Wembley Stadium (the original) My Visits 1996-2000

Over many years I had many wonderful days and nights out at Wembley Stadium. Below are the times I visited between 1996 and 2000 when the grand old place closed its gates for the final time. I have included my ticket stubs and brief recollections.

1996

England 1 Switzerland 1 (Saturday 8th June) Euro 96 (att: 76,567)

We travelled down the night before to stay at the Elm Park Hotel in Wembley where we stayed throughout the tournament with Dave 'Crusher' Johnson, Dave Trenham and Andy Clough, sampling every bar in Wembley High Road on a beautifully warm summers evening. 

We went pre match into town, finding the cavernous Waxy O'Connor's in Rupert Street for the first time, and missed most of the opening ceremony which took place before a disappointing opener as we struggled up on packed tube trains.

The Swiss came across as really nice people. I was given a small Swiss flag by one of the many fans around us. Although there was a designated away fans section, it was obvious that many had found alternative sources to cheer on Roy Hodgson's side.

The match itself was a tense affair. Alan Shearer settled the nerves of all England fans when he scored mid way through the first half, a halt his personal scoring drought. 

The Swiss fought themselves back into the match, and it was no surprise when they equalised seven minutes from time thanks to a Kübilay Türkyilmaz penalty.

England 2 Scotland 0 (Saturday 15th June) Euro 96 (att: 76,864)

Another stay over in Wembley, only this time a session in town as we met Ade Stelling and Mick Cammish down near Stamford Bridge. Mick had obviously been thirsty earlier and was not in pristine condition.

We were in a pub called Shoeless Joe's, which was owned by former England rugby player Victor Ubogu. We had sat at a table that we thought had been vacated. However, it was big fella's. Mick made some sort of cutting comment but Victor just laughed along with the rest of us.

Later we headed to the famous World's End on King's Road. We decided to walk there, much to Crusher's chagrin. He suggested in not unsubtle terms that the pub was well titled. 

The following morning we started early in the Wetherspoon's pub on Wembley High Road on another scorching day. Police presence was high, for what the media were trying to build up as some kind of war. The pubs shut ninety minutes before kick off.

What a match it turned out to be, which can be viewed here. 

At half time both sets of fans joined together to generally stick two fingers up to the press and photographers gathering near the blocks between the two sets of fans, in the hope of catching some crowd trouble. Instead the fans sang together to the music. 

Despite the jollity, England fans were becoming concerned with the score blank. Terry Venables made a couple of tactical changes and it altered the match almost immediately. A fine cross was headed home by Shearer.

Scotland were awarded a penalty but David Seaman pulled off a fine save from Gary McAllister's spot kick. Within a minute the ball was at the other end with Paul Gascoigne scoring one of the all time great Wembley goals.

The evening was spent around Earls Court in the good company of many Scottish fans. A great day at the football. We needed a taxi back from Euston owing to shoddy planning!

England 4 Holland 1 (Wednesday 18th June) Euro 96 (att: 76,798)

We decided to travel down on the day of the game as it was a midweek match. The traffic was as heavy as expected, meaning that we didn't have the chance of any pre match beers. Instead it was straight round to the stadium.

It was immediately obvious that the Dutch had somehow got hold of the best part of 30,000 tickets, as large swathes of orange were all around Wembley. However, they would be silenced on a night that was about as good as it gets. Click here to see the action.

A draw would see both sides through to the semi-finals, but England put in one of their best ever performances against Guus Hiddink's highly fancied team. An Alan Shearer penalty divided the teams at half time, but it was a spell after the break that will forever live in the memory. 

Teddy Sheringham, who had a brilliant game, made it 2-0 six minutes after the interval before playing his part in a passing move around the area that tore the Dutch apart before Shearer smashed home.

Sheringham added the fourth in the sixty second minute to round off a devastating eleven minute spell, which was about as good as it gets. Crusher still managed to berate our lads as he wanted six or seven! 

Patrick Kluivert scored a late consolation goal, which in the end knocked Scotland out of the tournament on goal difference. It was a jubilant walk back to the digs after an extended sing song inside the stadium.

