by Colour Sergeant M Jefferies
Company Quartermaster Sergeant
Number Two Company
Every 2 years football fans get to experience a major event, whether it is the World Cup or the European Championships. However at club level, the season ends with the most prestigious prize in Europe - the UEFA Champions League. This first pits the best teams from every league across Europe against each other in group stages then moves into the knock out stages spread across the domestic football season. Every players’ dream is to get their hands on it; every fan dreams of seeing their team lift it. So when the announcement came that the UEFA Champions League Final 2017 would be held in the Principality Stadium Cardiff 3 June 2017, the buzz began!
As the competition advanced through the season the writing was on the wall for a local boy to have the chance play in the final in his home town, and become only the 6th person in history to lift the trophy in his own back yard. That person was of course Gareth Bale, of Real Madrid and Wales international fame. the competition reached completion the fairy tale ending was now in touching distance as Real Madrid were set to play Italian giants Juventus in the final.
Cardiff getting ready for the biggest game of football in its history.
The chance of getting tickets for this was, as always, expected to be slim. After drying my eyes for weeks following failure in the UEFA ballot for tickets, a chance encounter in Maindy Barracks brought a stroke of luck. While meeting WO2 Davies 96, the Recruiting Warrant Officer, I discovered he had received an e-mail that morning which greatly changed the situation! His team had been asked to provide Welsh Guardsmen to support the opening ceremony. For once I had found myself in the right place at the right time! After a quick call to the Drill Sergeant and receiving approval from the Regimental Sergeant Major to head up the task I had to find other willing volunteers, something which I thought would be an easy task. It didn’t take long to round up Sgt Urch (CIS Pl), LCpls Price (Sp Coy) and Lovell (POWs Coy) and Gdsm Williams 25 (3 Coy).
By this stage we had missed the first 3 days of rehearsals at the Cardiff Athletic stadium and were thrown straight into the deep end with the first rehearsal in the (newly named for the final) National Stadium Of Wales. We were bussed in from the Reserve Centre just outside the city centre and already you could feel the buzz around Cardiff as well as the heavy security presence starting to take place due to recent events in London and Manchester. We disembarked outside gate 4, had a quick security check and then we were taken into the stadium to our changing room. Upon arrival we were greeted by LCpls Burnett and Francis who work in the careers office in Cardiff. We then received a quick brief and were taken pitch side to start the rehearsal.
I have been fortunate to see some amazing scenes in that stadium over the years: Wales beating Italy in the group qualifiers and Cardiff City beating Queens Park Rangers in the playoff final to reach the Championship are the highlights. However this felt different. The stadium was empty; it seemed twice the size at pitch level and even though the roof was open the humidity hit us straight away.
LCpl Francis and CSgt Jefferies.
The rehearsals started well. Our first task was to pull out flag type flooring that covered the whole pitch. This was for the stage and dancers to perform on during the opening ceremony. This sounds easy but the flag was in 5 strips that had to be run out then zipped up before being rolled up again to be pulled out complete. Following a quick estimate and some covert positioning by all Welsh Guardsmen we made sure we would end up closest to the action on the big night!
The second day of rehearsals involved an enforced rest period when other helpers broke some zips on the flooring. This afforded us the opportunity to see what was going on behind the scenes. After a short wander we ended up in the Juventus changing room as the staff were preparing the space for the players.
LCpl Lovell, Gdsm Williams 25, CSgt Jefferies and LCpl Francis.
After our behind the scenes tour we returned to find that replacement zips had been sourced. We failed to notice that the roof had closed and it wasn’t long until we found out why. This time once the flooring was out, the stage was brought out and we were given the opportunity to see the Black Eyed Peas complete a full dress rehearsal. After a few run throughs, it was time to take it back off and leave it ready for our final practice.
