Football grounds from the air Gallery

Wembley Cup Final 1923 EPW008545

WEMBLEY STADIUM, London. The first Wembley FA Cup Final was marked by disorderly scenes. Before the match a massive crowd outside the stadium rushed the gates, burst the barriers and swarmed on to the pitch. Kick-off was delayed for 45 minutes as mounted police encouraged people to move behind the touchlines. It was estimated that 200, 000 fans had squeezed into Wembley. Bolton beat West Ham 2-0. Aerial photograph taken on 28th April 1923 (taken from a copy negative). Aerofilms Collection (see Links)

© Historic England Aeroflims Collection

Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough EAW613650

AYRESOME PARK, Middlesbrough. Aerial view of the former home of Middlesbrough Football Club, photographed in 1992. Having obtained promotion the Teessiders were founder members of the Premier League, but found themselves relegated again at the end of the 1992-93 season. Boro moved to the Riverside Stadium in 1995. Ayresome Park played host to Group 4 matches at the 1966 World Cup. Aerofilms Collection (see Links)

© Historic England

British Empire Exhibition 1924 EPW010737

BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION, London. Photographed in June 1924 at Wembley, Middlesex. Its official aim was "to stimulate trade, strengthen bonds that bind mother Country to her Sister States and Daughters". It was the largest exhibition ever staged anywhere in the world, attracting 27 million visitors. The main exhibition buildings surrounded and fronted onto the lakes (right of centre in this picture). The Exhibition Station (foreground) adjoining the India pavilion, palaces of Engineering (middle right), Industry, and Arts (top), with the Australia and Canada pavilions to the left of the lakes. the Palace of Engineering and the British Government Pavilion survived into the 1970s. The Empire Pool became the Wembley Arena, and the Empire Stadium was also kept until 2002, when it was demolished to be replaced by the new Wembley Stadium. Aerofilms Collection (see Links)

© Historic England