Wembley at 100 and the 1923 ‘white horse’ FA Cup final – photo essay

Wembley Stadium stands like a grey fortress at the top of a slight hill, marked from afar by its twin towers. It was approached today by a wide avenue from the main road leading through the ragged beginnings of the huge exhibition buildings. At the top of the hill the crowd had first to pass through a long line of turnstiles, and then were confronted with the enormous outer wall of the stadium, pierced at intervals by the iron gates leading to the terraces on the slope reserved for standing places. There were also flights of steps here and there giving access to the raised terrace outside, from which ticket-holders were to reach their seats on the stands.

Thousands of football fans head to the stadium in Wembley ahead of kick-off. Photo: Alamy

From twelve o’clock there was a steady pour of through the turnstiles, but everything worked smoothly. I entered at 1.35 and found no difficulty in climbing up to my place in the press gallery at the top of the stand on the north side, above the Royal Box. But even at that time I saw that the outer terrace was thronged with a great crowd of men, who seemed to be rushing to and fro trying various entrances. Some were certainly ticket-holders; others had paid to stand, and were simply bent on getting in somewhere.

The West Ham fans set off for the stadium in full spirits. Photo: Corbis

A Bolton Wanderers supporter leaves central London on his way to the stadium. Photo: Topical Press

One noticed that there were few officials about to give directions, and the policeman at the doors were unfamiliar with the new stadium. Looking down from the press gallery there seemed at 1.45pm to be no more room for anybody. It was the most stupendous crowd I have ever seen, for the simple reason that