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 Sunday, 1 October, 2000, 20:16 GMT 21:16 UK
Wembley trivia
Why is there a train buried under the stadium?
Things you didn't know about Wembley Stadium... or did you??

  • Wembley Stadium was constructed as the centrepiece of the British Empire Exhibition.

  • Over �100,000 was donated to the appeal fund by the city of Glasgow.

  • The original Wembley Stadium was built on a base of 25,000 tons of concrete to create foundations and the outside walls.

  • 900 tons of steel girders supported the stands and terraces of the original Wembley Stadium.

  • Wembley Stadium has 37 concrete arches spanning 50 feet in diameter.

  • Apparently one of the narrow-gauge trains used to transport materials in and out of the site is buried under the arena.

  • Wembley Stadium took one year to build, and work was completed on 23 April 1923, just three days before the first FA Cup Final at the ground.

    •   Weird Wembley facts
    One of the trains used to transport materials in and out for building Wembley is buried under the arena
    Abide with Me was first recited at Wembley in 1927 FA Cup Final
    Benfica are the only team to have lost two Euroepan Cup finals at Wembley

  • The stand and terraces were safety-tested by the dead-weight of sandbags and the synchronised sitting and standing of 1,200 men.

  • The first live radio broadcast by a British sovereign was made from Wembley Stadium when King George V opened the British Empire Exhibition.

  • England's first defeat at the venue came in 1928 when they lost 5-1 to the Scotland team who became known as the Wembley Wizards.

  • The 1927 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Cardiff City witnessed two firsts. The Bluebirds took the Cup out of England for the first and only time with a 1-0 victory, and the occasion produced the first rendition of the hymn Abide With Me.

  • The first greyhound meeting at Wembley Stadium took place on 10 December 1927.

  • France earned a 2-2 draw in England's first international against foreign opponents at Wembley in 1945.

  • State-of-the-art greyhound photo-finish equipment was installed at Wembley Stadium in 1947.

  • Tottenham completed the century's first League and Cup Double at Wembley in 1961 when they beat Leicester City 2-0.

  • AC Milan beat Benfica 2-1 in Wembley's first European Cup Final in 1963.

  • West Ham win Wembley's first European Cup Winners Cup Final 2-1 against Munich 1860 in 1965.

  • In 1970 a Wembley FA Cup Final was drawn for the first time when Chelsea and Leeds shared four goals.

  • Benfica are the only team to have lost two European Cup Finals at Wembley Stadium.

  • Liverpool have won most trophies at Wembley with 17 in total from four different competitions.

  • The FA Cup Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in 1981 was the first to be replayed at the venue.

    Compiled by BBC Sport Online's
    Charles McFaulds

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