Wembley Week
John Terry on Wembley

The Chelsea star remembers the walk from the old dressing rooms in 2000 and says playing at the new Wembley will be a dream.

Wembley Week
Jermain Defoe on Wembley

The Tottenham striker talks about some memorable times at the old stadium and looks forward to a new Wembley age.


So far during Wembley Week we’ve brought you the latest on the Stadium – the stunning progress it is making and what events the fans can expect to see.

Coming up in the next few days TheFA.com will describe what fans will get out of their Wembley experience when it opens plus what the Club Wembley advance tickets options are.

There is also opportunity to win a tour of the stadium by taking part in our exclusive competition.

Today, we have a chat with England players John Terry and Jermain Defoe who reveal what they think the new stadium will bring to the England team and what playing at the ‘home of football’ will mean to them.

And England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson gives his view after a recent trip to the construction site.

Spurs and England star Jermain Defoe played at the old Wembley as a youngster and says he can’t wait to get a chance of playing at the new ground:

"Living in London, I've seen the new stadium a few times and it will look great when it's completed," he enthused. "Everyone is looking forward to it opening and it's a massive thing.

"I think the new Wembley will strengthen the England team. When you've got a home with the fans behind you - there's something very special to be said for that.

"I remember Wembley - I played there [for England] in the Under 15s at the old stadium against Brazil. That day was unbelievable and I felt part of the history.

"The new Wembley will be amazing and if I get chance to play there it will be great." 

 The Wembley arch risesThe twin towers come down
The Wembley arch risesThe twin towers come downEngland star and Chelsea captain John Terry admits he has had limited experience so far on the hallowed turf and is desperate to get out there again.

"I have some memories of the old Wembley," says Terry. "I had a taste of it at the 2000 FA Cup Final when I was on the bench - that five to ten minute walk down from the dressing room with the players eager to get out was unbelievable.

"For me, with three lions on the shirt, playing at the new Wembley will be a dream come true."

"As a proud Londoner, I drive past [the new Stadium] and with the Arch now up it shows great signs of development - the sooner it's built the better because it's going to be a fantastic."

England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson visited Wembley recently and says the stadium is a manager’s dream:

"The stadium looks very nice and in one year’s time it will look even better. It’s a huge stadium and looks so impressive.

"When I came here last it looked nothing like this, but now I have a feeling about how big it will be.

It is the most famous stadium in the whole world. It has always been like that and now it is an even more attractive prospect.

"It is a dream for every football coach, manager and footballer to play here because it will be an absolutely fantastic stadium."

Don't forget, everyday this week we're asking you a Wembley Question for your chance to win a hard-hat tour around the stadium. Click here for more details...