The next day went according to plan and the zip saga was solved as overnight they had flown the “Zip Man” in from Milan to rectify the dilemma. In between rehearsals, members of our team had the chance to practice their interview techniques should they later be called upon to offer analysis of the game. At the end of this final rehearsal, as we were walking off the pitch I discovered that the Black Eyed Peas had just finished a television interview. I took the opportunity to get some brownie points and had will.i.am record get well and birthday messages for 2 of my daughters.
On the big day itself, Cardiff was bouncing as we were bussed in. Madrid and Juventus fans were everywhere, the security was intense and the atmosphere was electric. As we made our way into the stadium and through the security checks I bumped into an ex Welsh Guardsman, CSgt Gary Lloyd, who now works in the Police. After a quick catch up, we made our way to our changing room.
As we went up to the pitch all the finishing touches had been put in place, including purple and white flags as well as cards for the fans to hold up during the game.
The 5 hour wait for kick off gave everyone a chance to do some celebrity stalking as they all had to come through our holding area. Sir Alex Ferguson, Steven Gerrard, James Corden, Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo and Clarence Seedorf were just some of the celebrities we pounced on for selfies.
CSgt Jefferies, LCpl Francis, Gdsm Williams 25, LCpl Lovell with Ex Liverpool and Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman.
The time finally came to head out onto the pitch and we were led out in front of the Real Madrid fans. We were given a standing ovation by them which was a nice touch and we then took up our position in the front row, ready to get called to run the pitch cover out. The atmosphere was at fever pitch, the roof being closed made for deafening chants from both sets of supporters and the stadium was ready for action. 20 minutes before kick-off brought our signal to act and we ran out the flooring so that the Black Eyed Peas could take their places on stage. The atmosphere had now hit its peak and the whole stadium was cheering. The Black Eyed Peas played a fantastic set and we had to remove a small section of the flooring to allow the players and match officials to line up. It felt surreal at this stage to be only metres away from the Juventus Team with the Champions League music blaring out and the cameras going up and down the line.
As good as their performance was, unfortunately the Black Eyed Peas had over run so we were now behind time to get the cover off the pitch. As we ran it back to the opposite side the players were already moving onto the grass as quickly as we were uncovering it. With seconds to spare we had the cover off and took our seats in the front row, ready to watch the biggest game of the season. We were front row on the half way line, as close as you could get and so lucky enough to see the skills of Cristiano Ronaldo on display as the game unfolded. When Real Madrid took the lead through Ronaldo the stadium exploded with even more noise. This spurred on the Juventus fans who got their team right back into the game. Then we were able to witness one of the best goals you’ll see. As the ball was crossed back into the Real Madrid box, Mario Mandzukic produced a moment of pure football magic with a stunning 25 yard overhead kick to level the score.
The rest of the first half was pretty tight with neither team able to make another breakthrough. The second half started just as the first, with both teams going at it, until Real Madrid started to take control. It wasn’t long before Real Madrid took the lead through Casemiro, followed 3 minutes later by Ronaldo’s second. At this stage I had gone to have a look what it was like in the Real Madrid end. No sooner had I peered in from the stairwell I was mobbed by Real Madrid fans who wanted me to join in the party. I was with the Real Madrid fans as Gareth Bale made an entrance. They were extremely excited upon realising I was Welsh and we all enjoyed some bilingual chanting in support of the Welsh star.
Real Madrid scored again and put the game to bed; they were going to be crowned champions and lift the trophy in the Welsh Capital. As I went back to my seat the final whistle was blown and the stage started to be brought out. While repositioning to ensure eyes on for the presentation of the cup, a steward told us we could go pitch side. On top of this we were then ushered into the Press section which allowed us to take once in a lifetime pictures. As the Champions League trophy was brought out and given to Sergio Ramos we were feet away from the stage sharing in the magic.
After taking as many photos and video footage as we could the Real Madrid team made their way through us to start taking their families out of the crowd and onto the pitch with them to celebrate. This gave us further chances to grab selfies with some of the world’s biggest football stars. The players soon disappeared into the medley of Real Madrid officials and Press on the pitch and the stadium started to empty. We had been lucky enough to represent the Battalion at a once in a lifetime match.
