When Wembley was converted for ski jumping

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On April 28, 2023, the most famous stadium in the world will celebrate its centenary. Built for the “British Empire Exhibition”, the “Empire Stadium” became a football stadium with a reach all over the world. Blick has selected the greatest moments in the history of Wembley Stadium:

The opening game at the old stadium, dubbed the “White Horse Final” because a white horse drives the spectators off the field before the game begins. According to the official count, 126,047 spectators attended, but estimates put it at 300,000. In fact, only 125,000 fit in the stadium – it’s a wonder it didn’t come to a catastrophe. The fans watch an exciting game between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United. The first FA Cup final goes 2-0 to the Wanderers.

It is the most famous goal in football history. In extra time of the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley, Sir Geoff Hurst fired at the German goal as the score was 2–2. The ball flies past goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski and bounces off the crossbar onto the ground. After consultation with the linesman, the Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst gives the goal. England take a 3-2 lead and eventually become world champions 4-2, Hurst scores three goals. After several investigations, it was confirmed in 2006 that the ball had never been behind the goal line and the goal should not have counted.

Opening match of the 1996 European Championship in England. There are 76,567 spectators in attendance, Wembley is sold out. Switzerland meet the hosts and are 1-0 down after 23 minutes and a goal from Alan Shearer. In the 83rd minute, referee Manuel Diaz Vega (Spain) whistled for a hand penalty for the Nati. Striker Kubilay Türkyilmaz puts the ball down, runs and converts it. The Swiss can make it 1-1 in time and cause a surprise. But it remains the only goal at the European Championship, Switzerland is eliminated by one point, the matches against Scotland and the Netherlands are lost with zero.

Finally, after 56 failed years, England win another title. But it’s not the men who party at Wembley. It is the “Lionesses” who make it possible for the English to have a football festival. Sarina Wiegmann’s team beat the German women’s national team in front of a record crowd of 87,192 men and women in the final of the European Championship. In extra time, ManCity striker Chloe Kelly scored the 2-1 after a confusing situation and caused the stadium to explode. Memories of the men’s world title in 1966 are awakened.

During World War II, the stadium was used to house refugees. But there are also football matches, including some unofficial international matches. The English Football Association introduced the “Football League War Cup” in 1940 to replace the FA Cup, which was canceled due to the war. However, the final match is only played at Wembley for the first two years. Then the whole competition became North and South Cup and only the clubs from the southern part of England played a semi-final at Wembley.

In the early years, the stadium built for the British Empire Exhibition was not profitable at all. A real estate speculator buys it and sells it to one of his employees before committing suicide. Needing to somehow fund the newly purchased Wembley, new owner Arthur Elvin, a former fighter pilot, begins organizing greyhound races. He founded the Wembley Stadium and Greyhound Racecourse Company and financed the maintenance of the greyhound races. Wembley National Stadium Limited was founded in 1997 and has been owned by the Football Association of England ever since.

On May 31, 1961, Wembley Stadium will be the scene of a sport usually played on a mountain and in colder regions. To raise money for the British Ski Association, a ski jumping slope is being built and about forty ski jumpers from all over Europe are taking part in a show jumping competition. To make the event possible, a snow machine had to be purchased to snow the ramp and landing. However, the event did not find the hoped-for popularity, even though the idea of ​​ski jumping in a football stadium was revolutionary at the time.

In July 1985, the European part of the “Live Aid” benefit concert took place in the stadium. The other part takes place simultaneously in Philadelphia at John F. Kennedy Stadium. The aim is to draw attention to the famine in Ethiopia and to get donations. With performances by Queen, U2, David Bowie and Elton John in London and USA for Africa, Led Zeppelin and Madonna in Philadelphia, among others, an estimated 1.9 billion TV viewers can be reached. The organizers distribute the donations to NGOs in Ethiopia.

Source : Blick

Emma

I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.