Abandoned stadium that hosted multiple FA Cup finals has been left to rot for years

Abandoned stadium that hosted multiple FA Cup finals has been left to rot for yearsThe arena was once the host of several FA Cup finals but was left in ruinsCommentsSportChris Burns Senior Sports Writer07:30, 05 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesThe Crystal Palace and the National Sports Centre has hosted many major events over the years(Image: Historic England Archive/Heritage Images via Getty Images)A stadium that once hosted FA Cup finals was left to rot for years. The new Wembley has been the home of English football's most famous game since 2007.‌Before that, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff hosted the showpiece between 2000 and 2006, while the original towers-emblazoned Wembley Stadium hosted it between 1923 and 2000. Yet the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in South London actually hosted the FA Cup final between 1895 and 1914, with the ground's final iteration opening in 1964 when it became a dedicated athletics stadium.‌JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page‌With a capacity of 15,500, which could be increased to 24,000 through temporary seating, it has hosted international athletics and open-air concerts by legendary artists such as Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen.The arena shut in November 2022 due to safety concerns, however. It had been suggested that the concrete pillars propping up the floodlights were unsafe - but it now looks to have a promising future.After the venue was closed down the running track was ripped up and the scoreboard and stands littered. Speaking to The Guardian in 2023, the chair of Crystal Palace Sports Partnership, John Powell said: "At the moment you’ve got an indoor track with rats on it and pigeon excrement all over the place.‌READ MORE: Ex-England boss urges Harry Maguire to consider REJECTING World Cup call-upREAD MORE: Six top players who'll MISS World Cup 2026 including 675-goal machine and £62m star"There are trees growing out of the West Stand and...