Abandoned iconic UK stadium left to rot with track ripped up 110 years after hosting FA Cup final
AN ICONIC athletics stadium that formerly hosted the FA Cup final is being given a new lease of life.
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre fell into disrepair after closing almost four years ago.
The South London complex was shut in November 2022 following unexpected safety concerns.
Concrete pillars holding up the floodlights were discovered to have been unsafe.
Prior to 2012, the 19,000-capacity ground hosted the London Grand Prix before the event was switched to the nearby London Stadium.
The FA Cup final was also held on the same site between 1895 and 1914, with the current stadium opened at the same address in 1964.
Following its surprise closure, the site quickly grew into a state of disrepair.
The running track was partially ripped up, with the scoreboard and stands littered with fox and rat poo.
An Olympic-sized swimming and diving pool on the site has also been closed.
The move has frustrated local coaches, who maintain the facilities must reopen to help train new talent.
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John Powell, chair of Crystal Palace Sports Partnership, told the Guardian: “At the moment you’ve got an indoor track with rats on it and pigeon excrement all over the place.
“There are trees growing out of the West Stand and then there was the floodlight farce, which meant no one can train there after dark now.
“London is the only capital city in Europe that doesn’t have a dedicated athletics centre.
“Crystal Palace is the most accessible athletics stadium in the country so it’s a total joke what has been allowed to happen.”
Extra funding has now been provided to restore Crystal Palace to its former glory.
The track has now been relayed, while the reopening of the 50m and diving pools remains the key priority for the project.
London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley, Thomas Turrell, said: “The phased target openings for facilities across the estate remain for 2027 and 2028.
“The project is currently at the mid-point of the contractor procurement process, aiming to have a contractor on board by Spring 2025.
“A planning submission will follow later in the year with works programmed to start on site in 2026.
“I am pleased to this project developing. While there is still a lot to do, and I know local people are keen to see the pool in particular opened as soon as possible, it is good to see progress finally being made.
“The Centre has been forgotten for too long and I am really excited by this plan.
“It is time to bring UK athletics home to Crystal Palace!”