Selhurst Park facts for kids
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Selhurst Park aerial view (2023)
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| Full name | Selhurst Park |
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| Location | Selhurst, London, SE25 England |
| Coordinates | 51°23′54″N 0°5′8″W / 51.39833°N 0.08556°W |
| Public transit |   Norwood Junction Selhurst Thornton Heath |
| Owner | Crystal Palace |
| Capacity | 25,486 |
| Field size | 101 by 68 metres (110.5 yd × 74.4 yd) |
| Surface | GrassMaster |
| Scoreboard | JumboTron |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1922 / 1923 |
| Built | 1924 |
| Opened | 30 August 1924 |
| Renovated | 1983, 1995, 2013, 2014 |
| Expanded | 1969, 1994 |
| Construction cost | £ 30,000 |
| Architect | Archibald Leitch |
| Structural engineer | Humphreys of Kensington |
| Tenants | |
| Crystal Palace (1924–present) Charlton Athletic (1985–1991) Wimbledon (1991–2003) |
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Selhurst Park is a famous football stadium located in Selhurst, London. It is the exciting home ground for the Premier League team Crystal Palace. A talented architect named Archibald Leitch designed the stadium, which first opened its doors in 1924.
Over the years, Selhurst Park has hosted many important events. These include international football matches and even games for the 1948 Summer Olympics. For a while, other football clubs like Charlton Athletic (from 1985 to 1991) and Wimbledon (from 1991 to 2003) also shared the stadium.
The History of Selhurst Park
Building a New Home
In 1922, Crystal Palace F.C. bought an old brickfield site for £2,750. This was the perfect spot for their new stadium. The club had been looking for a new home since 1919.
The stadium was designed by a Scottish architect, Archibald Leitch. It was built by Humphreys of Kensington and cost about £30,000. The Lord Mayor of London officially opened Selhurst Park on August 30, 1924. At first, only one stand, the Main Stand, was ready. Crystal Palace played their first game there against The Wednesday and lost 0–1. About 25,000 fans watched the match.
Early Days and Special Events
Just two years later, in 1926, the England team played Wales at Selhurst Park. The stadium also hosted amateur England matches and other important finals. It wasn't just for football, though! Other sports like boxing and bicycle polo took place there. In the 1980s, people even enjoyed cricket games and music concerts.
Lights, Camera, Action!
In 1953, the stadium got its first floodlights. These lights helped games be played in the evening. Nine years later, new, brighter floodlights were installed. To celebrate, the famous Spanish team Real Madrid played a match there. This was a huge event for Crystal Palace, who were in the third division at the time. It was Real Madrid's first-ever game in London!
Growing Bigger and Better
Selhurst Park stayed mostly the same until 1969. That year, Crystal Palace was promoted to Division One, which was the top football league in England. To celebrate, the Arthur Wait Stand was built. It was named after the club's chairman, Arthur Wait, who helped the team climb from the Fourth to the First Division. The Whitehorse Lane end also got new terracing, refreshments, and toilets.
Changes and Challenges
In the early 1980s, the Main Stand got new seats. Around this time, Crystal Palace sold some land behind the Whitehorse Lane terrace to a supermarket. This helped the club with its money problems.
In 1985, Charlton Athletic started sharing the stadium. This was a new idea for English football clubs. Later, in 1991, Wimbledon F.C. also became a tenant.
After a big stadium safety report, the Holmesdale Road terrace was rebuilt. In 1994, the old Holmesdale terrace was taken down. A year later, a new, two-tiered stand with 8,500 seats was built in its place. This was the last major update to Selhurst Park for a long time.
Modern Times and Future Plans
In 2010, the club and the stadium were bought by the CPFC 2010 group. This meant the football club and its home were together again.
In 2018, Crystal Palace announced exciting plans for a £100 million renovation of Selhurst Park. The goal is to make it a top-quality modern stadium. The club faced some delays, including the COVID-19 pandemic. There were also discussions about demolishing nearby houses, which were resolved. In August 2024, the plans were approved again by Croydon Council. Work has started, and the new stand is expected to be ready by summer 2027.
You might have even seen Selhurst Park on TV! It was used as "Nelson Road," the fictional home stadium of AFC Richmond, in the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso.
The Stands at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park has four main stands, each with its own history and features.
Holmesdale Road Stand
This stand can hold 8,329 fans. It has two levels, an upper and a lower tier. Built in 1994, it is the newest stand in the stadium. It sits at the South East end of the ground.
Arthur Wait Stand
This stand has a capacity of 9,574 people. It opened in 1969 and is named after former chairman Arthur Wait. About 3,000 seats in this stand are for visiting team supporters. It is located on the North East side of the stadium.
Main Stand
The Main Stand can seat 5,460 fans, plus 63 seats for the press. This is the original stand, opened in 1924. It holds the Directors Box and the main club offices. The outside of the stand was recently updated with white cladding. New seats, lounges, bars, and a restaurant were added in 2013.
The club plans to rebuild this stand into a three-tier structure with 13,500 seats. This would increase the stadium's total capacity to 34,000. The new design will feature a cool all-glass front, inspired by the original Crystal Palace building. Work on this exciting project began in 2024.
Whitehorse Lane Stand
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This stand can hold 2,219 fans, plus 480 seats in executive boxes. It was first a standing area and was updated in the early 1980s. Many Crystal Palace fans know it as the Family Stand. It also has 24 luxury executive boxes. This stand is at the North West end of the stadium.
Attendance Records
Memorable Crowds
Selhurst Park has seen some huge crowds over the years! The biggest crowd ever was in 1979. A massive 51,482 fans watched Crystal Palace beat Burnley 2–0. This win helped Crystal Palace win the Second Division championship title.
The stadium also holds a record for a Fourth Division match. In 1961, 37,774 people came to see Crystal Palace play local rivals Millwall.
However, Selhurst Park also holds the record for the lowest attendance at a Premier League game. Only 3,039 fans watched Wimbledon play Everton on January 26, 1993.
See also
In Spanish: Selhurst Park para niños
- List of football stadiums in England
- List of stadiums in the United Kingdom by capacity
- Lists of stadiums
