Ninety minutes until kick off at the London Stadium. Team news is imminent. Another European group stage campaign is about to get underway.
And little did we know it, but a long journey to glory in Prague – almost nine months to the day – was just beginning.
However, on the evening of Thursday, September 8, 2022, the world’s attention was not on West Ham United vs FCSB in the Europa Conference League. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, was reported to be nearing her final days.
Having reigned for 70 years, the UK’s longest-serving monarch was not long for this world. At the age of 96, and resting at Balmoral Castle, it was widely known her death was imminent.
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While such an historic moment in history awaited, nobody knew what life after the Queen was going to be like. A sense of worry, dread, fear, angst plagued the nation, the UK, the world. Few on the globe were more famous and iconic as Elizabeth II.
But football, in many walks of life, can help to distract many a fan from the real world.
The sport is a comfort to many – even at West Ham for myself, although not especially after a defeat or when a relegation battle looms large.
Where were you when you heard the Queen had died? Let us know in the comments section.
It takes a hold on you, even on game day, much like how the Queen’s personality and charisma took a hold on millions of people around the world throughout her reign.
All that mattered come arriving at the London Stadium, though, was David Moyes’ reign in charge of the Hammers and how they would kick-off Group B against their Romanian opponents.
I was at the match with my wife and my parents, enjoying a dinner and drinks in one of the hospitality lounges, surrounded by those wearing claret and blue, with Arsenal’s early kick off in the Europa League being shown on mute on the TVs.
There had been rumours on route to the game a last-minute cancellation could be in the offing, if Her Majesty’s death was confirmed in advance of kick off. Charles and William had both made their way to be by her bedside.
My mum, reluctant to watch football at the best of times, felt uncomfortable heading out for dinner and drinks while such a momentous and sad moment loomed large. The world was about to stand still – but nobody knew exactly when.
Family in Spain were busy WhatsApping through the latest updates, expressing their own sense of grief and numbness at what was to follow.
We were sat, the four of us, just about to tuck in to our main courses. Ready to be passed the team sheets. Who would lead the line up top? Who would partner Rice in the middle of the park? Would we get our first home win of the season at the fourth time of asking after a dismal start in the Premier League?
Then, as the screens briefly switched off from coverage of FC Zurich vs Arsenal, the “where were you” moment struck.
Still with no sound, the news was confirmed. Mum, aghast, found her voice that most fans save for pre-kick-off when West Ham emerge from the tunnel, to inform tables around us: “She’s gone, the Queen’s died!”
But, at the end of the day, unless you’re letting everyone know Jarrod Bowen’s gone down injured in the warm-up or Arsenal have gone behind, not everyone shares the same feelings inside a football ground.
She was aged 96, and millions had pre-empted the day she would pass on. What would it be like? It would certainly be a 'where were you on 9/11' or 'where were you when you heard about Michael Jackson?'
I remember, vividly, nothing really happening. And I think that shocked my wife and mum – who certainly weren’t at the London Stadium that night for the action on the pitch – the most.
Little to no reaction vibrated around the lounge. Dinners and pints were being tucked into. Discussions carried on. And even the TV channel quickly reverted back to Arsenal’s eventual 2-1 win in Switzerland.
My mum is far from a Royalty nut. But she was left dumbfounded by the lack of interest from our fellow Hammers supporters.
Only a waitress, in her 50s, seemed the slightest bit struck by the confirmation of the Queen’s death. They mourned together – before turning their focus to privately berating the fact life HAD carried on around them.
“Surely it’ll be called off? They can’t play!”
Hmm, I’m not sure UEFA would be too happy about that. It’s just over an hour to kick off. All the Romanians are in their seats, chanting already. When would the rescheduled match take place? There’s no room in the calendar.
“Who cares?!”
Unfortunately, and while the Queen’s passing was a tragedy, football – rightly or wrongly at times – comes first.
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Come 10 minutes from kick off, we made our way to our seats, ready to here the tribute the club had hastily planned.
A warm applause erupted around the London Stadium while Her Majesty’s picture was displayed on the big screens. The players of each team stood in the centre, doing the same, and waiting to get stuck in in the pouring rain.
The atmosphere was strong, even for a Europa Conference League group stage game, as the emotion of the occasion would have certainly kicked in for thousands inside the ground.
To makes matters worse for those more focused on the match than the news, FCSB took a shock lead and lead 1-0 at the break. Mum had spent the first half with her earphones in watching iPlayer, intent on missing nothing despite the poor WiFi signal.
A timely penalty was won a little over 20 minutes from time, which Bowen hammered home to finally give the fans in a rarely half-empty London Stadium something to cheer about.
Goals from Emerson and Michail Antonio followed to ensure West Ham started Group B with three points. A solid start, eventually, in what would turn out to be a historic season for the east Londoners.
Already, though, thousands had made their way to another part of the capital – Buckingham Palace – to pay their respects and tributes to Queen Elizabeth II.
West Ham fans will have recalled when she visited Upton Park back in the 2001/02 season to open the new West Stand, greeted by Joe Cole, who incidentally, was also in attendance at the London Stadium on September 8, 2022 working for BT Sport as part of their TV coverage of the game.
And while the showdown with FCSB may have distracted some from the momentous news spreading around the stadium that night, many know it’s not in the nature of plenty of football fans to show their true emotion (unless it’s celebrating a goal) among fellow supporters on game day.
The respect is shown in other ways, be it privately, the following day, or simply in the tributes like before kick off, no matter your views to the Royal Family.
With it a year on from her passing, we all reflect this weekend on what an incredible life the Queen lead and how she touched the hearts of millions, if not billions, around the world.
Rest in peace, Ma’am. You will never be forgotten, inside and outside of east London.
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