Back at the hotel and some poor Dutch entered the bar after the game. We sank as many as we good before the poor landlord had to shut the bar so that he could get up to do our breakfast the following morning.

The buzz on the radio the next morning was immense. We were pretty happy too!

England 0 Spain 0 :Eng won 4-2 on pens after extra time (Saturday 22nd June) Euro 96 Quarter Final (att: 75,440)

Wow. A long but rewarding day. We were down to three as Dave Trenham was unavailable, so Crusher hired a car for the day, picking Cloughie and myself up early on Saturday morning for the journey south on another lovely day.

We parked up at Stanmore and headed to the Corner House where we got stuck into a few beers, having a good chat, with fans of Nuneaton Borough among others.

The match was terrifically tense. Many in the media had got carried away following the midweek win against Holland. However, Spain were a completely different task and had the better of the play for much of the game.

They were denied opening goals on a couple of occasions in the first half through the offside flag of the linesman. Then Seaman, who was having a superb tournament, saved from Javier Manjarín when he clean through.

Shearer spurned a late chance, but the game went to golden goal extra time. A goal from either side would win the game, leading to an extremely cagey thirty minute period; leading to a penalty shoot out.

Spain missed two kicks, but England put the four they ultimately required away in fine style. Shearer and David Platt scored before Stuart Pearce hammered home which led to a huge release of emotions from the player and all England fans. It was left to Paul Gascoigne to finish things off. To relive an incredible afternoon, click here. 

Nobody seemed to want to leave Wembley after the match. A huge long singsong went on for what seemed like ages. "Football's Coming Home" was extremely popular. The celebrations carried on outside and even in the streets of Stanmore. We eventually got back to Scarborough just in time for a couple of beers.

England 1 Germany 1 : Germany won 6-5 on penalties after extra time (Wednesday 26th June) Euro 96 Semi Final (att: 75,862)

Crusher once again did the honours regarding the driving, but this was always going to be a long day, as we were returning immediately after the game through the night.

Again we parked in Stanmore, only this time using the pubs the other side of the station. One was showing the other semi final between the Czech Republic and France, as well as playing lots of music to get fans into the mood. I had my face painted!

Confidence was high even though the match was against our old adversaries. Revenge from the World Cup semi final six years earlier was high on the agenda as we took up a similar set of seats to the previous Saturday.

England got off to a dream start after three minutes when Tony Adams flicked on a Gascoigne corner for Shearer to score at the back post. The Germans drew level fifteen minutes later when Stefan Kuntz was played in to score.

Both teams went for it but the game went to extra time and then the dreaded penalty shoot out. 

England carried on their form from the spot from the Spain match and scored all five of their kicks. Unfortunately, so did Germany. Gareth Southgate missed the sixth penalty, leaving Andreas Möller to put his kick away to send the German's through to the final. See the action here.

I was absolutely devastated, as were my pals. Fortunately to save hassle later on we hung around and managed to sell our tickets for the final to some grateful but disbelieving German fans.

It was a long journey home, truncated at 1am by Robbie Williams launching his solo career by the announcement that he was releasing the George Michael hit "Freedom". It didn't do too much to cheer us up.

1997

Stadium Tour. Sunday 9th March 1997

We had been at Fulham to watch Scarborough on a Supporters Club coach and had stayed at Canary Wharf and enjoyed a top night in the West End despite Boro taking a good 4-0 hammering. The coach dropped us off in the coach park and while some went shopping at Wembley Market, a gang of us went inside for a tour.

The old place was showing signs of age. We went into the Olympic Gallery which hung from the roof and spoiled views for those sitting at the back downstairs at times. I loved it all, but realised facilities elsewhere were rapidly overtaking Wembley.

1999

Arsenal 0 Fiorentina 1 (Wednesday 28th October) Champions League Group Stage (att: 73,336)

I went to this game with some workmates from Lord's; Jason Dell and Dave Inman, who had managed to get me a ticket for just £22.

