White Hart Lane and Upton Park picture special: How the two iconic London stadiums have vanished from the map... and what they look like now

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Tottenham's White Hart Lane stadium and Upton Park, the former home of West Ham, have both played an integral part in the Premier League over the years. 

They have both been the stage for a number of the country's best young players to make their breakthroughs, with Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Harry Kane and Sol Campbell all beginning their careers at the London grounds.

But the two iconic stadiums are now disappearing from the London map, with Sportsmail's exclusive pictures showing how they have both been reduced to rubble.

An aerial view of West Ham's former east London home, Upton Park, which has now been demolished and is a building site

An aerial view of White Hart Lane, which is also a building site as work on Tottenham's new north London home continues

Work on Spurs' new north London ground, which is being built on the same extended site as their old home, is ongoing and is expected to be completed in time for the start of the next campaign. 

And across the capital in east London, the Hammers' former home is now a building site — a far cry from the days when the Upton Park faithful would cheer on their heroes. 

So, what has happened to these venues? And how have the surrounding areas changed following the removal of the football grounds? Sportsmail takes a look.

WEST HAM, UPTON PARK

West Ham left their old ground and headed to the former Olympic Stadium in Stratford, leaving behind 112 years of history in order to move into their 60,000-seater new home.

The Hammers bid an emotional farewell to their traditional home when the club faced Manchester United on May 10, 2016 with a fairytale ending as Winston Reid's late goal ensured a dramatic 3-2 victory against Louis van Gaal's Red Devils.

Since their first game at the venue in 1904, Upton Park had been the iconic setting for some of the biggest moment's in the club's history, including a dramatic European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in 1976, a nervy FA Cup quarter-final victory over Aston Villa in 1980 — with the Hammers going on to win the competition that year — and Paolo Di Canio's stunning scissor-kick goal against Wimbledon in 2000. 

But those days are long gone, and the stadium now looks like a typical London building site. Work to tear it down took over a year but it finally drew to a close this year.

Stickers which display the message 'Long live The Boleyn', another name for Upton Park, can still be seen in east London

The iconic stadium now looks like a typical London building site, with work to tear it down taking over a year 

Yet West Ham fans will recognise little should they return to their old stomping ground, which they left to move to Stratford 

The Hammers Social Club down Castle Street is still there —one of few things to remain — though it is temporarily closed

Construction company Barratt has set about turning the site into the centre of a new community, which is hoped will regenerate one of London's most deprived areas. Renamed Upton Gardens, it will bring 842 new homes to the area across 18 buildings ranging from three to 13-storeys.

And Sportsmail's pictures show how unrecognisable the iconic stadium now looks.

The Hammers Social Club down Castle Street is still there — one of few things to remain — though it is temporarily closed as significant refurbishment work is carried out.

West Ham fans will recognise little should they return to their old stomping ground. What once produced a proper football experience, is now home to hundreds of concrete slabs and a number of JCB diggers.

The main entrance on Green Street is now the entrance to the Upton Gardens building site. Apart from the old entrance posts, little else remains of what was once a popular meeting point.  

The main entrance on Green Street is now the entrance to the Upton Gardens building site, with building work ongoing 

Apart from the old entrance posts, little else remains of what was once a popular meeting point for home and away fans 

The famous 'Chicken Run' terrace, which was replaced by the East Stand in 1969, is now a two-tiered building block

Another view of the old 'Chicken Run' terrace, now a construction site - West Ham now play their football at London Stadium

Even the famous two towers are no longer, although part of the entrance wall on the street remains. 

The famous 'Chicken Run' terrace, which was replaced by the East Stand in 1969, is now a two-tiered building block, with two cranes placed nearby as work continues on the new development. 

Stickers which display the message 'Long live The Boleyn', another name for the Upton Park ground, can still be seen when wandering around the local area. 

It is regarded as one of the game's great cathedrals, packed with character, and there were few greater pre-match sights than the singing of Bubbles before kick-off.

