I wasn’t going to Burnley last night owing to a combination of Sky mucking about with the fixture list, and one of my travelling companions being a bit under the weather.
I did however very much plan my Friday around it, in a way only familiar to football supporters. Takeaway ordered, bottle of wine in the fridge, and dire threats to anyone thinking of calling for a chat between 7pm and 10pm.
Of course, the very sad events of the last few days rendered all of that planning futile. Along with all the other games in the Premier League, the EFL and many other sporting events have been postponed as a result of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Most of the posts on my social media timelines are pretty supportive of this, but there are some grumpy people about too.
To be clear, I am the last person to pontificate about politics or the republic/monarchy debate. I know very little about either. I also don’t have any strong feelings either way. I’m okay with the royals as long as they don’t expect me to take them too seriously, and to be fair I don’t think they do, at least the younger ones.
I do however have a strong sense of history.
Much to the surprise of some of my friends, I helped organise the Birchams Yard Jubilee Party in June this year.
Why?
Well, because I’d seen old faded sepia photos of Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, was fascinated by them, and felt I wanted to be part of a similar historic occasion that future generations will wonder at.
We’ve all seen the clip of families huddled around the wireless when Chamberlain delivered his famous ‘I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received’ speech, which meant that Britain was at war with Germany.
Ordinary folk, like me, are left wondering what the future holds.
There have understandably been countless tweets this week, most thoughtful and rational, some quite appalling, but one which particularly stands out for me was from Larry the Downing Street Cat (yes, I know he’s not real).
It said, ‘There are decades when nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades happen’.
Well, that’s pretty much why we didn’t get our weekly football fix last night. These are momentous times.
So don’t mind too much about missing the Norwich match, or day two of the test match. It will be rearranged, played and probably faded into a future copy of The Norwich City Archive before you know it.
September 2022 won’t.
The world changed this week. Some things will be consigned to history, some changed forever. Some changes will be good, some not so much.
But you were there to witness it. One day when you’re old and grey you can tell the grandkids about this.
You really are living through history
It’s not being “grumpy” being against postponing games this weekend, the Queen loved sport and it’s about making your own choices, I understand why they’ve done it but I don’t agree with it, the crowd at West Ham Thursday evening was fantastic and showed how thousands could come together to honour her.
Being 72 not grey just no hair to speak of, I agree with your sentiments and also Steve’s other sports are showing respect with a minutes silence and arm bands, the Government or the Royal Family has asked for s Sports shutdown.
Cricket and Rugby both playing today after a day’s respect and I think The Boss (military term for the Queen) would have approved forgive to get back to normal.
Sadly the Queen is Dead Long Live the King
Given the timing, people had to make a quick decision on Thursday about Friday’s sport and realistically the only safe thing to do was postpone everything, But having received official guidance on Friday I can’t understand why the FA and co feel the need to cut the whole weekend’s fixtures. If anyone felt going to a game would be disrespectful they could simply choose not to go.
I don’t believe anyone expects everyone else’s world to be paused when they pass, so I doubt if the Queen did. Anyway, given her supposed conversation with Tommy Cooper she wasn’t much of a fan anyway.
I can understand some people not being happy with the postponements. especially if they are republicans Kathy.
But for me the decision regards Friday night’s game was definitely the right call. It would have been disrespectful to play sport so soon after the death of a Monarch who had served this country for 70 years.
I think those not like us, football fans, would have been appalled.
Saturday’s games must have been more difficult 50/50 and had it gone ahead given supporters a chance to celebrate The Queens life. But with Prince William being the President of the F A it was just the right call.
As you say Kathy we are living through history. I describe myself as a reluctant royalist. If we were starting from scratch would I have a Monarchy, no but the alternative now is a political appointed President 😨 and how much tourism would they bring to the country ?
I am pretty sure the funeral will be on Monday week so the Bristol City match should go ahead likewise Saturdays game V WBA.
Given that the Queen’s role was supposedly not a political one and that the Royal Family are not supposed to have any meaningful role in governing the country I can’t really see the need for a president, or anyone else, to replace them. In terms of tourism, the French get more tourists than us and they are a Republic. People largely visit the buildings and historical sites. They don’t come here expecting to meet the King or Queen. The royals cost more than they bring into the country from what I have read, although I stand to be corrected on that. I query the fact that the rest of us are subject to inheritance tax and yet it appears not to apply to the Royal family. I have no animosity towards the Queen as a person. I am sorry for the family’s loss and I do believe that the Queen worked hard, and was quite possibly a very nice person. I would certainly respect a minute’s silence and would never jeer or boo the national anthem. I respect other people’s right to a view. However, I do feel that we need to protect civil liberties in this country and encourage wide ranging debate. Apparently someone has been arrested for shouting “Who elected you?” at one of the proclamations. Another guy was prevented, by police, from holding up a blank placard in case it offended people. If we believe in freedom of speech, surely we should be protecting it when it occurs, whether it suits our own beliefs and sensibilities or not. The incessant coverage on TV and the unquestioning fawning from all the major TV channels is, in my opinion, becoming quite grating. Yes, I have switched it off for the most part, but I would like to see something of world news and not have every broadcast totally dominated by this one event. I was disappointed that the Burnley game was cancelled as I don’t think anyone in the Norwich crowd would have been rude or disrespectful and I doubt the Burnley fans would have been either. It would have been an opportunity to have shown respect and solidarity with the family in their loss.
Postponing Friday’s game was probably correct, as it was so soon after her death, but the FA’s decision to cancel all football, including amateur and kids games, was draconian. It would be perfectly appropriate to have played the games, with a period of silence before the start, as cricket and rugby are doing.
Looking on the bright side, Kathy, you would have to eat anyway, and you could use the wine to toast the departed!
It wasn’t wasted!
An abysmal decision by inadequate football authorities. Postponing Friday matches was perfectly understandable. Postponing the games due at the weekend was not. Even more so since a host of sports continued including cricket and rugby. Worse the ENTIRE football family including kids was prevented from playing. An opportunity for people of all ages to come together on the pitches and around the grounds and pay their respects – blown out of the window. Could it be that the FA think fans are really just common oiks?
Postponing the Friday night’s games was probably the right decision, but all of the remaining weekend fixtures was a little OTT IMO.
It has indeed been quite a week and I’m REALLY pleased to have witnessed it all and seen the hundreds of thousands of people of all generations keen to pay their respects at all the Royal residences up and down the country.
Long live the king. 👑
Hi Kathy,
The rugby league game between Catalans Dragons and Leeds Rhinos on Friday night was only played because the fixture was in France. Had the game been played in the UK it would’ve been postponed.
As for Sky “mucking about with the fixture list”, note the asterisk on your NCFC fixture list that was distributed on Thursday June 23 that said “All fixtures subject to change”. I suspect Burnley v Norwich eight games into the season would’ve been flagged as a potential Sky selection prior to the season starting don’t you ?
OTBC
RIP HM QUEEN II