A beloved UK football stadium that was used for over 100 years has been demolished (Image: Getty)
A beloved UK football stadium that was used for over 100 years has been demolished and replaced with hundreds of flats. The Boleyn Ground, also known as Upton Park, was West Ham United’s home between 1904 and 2016 before the club moved to the London Stadium in Stratford.
The ground opened on September 1, 1904, when West Ham beat Millwall Athletic 3-0 in front of around 10,000 supporters. It was built on land that had previously been used as a potato and cabbage field. Although many fans referred to it as Upton Park, the stadium’s official name was the Boleyn Ground.
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The Boleyn Ground was West Ham United’s home between 1904 and 2016 (Image: Getty)
The ground opened on September 1, 1904, when West Ham beat Millwall Athletic 3-0 (Image: Getty)
The name came from nearby Green Street House, which was often known locally as Boleyn Castle because of its links to Anne Boleyn.
Over the years, the stadium was expanded and modernised. By the time it closed, it had a capacity of 35,016.
However, before becoming an all-seater stadium, the ground regularly welcomed larger crowds.
Its record attendance was set on October 17, 1970, when 42,322 fans watched West Ham draw 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur.
Demolition work began in 2016 and continued into 2017 (Image: Getty)
The final match at the Boleyn Ground took place on May 10, 2016 (Image: Getty)
By the 2010s, however, there was little room for further expansion. The stadium was surrounded by homes and streets, making it difficult for the club to increase capacity.
After the London 2012 Olympics, West Ham secured a 99-year lease to move into the former Olympic Stadium.
The final match at the Boleyn Ground took place on May 10, 2016. West Ham beat Manchester United 3-2 in their last game at the stadium, with Winston Reid scoring the winning goal.
After football ended, the stadium was briefly used during the filming of the action movie Final Score, starring Pierce Brosnan and Dave Bautista.
Today, the site is home to the Upton Gardens development (Image: Getty)
The development contains 842 flats and houses (Image: Getty)
Demolition work then began later in 2016 and continued into 2017. The site was redeveloped by Galliard Group and Barratt London.
Today, it is home to Upton Gardens, a development containing 842 flats and houses. The project includes a central green area located where the football pitch once stood.
There is also a memorial garden dedicated to former West Ham captain Bobby Moore.
Some items from the stadium were preserved, including the John Lyall Gates, which were moved to the London Stadium.