This blog follows: http://stephendcook.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/a-captains-tale-champions-league-final.html
With 'The Hive' rehearsals finished on Saturday, Wednesday 22nd May was the date for dress rehearsal no.1 at Wembley Stadium. I was excited. It's many a schoolboy's dream to play at Wembley. While I would have loved to play football on the pitch, banging a shield was just fine. Not many people can say they've been on the pitch at Wembley and for a very good reason, not many people are ever allowed.
We assembled at a disused ex-carpet warehouse on an industrial estate a stones throw from the stadium. Upon arrival our costume was draped over our designated chair, much like the Olympic opening ceremony. There was no time for modesty as there was no male/female changing area but like true pro's no-one complained and everyone just got on with it.
The costume consisted of 'old skool' black plimsols (so as to not damage the Wembley pitch), black sweat pants, a red or yellow tabard with a white or black sash and a red or black headband. Thankfully we were allowed to wear either a white (Bayern) or black (Dortmund) long sleeved tee-shirt. Mine was a Tottenham 1970's replica shirt which helped me through the pain of it looking like I was representing Arsenal. It also meant I was in a Spurs shirt when on the pitch at Wembley.
Once dressed it was time for me and a few of my buddies to, as my mum would say "play silly buggers" The objective was to make it look like we had special ninja powers. I think it worked.
After playing silly buggers we convened in 'Joysleep' for some final prep. At this point Mike introduced one of the most inspirational young people I have ever had the opportunity to meet. Over the past three years Stephen Sutton has been in and out of hospital with various cancerous tumours and doctors recently diagnosed that it was incurable. Instead of feeling sorry for himself he has embraced life and is ploughing his way through an awesome bucket list. One of the items on the list was to play drums in front of a large audience. I think 80,000 at Wembley qualified. In addition to the list he has also raised over £10,000 for Teenage cancer Trust. What a boy. Check out: https://www.facebook.com/StephensStory
We then got tooled up (picked up the shields) and tried to form our lines of 40... at least three times in three different places in the car park. After all the previous practice I must admit my ability to count to 40 was unsurpassed. It was great to see everyone in costume including the knights and flag bearers.
It was time to move. I was going to stand on the pitch at Wembley.
We entered the stadium through the service entrances and whilst standing in the tunnels in our line order we were able to use the in ear monitors for the first time. Joy upon joys, we could now all hear the click track and instructions from Mike and the creative team.
I think it actually showed what an amazing job everyone had done at 'The Hive' where we were moving and playing in time without the in ears.
Understandably we had some really strict rules for being on the pitch for example not to place the shields down, not to sit down etc. The night before I had seen the Wembley groundsman interviewed on the regional news programme and when asked what his biggest challenge was his reply was "keeping people off the pitch". That made me laugh. Apparently UEFA president Michel Platini took his wife on the pitch once in high heels (his wife, not Michel). The groundsman must have had a heart attack. Then with the click track running and Mike shouting "Go!" it was time for the first run through.
We actually had quite a bit of time to practice on the Wednesday night. There were still issues with people not keeping lines and uncertainty as to when certain movements should happen. The final battle with Morris dancing was cut but we then had to add another movement to it. It felt messy and I guess it looked messy. Finally we practiced pulling the large banner out which went very well.
But I just loved being there on the pitch. I sneaked a camera in and was able to get some pics. A really momentous evening, and this was in an empty stadium. I was buzzing for Saturday.
Friday 24th May 2013 - Last Dress Rehearsal
It rained all day on the Friday and there was rightly much concern from many of the cast about going into the stadium in full costume and getting soaked, particularly as the actual game was the next day. Thankfully the decision was that we would have to wear our plimsols for the pitch but otherwise we were ok to go in our normal clothes...and coats.
The one thing that did strike us as we walked into Joysleep were the decorated shields which looked fantastic.
With shields in hand my mate Simon and I decided to add to our ever growing portfolio of 'cool pics'.
We knew that we would only have time for one run through in the stadium so it really needed to count. Thankfully the Morris dancing routine had clearly looked as bad as it felt and it had been cut. As we got into our starting positions we saw Borussia Dortmund players training on the pitch, another reason why our time was limited.
