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Feature
A Look Back at Wembley
The Ongoing Trails Of A UK Football Print Magazine Editor
by Keith Bowden
1/11/2007
Well I enjoyed myself, despite Mrs Council, I had a riot.
And my companions, Lynne (the official FB&S; wife), Paul (the official FB&S; b-in-l) and the official FB&S; father had a very nice time as well, thanks for asking.
So once again, please excuse me, as I indulge in some personal random thoughts on the London game.
I have just heard part of the Radio 5 Live’s commentary on Radio 4’s The Today Programme (I know) and the atmosphere on that feed sounds brilliant. Where me and Paul were sitting (way up in the Gods) it sounded great.
 My afternoon started with 45 minutes on Wembley Way, giving out FB&S; cards, but that soon ended when I was stopped by a member of Brent Council. So a wet and bedraggled man met up with Lynne, Paul and my dad and we decided we had had enough promoting and would head in. Well three of us had, me dad continued to chat to people and give out cards throughout the afternoon (but not officially – and with their permission and in no way advertising like. I was at a Guns ‘N Roses concert at the old Wembley, and nearly fell off my chair with laughter when the leader singer of Skid Row informed us that Brent Council had asked them not to swear – and if they played Get The F*** Out they might pull the plug on the show. The Row did play it, and the Council decided to let them continue playing).
As we queued, someone offered us a handout about a “new UK based website”. We came face to face with Rich and Michael Lawrence. I was so excited Mike-e got a man sized bear hug out of me, and Lynne had to do her own introductions. I have met Mike-e before (a power meeting that will go down in history as the place where the future of football coverage in this country changed – ha!), but not Richard. Rich is actually much better looking than Mike-e has ever previously indicated, but I resisted the temptation to give him a man hug as well.
Texts flew back and forth throughout the match, between me and friends I had in the stadium, which just added to the surreal idea that I was in England watching proper football.
Needless to say one of the biggest cheers came for the Dolphin Cheerleaders – still cannot get my head round the concept. I may let Diner readers know about my problems with cheerleaders, which I have shared in FB&S; before, another time. For now you just need to know it comes from trying to be a “new man”, and all the confusion that entailed. Did chuckle though when one of their first dances was done to Led Zeppelin – first line “I come from the land of ice and snow.”
The anthems kicked ass (to borrow a phrase). Jocelyn Brown’s American one would have blown the roof off, if it had had a roof (is there a retractable roof, or is it only partially coverable or what? I am so confused by the Wembley website). Paul Potts did a corking British one. Never a big fan of anthems, even I got caught up in those (I am with Bill Bailey when he says we should change ours to the theme tune from the Archers).
When the game started there was an odd noise, as after all the excitement, noise and flashbulbs, the first drive was greeted quietly and I wondered what was happening. Not until the Giants got the ball, did the noise start properly, as the crowd decided to back the Miami defense. This changed in the second half, when the Big Blue worked out we would cheer for them as well, and encouraged us to make noise when they were defending. Not really the homefield advantage Miami were expecting/hoping for.
Was this the first regular season NFL game with pitchside advertising? Also noticed the very British, orange and white traffic cones marking off the back of the sidelines.
Wembley is a brilliant stadium. My first visit since the rebuild – and I mean, like, wow. Not sure they were really geared up for the type of event a football game is. Our half of the concourse ran out of food just before half time. They also needed more screens at the queuing points, so people could see what was going on while there. The PA also needs to be fed onto the concourses. But everyone who served me and helped me was really nice, just little things like saying “Enjoy the game”.
The stadium is daftly situated, and getting out afterwards was very slow. However, everyone around me was still in a good mood. The police horses who were controlling us were amazing (although I think I may have brought home something home on my boots).
As to the game itself, did the Dolphins get a say in the weather? The rain played a major factor in the quality of the play and the pitch cut up shockingly quickly. Although on the face of it, rain and mud should be an equalising effect, I think the generally young and inexperienced Marine Mammals suffered more. Having said that, they were not really very good.
Everytime you thought the Fins were going well, they made a mistake. The late rally and close finish was great, but it was more to do with the fact that the Jersey Giants did not finish them off when they should have done.
As someone pointed out to me, it cannot help the 2007 Dolphin side that they are constantly reminded in gamebreaks that it is the 35th anniversary of the perfect season. I would be surprised if they celebrated the anniversary by doing a complete reversal and not winning, as I think they have just enough about them to sneak one or two wins later.
Talking of game breaks – more could have been done in those, competitions etc. My Stateside experiences of games have always involved much more interaction than just showing the crowd – someone needs to bring over the Timberwolves or Jaguars mascots. The Giants looked competent, but not earth shattering.
One of the many highlights was chatting to Cameron on the phone. The ten year old son of my mate Craig was having a great time before it started. I got them tickets, and they were better than mine! In an e-mail last night he described it as an “amazingly wonderful night out. It was fabulous!”
Before the negatives start, and other people have their say, the FB&S; editor would like to say that he is with you Cam – it was fabulous.
The rumour on the Today programme is that there is already a Wembley game lined up for next year.
Yes please.
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