Boleyn Road
The Boleyn Ground, more often called Upton Park, was the fortress of West Ham United for 112 years.
via Wikipedia: Boleyn Ground · see source
The Boleyn Ground, better known to generations of fans simply as Upton Park, was a football cathedral in East London that roared with life from 1904 to 2016. It was the spiritual home of West Ham United, where legends were forged and the famous claret and blue identity was carved into the terraces. The ground also briefly housed Charlton Athletic in the early 1990s. At its final whistle, the all-seater capacity stood at 35,016. From the 2016–17 season, West Ham moved to the London Stadium in nearby Stratford. The last first-class match played there was a dramatic 2–1 Premier League victory over Manchester United on 10 May 2016. The stadium was demolished later that year to make way for new housing, but its ghosts still haunt Green Street.
- Location
- Upton Park, East London
- In use
- 1904 – 2016
- Final capacity (approx.)
- 35,016
- Demolished
- 2016
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
West Ham United took up tenancy of the Boleyn Ground in 1904 after local club Old Castle Swifts vacated the ground. The club purchased the freehold of Green Street House and its grounds in 1912. That house, a grand old building locals called Boleyn Castle, was named for its imposing look and a rumored link to Anne Boleyn—who may have stayed there or even owned it. Thus the ground became the Boleyn Ground, though everyone just called it Upton Park after the district. In August 1944, a V-1 flying bomb slammed into the south-west corner of the pitch. The damage forced West Ham to play home games elsewhere, but the team went on a stunning run of nine straight victories. When they returned in December 1944, they lost 1–0 to Tottenham Hotspur. By 1990, the Taylor Report forced West Ham to turn Upton Park into an all-seater stadium by 1994–95. The first big change came in 1993, when the old South Bank was replaced by a 9,000-seat, two-tier stand named after Bobby Moore, who had died that year. The North Bank was demolished in 1994, and a new 6,000-seat, two-tier stand—the Centenary Stand—opened the next year, later renamed for Sir Trevor Brooking. The East Stand Lower was also seated. The final piece came in 2001, when the West Stand was replaced by a 15,000-seat, two-tier stand called the Dr. Martens Stand, giving the ground a 35,000 all-seater capacity. There were grand plans to push capacity to 40,500 with a new East Stand, but those never materialized.
In Their Own Story
The final match at the Boleyn Ground was played on 10 May 2016, a 3–2 West Ham United win in the Premier League against Manchester United. The night began with ugly scenes on Green Street: the Manchester United team coach was pelted with missiles, shattering windows. Delayed by the attack, the players arrived late, pushing the scheduled 19:45 kick-off back to 20:15. In the 2,398th match at the ground, with both sides chasing European qualification, the Hammers delivered a fitting farewell—a dramatic victory that sent the old place out in style.
Reader's Guide
The Boleyn Ground had four main stands: the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, Bobby Moore Stand, East Stand and Betway Stand. The Sir Trevor Brooking Stand (formerly the North Bank then the Centenary Stand) was built in 1995 which coincided with the club's 100th season, after being formed in 1895 as Thames Ironworks. Its name was changed from the Centenary Stand to the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand in July 2009. The record attendance at the ground was 42,322, against Tottenham in an old Division One match on 17 October 1970, when the North and South Banks were terraced, as was the old 'Chicken Run' at the front of the East Stand. The Boleyn Ground became an all-seater stadium from the early 1990s because clubs had to meet new FA regulations for stadium safety after the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989. The record attendance after Upton Park became an all-seater was 35,550, on 21 September 2002 for a Premier League match against Manchester City. Before its closure, the ground had a total capacity of 35,016, all seated.
Did You Know?
- The Boleyn Ground was briefly used by Charlton Athletic in the early 1990s.
- In August 1944, a V-1 flying bomb fell on the south-west corner of the pitch.
- The record attendance at the ground was 42,322, against Tottenham on 17 October 1970.
- The sale of the ground was completed on 15 July 2016 at a price of £40,000,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Boleyn Ground and where was it located?
The Boleyn Ground, which fans more commonly called Upton Park, was West Ham United's home stadium in East London from 1904 until 2016. It sat in the Upton Park area of the borough of Newham.
When did West Ham stop playing at Upton Park and where did they move?
West Ham's final season at the Boleyn Ground was 2015–16, after which they shifted their home games to the London Stadium in nearby Stratford starting in the 2016–17 campaign. The old ground was demolished later in 2016 to clear the site for new development.
What was the last match played at the Boleyn Ground?
On 10 May 2016, West Ham hosted Manchester United in a Premier League fixture and won 3–2. That result marked the final first-class match ever played at the ground.
How many fans could the Boleyn Ground hold at the end?
By the time the stadium closed, its seating capacity stood at roughly 35,016. That figure reflected the ground's state after decades of incremental rebuilding and expansion since 1904.
Did any other team play at Upton Park?
Yes—Charlton Athletic used the Boleyn Ground briefly in the early 1990s while their own stadium was being redeveloped. Otherwise, the ground was exclusively West Ham United's home for over a century.
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