Iconic Wembley Gates Find a New Home in Chilean Museum

Many of football's most iconic moments were witnessed by the imposing red gates of Old Wembley, England's former home of football. From the triumphs of the 1966 World Cup to the legendary White Horse Final, the gates stood as a symbol of the stadium's storied history. But in 2000, as the old stadium was slated for demolition, it seemed the gates would meet a similar fate.

Enter the Brooking Trust, an architectural charity that stepped in to save the gates from certain destruction. The trust transported the gates to Greenwich, intending to display them there. However, the sheer size of the gates - weighing a ton and measuring five meters in height and width - made it difficult to find a suitable home. The Brooking Trust eventually put the gates up for auction in 2011.

Then fate intervened. Enter Jorge Yarur Bascunan, a Chilean businessman with a fascination for Wembley and its history. Bascunan, who also chairs a museum in Santiago, purchased the gates at Sotheby's for £5,875. The gates now reside at the Fundacion Museo de la Moda, where they are carefully preserved as a cultural and historical artifact.

According to Acacia Echazarreta, the museum's head of collections, the decision to acquire the gates was driven by their historical and symbolic value. Football may be the most popular sport in Chile, and the history of Wembley holds a special place in Chilean hearts. The gates have become a link to the nation's footballing triumphs, including Chile's memorable 1998 victory over England and Alexis Sanchez's 2013 brace against the same opponents.

Thanks to the intervention of the Titanic expert, the gates have found a new home in a museum that cherishes and celebrates their legacy. The gates are now a testament to the enduring power of sport and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.