But now it has joined the long list of stadiums to bite the dust.  

What once produced a proper football experience, is now home to hundreds of concrete slabs and a number of JCB diggers

The surrounding east London area still looks the same, although the former Premier League ground is completely different 

The last goal there was scored by defender Winston Reid, as the Hammers beat Manchester United 3-2 in the final game

TOTTENHAM, WHITE HART LANE

In north London, Tottenham's White Hart Lane ground has now vanished — sort of. 

After 118 years at the old White Hart Lane, Spurs said goodbye to the old 35,000-seat stadium at the end of last season, beating Manchester United in their final home game. 

For this season, they play their home games more than 10 miles away at Wembley while they wait for their new ground to be finished. 

Spurs moved quickly since playing their final game at White Hart Lane against United, with workers tearing the pitch up and the seats out the following day.

And the rapid pace has continued, as Sportsmail's pictures show. Similar to the old Upton Park, Tottenham's famous former ground now welcomes builders every day.

Similar to the old Upton Park, White Hart Lane - Tottenham's famous former ground - now hosts builders every day

The view from the Park Lane end is now just rubble, with two giant cranes now located in the middle of the construction site

The latest progress made on their new 61,559-capacity ground shows the single-tier South Stand beginning to take shape

The latest progress made on their new 61,559-capacity ground shows the single-tier South Stand beginning to take shape, along with the upper tiers.

The view from the Park Lane end, where the old away stand was also located, is now just rubble, with two giant cranes now located in the middle of the construction site. 

And what was once the main reception entrance is now used by the builders working on-site. It has a similar look to the Upton Park site, with the building work still in its early stages. 

Given the fact Spurs will return to the Lane next year, little in the surrounding area has changed. Spurs fans can look forward to returning to their pre-match routine of walking down Tottenham High Road.

And Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping the intimidating atmosphere produced by the White Hart Lane faithful — a fan base who once cheered on the likes of Ledley King, David Ginola, Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa — can be replicated when they move into their new home. 

Spurs moved quickly since playing their final game at White Hart Lane against United - and the rapid pace has continued 

Another view of the Park Lane end of the ex-Premier League stadium, where the away stand was also located 

Given the fact that Harry Kane and Co will return to north London next year, little in the surrounding area has changed

In the matchday programme for their last-ever fixture at the ground, Pochettino wrote: 'The Lane is a place of passion and unbelievable atmosphere.

'The noise can be deafening and there's a rare intimacy between players and fans that helped pass on the extra energy we have needed on occasions.

'Every pass, every tackle, every save, every goal we have shared together. We must carry the spirit of the Lane with us as we move forward as a club. Our future is bright.' 

Daniel Levy, the club's chairman, added: 'I have been coming to the Lane for over 50 years and many of you for much longer. It holds memories for us all.

A construction worker looks on as development work ploughs ahead on the White Hart Lane site

Spurs are set to walk out at the new ground for the start of the 2018-19 Premier League season

The stadium has a similar look to the Upton Park site, with the building work still in its early - but it is on track

'The Lane has been home to some of the most amazing moments in the history of not just our club but in the history of football. It is a humbling occasion too.

'We are not moving. The new pitch will overlap the old one. Our new home will slowly embrace and engulf our old one. We are determined that it will be a worthy successor to White Hart Lane and a fitting stage for our current and future great teams.

'The necessary move away for a season means that we can return as a club with a stadium and training centre facilities among the best in the world.' 

Despite all the optimism at the club, there will no doubt be a few sad faces in north London too — as another of English football's iconic stadiums vanishes from the map.

Tottenham's new stadium is progressing rapidly and already beginning to dominate the skyline in north London

Work on Tottenham's new ground was already underway while they were still playing at their White Hart Lane home in 2017

General view inside the stadium as Tottenham fans invade the pitch following the last ever match at the iconic stadium