19  Hampden Park: The National Football Stadium and Site of the 3rd Hampden Park (1903 - Present Day)

In 1903, Queen's Park Football Club moved to 3rd Hampden, creating one of the world’s most iconic football stadiums.

The opening game was held on 31st October 1903, where Queens Park beat Celtic 1-0 in front of a crowd of 25,000. 

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The stadium was designed by the godfather of football ground design, Archibald Leitch, and in 1906 held the first football match to exceed 100,000 fans: Scotland’s 2 - 1 win over England.

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By 1937, the official capacity increased to 183,724, and could hold the entire population of Aberdeen in one sitting.

The Scotland v England International, April 4, 1908. Credit: Richard Stenlake Collection.

On 17th April 1937, Scotland played England in front of 149,415 fans and remained an international football match record until 1950. 

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The following weekend, Celtic played Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final with 146,433 fans attending - still a European domestic club attendance record.

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In 1960, Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3, and is considered the greatest European Cup Final of all time, with Ferenc Puskás and Alfredo Di Stéfano scoring hat-tricks for Real Madrid.

A 1960's aerial view of Hampden Park. The 1st and 2st Hampden's can also be seen in the background.

The Scotland v England International, April 2 1910.

In 1979, Diego Maradona debuted for Argentina against Scotland. The Glasgow Evening Times headlined with ‘Scotland reel to Maradona Magic’, following a sensational performance, scoring his first goal in a 3 - 1 win. 

3rd Hampden is the home of arguably the most passionate fans in world football, the Tartan Army, famed for their ‘Hampden Roar’.

Hampden during a modern-day international.