Arsenal played at Wembley in the Champions League as a trial for a season but it didn't work. The crowds were good but the players weren't used to the surroundings or the different pitch size, while the visitors were inspired. Batistuta scored after 75 minutes to dump the Gunners out of Europe. 

I was shown a bar in an Indian Sports Hall/Community Centre behind the Tunnel End. It became useful that night in torrential rain and in future occasions.

England 0 Sweden 0 (Saturday 5th June) European Championship Qualifier (att: 75,824)

This was a very dull game with a minutes silence before hand in memory of Sir Alf Ramsey, which was interrupted by a few mindless Norwich City fans. 

Crusher came down for the day, and I showed him several of the new places I was rapidly discovering since moving to the capital.

Not for the first time, Sweden frustrated an England team lacking in ideas and ver really looking like scoring.

England 0 Argentina 0 (Wednesday 23rd February) International Friendly (att: 74,008)

This was a freezing night as Crusher came down for an overnight stay. We tried out some new pubs around Warwick Avenue and got there just in time, eventually catching a train from Queen's Park up to Wembley Central. A very arrogant and miserable Alan Pardew was also on board and not making too many friends.

The match was Emile Heskey's debut and he terrified the Argentinians whenever he got the ball as he ran at them. However, Crusher's goal jinx continued, despite it being a relatively entertaining game.

After the match I showed him the Sports Hall behind the tunnel end to let the crowds die down to enjoy a few beers. As we came out Gabriel Batistuta and his agent were trying to bum a lift to Heathrow! 

We went to County Hall the next day to the decent but short lived Football Museum before having a relaxing lunch.

2000

England 1 Brazil 1 (Saturday 27th May) International Friendly (att: 73,956)

Meeting Crusher on a pleasant Saturday morning, we enjoyed beers before heading to Wembley just as a torrential storm began to drop. The groundsmen were obviously well prepared as they had borrowed the "Super Soppers" from Lord's Cricket Ground to get rid of the excess water.

The man on the PA also did a few trial experiments, asking fans to make a real noise in preparation to set up the speakers and acoustics when they were fitted in the new stadium.

Michael Own put England ahead seven minutes before half time, with the visitors replying through Franca. Brazil had the better of the closing stages as several substitutes were made by both sides.

England 2 Ukraine 0 (Wednesday 31st May) International Friendly (att: 55,975)

Crusher came visiting once again as I got away early with him from Lord's and the County Championship game between Middlesex and Gloucestershire, grabbing a couple of pints in the Princess Alexandra in St Johns Wood on the way to the tube.

This was a good England performance before the went off to the unsuccessful European Championships. Goals from Robbie Fowler and Tony Adams scored the goals against a talented visiting side including Andriy Shevchenko.

England 0 Germany 1 (Saturday 7th October) World Cup Qualifier (att: 76,377)

The excellent weekend kicked off on Friday when we headed out around Camden for a few beers. The following morning we all met in Powers Bar on Kilburn High Road, where I met Crusher, Karl Theobald and Gary Pickup. 

The excellent Brentford supporting host made us most welcome as the rain began to fall heavier outside. We went straight to the stadium and headed for our seats, while watching a literal damp squib of a stadium goodbye display. 

Didi Hamman broke our hearts as Seaman blundered in goal once more by scoring the last goal at the stadium. England put in a shocking performance against a typically efficient German side, who never really looked like conceding.

The fireworks at full time felt very out of place. We congregated over the road in the sports bar to keep dry and let the crowds die down. After around thirty minutes a crescendo of noise built as it became apparent that Kevin Keegan had resigned as manager.

Fans were partly celebrating, while some were really angry. Many went outside to hand around by the players entrance in the hope of offering feedback. We saw a young Gareth Barry as he stopped to sign autographs.

We headed back on the tune and it was decided that the Spotted Dog was a good idea for food and drink. We ended up having a great laugh despite the really disappointing result.

I was up early the next day to catch a flight to Madrid for the start of my Eurorail Tour, to open up a love affair with travelling and watching football overseas.