Elation, Heartbreak, and the danger of modernization: Wembley Stadium with Tony Cottee.

It’s been 100 years of Wembley Stadium, the home of English football. So many historic sporting moments and memories have been realised and crushed simultaneously within its famous walls.

From World Cup glory in 1966, to penalty shootout heartbreak for Gareth Southgate’s men and glass ceiling shattering history for our Lionesses, Wembley has been home to some of England’s most emotional footballing moments.

Constructed first in 1923, Wembley has been the pedestal of English football ever since and is most famously known worldwide to hold the FA Cup final and the national teams home fixtures. Dubbed “the cathedral of football” by the late great Pele, it once was and still is the dream of many footballers to represent their club or country under the famous arch.

Very few get the honour of stepping onto its hallowed turf but one man who did on multiple occasions is former England striker Tony Cottee.

The 57-year-old had a stellar career in English football, scoring 214 goals across England’s topflight for the likes of West Ham, Everton and Leicester City, a feat that helped him reach five cup finals at the old Wembley.

“One of the most common questions I get asked is what’s the best ground you’ve ever played at, and my answer is always Wembley,” said Cottee.

“The history was there. When you sat in that dressing room thinking Bobby Moore was here, Pele Johan Cruyff, Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbauer, all these wonderful players played at the old Wembley.

“You had the walk up that concrete slope which went up towards the playing arena. You started below ground level and as you’d walk up all of a sudden you could see the fans and hear the noise. It was just an amazing experience as a player.”

If at first you don’t succeed…

Despite the grandeur of the location, times weren’t the kindest to Cottee whilst on the pitch. The striker’s attempts to win silverware were thwarted four times including a 3-2 loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup for Everton and a devastating loss to Tottenham in the League Cup final for Leicester City in 1999.

“The feeling in 1999 was horrendous because Tottenham had been reduced to 10 men. You’re thinking if it goes to extra time surely, we’re going to win the cup and then Tottenham scored in the second minute of injury time.”

However, it was second time lucky for the ex-Everton forward as a year later, the Foxes reached their successive final, this time beating Tranmere Rovers 2-1 to earn Cottee his first trophy in English football in what was the last League Cup final played at the old Wembley.

“I remember jumping in the bath, the big baths they used to have at Wembley were literally about five foot deep so I could only just about stand up in them! But just being able to jump into a pool, with the cup and spraying all the champagne round, that’s where your memories are in terms of winning.

“It was then the best feeling in football winning that trophy after 17 years of trying. To finally win a cup final was amazing and one of the best moments I had as a footballer.”

To move or not to move?

Over the last 20 years, clubs have started ditching their original home stadiums in order to upgrade with the times. Upton Park, Highbury, Filbert Street and Maine Road have all since been demolished alongside the centuries of history and memories that were embedded deep within.

Everton’s beloved Goodison Park will be the next victim…

Amongst these fallen temples, Wembley went under the knife in 2000 and reopened seven years later, as a state-of-the-art facility but a blank slate nonetheless.

Wembley Stadium – then & now comparison pic.twitter.com/htixY3YN6C

— Calcio England (@CalcioEngland) January 21, 2022

The question stands, was it for better or for worse?

“From a playing point of view, I think the experience was better at the old Wembley. I just think there was a mystic about it,” said Cottee.

Having been a season ticket holder at Wembley for 10 years since its opening in 2007 and enjoying priceless moments with his dad within its walls, Cottee raised what he thought was the issue with new football stadiums.

“I think the only thing that’s not there is the history for the players. We’re now 16 years down the line and were still building memories, it would have helped if England had won the euros in 2021.

“I think that you have to move with the times but for any clubs that have moved, it really is hard for the fans. When you knock the ground down you lose the history and the magic moments.”

Teams including West Ham and Tottenham have struggled at times to maintain consistency since upgrading and despite success in patches for both clubs, there is evidence to suggest that they are yet to fully settle, which is an issue.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom.

A recent example has been Brentford, who left Griffin Park for the Gtech Community Stadium in 2018. Our own Mike Johnson of the Sports Gazette has supported the Bees throughout their transition and gave his thoughts.

“Moving to a bigger, more modern, and Premier League-ready ground was essential. Griffin Park was beautiful in its own way but at the end of the day it wasn’t Premier League ready, and we needed to move if we wanted to progress.

“Most fans miss Griffin Park, myself included. It was a special, special place; more like a second home than a football ground. But I think a new history is being written at the Gtech and that doesn’t invalidate the history of Griffin Park.

“Ultimately, the club’s biggest achievement in recent times has been promotion to the Premier League – that was done at the Gtech.”

Whilst success has taken time in new stadiums, Brentford are showing that it can be done. The new Wembley may not yet have the same deep and glorious history as its former self, but it is slowly beginning to develop.

Many grounds aren’t suited to modern football so it is becoming more necessary for teams to upgrade their stadiums, even if it is at the expense of physical history. This is the unfortunate cost of progression, but it doesn’t eradicate the past triumphs.

The future is looking exciting for English football so, here’s the fresh memories and to another 100 years of Wembley.