Just before we were due to go out the Bayern Munich 'legend' came into position in front of us. I recognised him. It was Paul Breitner who also played for Germany and Real Madrid. I even remembered him from my Spain '82 Panini football sticker album.
The rehearsal itself went so fast it gave me a dose of realism of how quickly seven minutes would pass on the night itself. The truth be told, I was very concerned with a number of things on the 'Bayern' side namely the quality of the lines and the 'charge!'.
Then horror upon horrors, as we pulled the massive Bayern banner across the pitch it was upside down. I looked up at the big Wembley screen and imagined the worst. "Bloody hell imagine if that happens tomorrow".
There was a lot to be work to be done and little time to do it.
Tomorrow was show time.
Final blog:
http://stephendcook.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/a-captains-tale-champions-league-final_3.html
We assembled at a disused ex-carpet warehouse on an industrial estate a stones throw from the stadium. Upon arrival our costume was draped over our designated chair, much like the Olympic opening ceremony. There was no time for modesty as there was no male/female changing area but like true pro's no-one complained and everyone just got on with it.
Once dressed it was time for me and a few of my buddies to, as my mum would say "play silly buggers" The objective was to make it look like we had special ninja powers. I think it worked.
We then got tooled up (picked up the shields) and tried to form our lines of 40... at least three times in three different places in the car park. After all the previous practice I must admit my ability to count to 40 was unsurpassed. It was great to see everyone in costume including the knights and flag bearers.
It was time to move. I was going to stand on the pitch at Wembley.
 |
| From Joysleep to Wembley |
I think it actually showed what an amazing job everyone had done at 'The Hive' where we were moving and playing in time without the in ears.
Understandably we had some really strict rules for being on the pitch for example not to place the shields down, not to sit down etc. The night before I had seen the Wembley groundsman interviewed on the regional news programme and when asked what his biggest challenge was his reply was "keeping people off the pitch". That made me laugh. Apparently UEFA president Michel Platini took his wife on the pitch once in high heels (his wife, not Michel). The groundsman must have had a heart attack. Then with the click track running and Mike shouting "Go!" it was time for the first run through.
We actually had quite a bit of time to practice on the Wednesday night. There were still issues with people not keeping lines and uncertainty as to when certain movements should happen. The final battle with Morris dancing was cut but we then had to add another movement to it. It felt messy and I guess it looked messy. Finally we practiced pulling the large banner out which went very well.
But I just loved being there on the pitch. I sneaked a camera in and was able to get some pics. A really momentous evening, and this was in an empty stadium. I was buzzing for Saturday.
 |
| Dortmund |
Friday 24th May 2013 - Last Dress Rehearsal
It rained all day on the Friday and there was rightly much concern from many of the cast about going into the stadium in full costume and getting soaked, particularly as the actual game was the next day. Thankfully the decision was that we would have to wear our plimsols for the pitch but otherwise we were ok to go in our normal clothes...and coats.
The one thing that did strike us as we walked into Joysleep were the decorated shields which looked fantastic.
With shields in hand my mate Simon and I decided to add to our ever growing portfolio of 'cool pics'.
 |
| The real battle - Wickes v Harveys |
 |
| Dortmund Training |
Just before we were due to go out the Bayern Munich 'legend' came into position in front of us. I recognised him. It was Paul Breitner who also played for Germany and Real Madrid. I even remembered him from my Spain '82 Panini football sticker album.
The rehearsal itself went so fast it gave me a dose of realism of how quickly seven minutes would pass on the night itself. The truth be told, I was very concerned with a number of things on the 'Bayern' side namely the quality of the lines and the 'charge!'.
Then horror upon horrors, as we pulled the massive Bayern banner across the pitch it was upside down. I looked up at the big Wembley screen and imagined the worst. "Bloody hell imagine if that happens tomorrow".
There was a lot to be work to be done and little time to do it.
Tomorrow was show time.
Final blog:
http://stephendcook.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/a-captains-tale-champions-league-final_3.html
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