I had the honour of being one of just 50 spectators allowed into Wembley Stadium yesterday to watch the Coral Challenge Cup Final 2020. This is a brief account of a unique and historic day.
The first duty of the day was an interview on BBC Breakfast at 9.30 am to promote the Final (being shown later that day on BBC1) and to publicise our text to give service to raise awareness and funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in honour of our Chief Guest in absentia, Rob Burrow.
The area around Wembley was eerily quiet compared to a normal match day. We did the interview in the one part of the Wembley estate that now offers a clean view of the stadium and is not built up. Even walking from my hotel to the interview location, there were a few fans of the two Clubs wandering around in their colours. They were clearly not attending the match so I was not sure why they were there. Perhaps they wanted to create their own atmosphere and memories to take home with them. The imposition of the Tier 2 Lockdown restrictions in London that morning menat that they might not even be able to watch the game in the Pub together. But I admired the passion and commitment that we have come to expect from our Rugby League fans.
Normally, on Challenge Cup day, the Chairman gets to the stadium early for a rehearsal of the Trophy Presentation, the pre-match intorduction to the teams, the protocols for significant or Royal guests and a rehearsal of the speeches and presentations for the 300 or so guests normally in the Wembley Suite.
There was to be none of that this year. Only 50 guests, no pre match presentation of dignatories to the teams and the presentation of the Trophy and medals was to take place down on the pitch with the playere collecting their own medals and the trophy.
So, we walked over to the stadium for 1.30pm, 90 minutes before kick off.
First up was a medical screening. All the media and the 50 guests queued up to be admitted one by one for the screening. We had all completed a detailed questionnaire the day before the game. Now, we had to produce ID, and be tested for temperature, blood oxidation levels and pulse rate.
Once in, we walked through a cavernous and empty entrance, up three flights of escalators, guided by a handful of stewards to the Wembley Suite on the third floor.
Drinks an boxed refreshments were avilable. The room was appropriate distanced so that 50 people were spread around a room built to accommodate over 300. My Chair’s welcome speech was delievered with my normal gusto and passion but destined only to be heard by 50 people.
The stadium had been beautifully dressed by the RFL Events team. with colourful seat coverings, flags and emblems to ensure that, within camera shot, the viewers could not see the empty seats.
We were seated in a most socially distanced fashion. I was in the usual seat in the middle of the Front Row of the Royal Box. My nearest neighbours were Clare Balding (RFL President) and Andrew Rosler (Owner of Salford Red Devils), each of whom were three seats away. With masks on, it made it hard to have any form of conversation with them during the game.
The teams came out to pyrotechnics and music, and the normal stadium announcement so it has the atmosphere of a normal game. Abide With Me had been pre recorded, played on the big screen and performed by Lizzie Jones MBE, perrforming atop Castle Hill, high above Huddersfield with panoramic views of the Yorkshire countryside. It raised the hears on the back of our necks and brought a lump to the throat. Lizzie then performed the National Anthem beautifully, yet was greeted with an eerie silence, and just the applause of 50 people when she finsiehd the final note.
And so to the action. The crowd noise that you hear on the broadcast coverage are added by the broadcasters. They are not in the stadium. So, Wembley’s wide open spaces echoed to the shouts of the players and the crunch of the tackles. Even as far away from the pitch as we were sitting, you could hear and even feel the force of the tackles.
We were rewarded with a great game. Expansive Tries, a score which ebbed and flowed, momentum shifts and a tense and exciting finish. Leeds Rhinos won by a single point although Salford had two good attempts to win at the end.
After the game, Salford trooped disconsolately down the tunnel, proud of the contribution they made to a great Final.
The post match interviews for the BBC with the Leeds players were broadcast around the stadium. Then Leeds collected their own medals and on the pitch, their captain, Luke Gale collected and raised the trophy to the delight of the players, and polite applause from the 50 spectators.
It would have been an amazing specatacle with a full and passionate crowd. As it was, it was played in near silence.
The effort that we went to in order to be admitted to the stadium might suggest that you could not repeat it for a large crowd. But having been there, I am convinced that a crowd could have been allowed safely into the ground. Even 20-25% of the capacity could have been admitted without significant risk. The social distancing was so effective, the requirement to wear masks strictly enforced. I am certain that spectators can be safely accommodated in statdiums even during these restrictions.
As it was, we few, we happy few, were privileged to be at this historic match. In 125 years time, the records will show that Leeds Rhinos won the Challeneg Cup . Only 50 of us will be able to say that we were there.
