events to bolster morale.
In August 1945, the IOC Executive Committee resolved to restart the Olympics as soon as possible. They met in London and decided that as time was short, a postal ballot would be taken. Voting slips sent out to members hinted heavily that London was the preferred candidate.
In May 1946, Elvin announced that Wembley would be put at the disposal of the organising committee without charge.
The 1948 Olympics were “proclaimed open” by King George VI, as Albert Duke of York was now known.
The Flame was lit by medical student John Mark to set the Games in motion.
The celebrated conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent led the mass choirs as they sang “Non Nobis Domine” by Roger Quilter. This had been selected for use as the Olympic Hymn in 1948.
During the Games the stadium was mainly used for athletics.
The main stadium attraction had been athletics, hosted on a cinder track.
Czech runner Emil Zatopek marked his Olympic debut with victory in the 10,000m.
Events open to women were limited, but Micheline Ostermayer of France won discus and shot put gold along with a bronze in the high jump.
30-year-old Dutchwoman, Fanny Blankers Koen, inspired by taunts from journalists that she was too old, won four gold medals.
Wembley hosted the men’s hockey final won by India. The sport was then played on grass.
Football gold went to Sweden in the other major team sport. Inspired by Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl, and Nils Liedholm, a trio collectively known as Gre-No- Li, they beat Denmark in the final.
There was also an exhibition of Lacrosse won by Rensselaer Polytechnic from New York.
Originally it had also been planned that gymnastics take place in the stadium but uncertain weather forced organisers to move the competition to an indoor venue.
The Games ended in sunlight, as Mexico won both individual and jumping golds in the stadium as horses were permitted on the famous turf.
Two years later stone tablets recording the victors were unveiled by Organising Committee chairman Lord Burghley.
“This was Wembley’s finest hour. Many great occasions of sport have been witnessed here on this ground, but, none, I believe, had the same deep and significant importance as the two and a half weeks during the Olympic Games. I have pleasure in unveiling these immortal scrolls.”
Trumpeters played a fanfare as Olympic flags covering the tablets were pulled aside.
The 1952 Olympic football gold medallists from Hungary accepted an invitation to play England in November 1953.
Inspired by their mercurial captain, Ferenc Puskas, Hungary won 6-3, a result which astonished the football world. One member of the England team took the lesson to heart. Sir Alf Ramsey later became national team manager and guided England to a 4-2 extra time victory over West Germany in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final.
The match has been recounted many times, but is still considered amongst the most dramatic events ever seen at the stadium.
In the late 1970s another London Olympic bid was considered and discounted, but in 1985, Wembley Stadium was listed as the lynchpin of a potential London bid for 1992.
“A Northwest London Games based around Wembley stadium is an attractive and practical proposition,” the promotional dossier claimed.
The British Olympic Association preferred Birmingham as their candidate, so the bid never saw the international light of day.
A modernised Wembley was originally intended to be the venue of the 2005 World Athletics Championship, but plans fell through, much to the irritation of the international athletics community.
The old stadium closed in October 2000 and the entire site was soon demolished, including the famous Twin Towers.
Building a new stadium had just begun when London launched an Olympic bid for 2012.
The IOC Evaluation Commission visited the construction site shortly before the vote which awarded London the Games in 2005.
The new Wembley finally opened in 2007.
At the 2012 Olympics, it staged both women’s and men’s football. 70,000 saw Britain beat Brazil, eclipsed by 80,203 for the women’s final when the United States defeated Japan.
In the men’s competition, Mexico’s semi-final victory over Japan was witnessed by 82,000 and over 86,000 were there to see them beat Brazil for the gold.
Wembley was also one of the principal venues for the 2021 Euros.
In the final, Italy beat England on penalties, a dramatic way to set the seal on almost a century of sporting association.
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