What a great and fitting game of football to finish 112 years at the Boleyn Ground but the closing ceremony was a major disappointment to myself and many of the 35,000 crowd there on the damp night.
The highlights of the closing ceremony were the light and pyrotechnic show to the tune of twist and shout and the moving Mark Noble interview, much of the rest was slow moving, tacky and naff I am afraid.
Running over 45 minutes later because of the delayed kick off, we seemed to wait ages for the closing ceremony to get underway.
The sound system at the Boleyn Ground was appalling despite being re-enforced with extra speakers for the event. We couldn’t hear the majority of the interviews or videos and the mic feed kept on cutting all the time making it very difficult to follow what was going on.
The ceremony went on for far too long and I felt sorry for the Hammers of the years ferried in by taxis to stand in the pouring rain in the middle of the pitch as the ceremony ran of steam. The event lacked emotion and class and was a disappointing way to end the night and an era.
When a video of a Number 6 shirt appeared to switch off the lights, many were puzzled. What that it? Is it over?
There were no public tears, no out pouring of grief, just the stark realisation it is was the last time we would leave the old stadium.
I am sure it cost a lot of money to stage the ceremony and their hearts were in the right place. We appreciated the free Farewell Boleyn tee shirt and matching wrist-band but it could have been much better in my opinion.
Other fans at the ground there have described it as embarrassing, a shambles or cringeworthy at best and maybe it looked and sounded better on the TV.
However,the defining moment for me was Winston Reid’s late winning goal. That is the best closing ceremony I could ever have wished for. Goodbye Boleyn Ground, I will miss you.
Miserable sod,I loved it.Maybe being an old bugger I don’t need flashing lights & big bangs to enjoy meself.What did you want,that ET creature flying across the moon in a Claret & Blue shirt? 🙂
After all we had read about what was going to happen and who was going to make an appearance it was in the end pretty much a let down.
You did have that “oh wait, was that it then” feeling during and after and the sound system was appalling.
But nothing will take away from the memories of what was a fantastic final game and a win in a very fitting West Ham manor.
I stayed until along with many others right up until the staff ushered us out.
I wanted it shorter and a sound system I could actually hear the interviews.
To be honest the firework display, followed by a Mark Noble interview followed by a video of the greatest moments followed the lights being turned off would have done for me.
Got have been over and done with in 15 minutes. Simple
You young guns & flash Harry’s always want more,bloody needy generation of demanding sods.What ever you get you always want more 🙂
You crack me up Captain Jack.You know how to put a smile on my face.I wasn’t there so can’t comment really but I suppose you will never please all the people all the time.If it had been swift & over quickly then you would have had people moaning it wasn’t long enough lol
I was hoping for more, the taxi idea looked like it was nicked from the Olympic opening ceremony, was hoping for more the pyrotechnics were good, I wonder if it was cut short due to the late start ? Watching on TV it was emotional I certainly shed more than a year and my Wife said normally she hates West Ham but it even made her feel like supporting them, so perhaps for neutrals (or no. West Ham fans) it was even better ?
I thought it was alright and where I was sitting the sound was good, I enjoyed the whole thing really but I was boozed up and buzzing after the match so I might have enjoyed anything at that point
it looked good on TV, but I was thinking to myself that those in the ground didn’t look that excited about it, maybe that’s why if they couldn’t hear what was going on.
The real celebration of what West Ham and the Boleyn ground was all about had already occurred during the 90 mins of spectacular football and the roar of the faithful.
Abide with me and the deceased hammers did it for me. That followed by the game was mark enough.
Cockney Rejects were dire – maybe they work cheap – I can’t think of any other reason they were there!
Considering the delay – which meant the organisers had to reschedule the fireworks – I felt they did a good job. Yes, the sound system was bad, but hey – the stadium is about to be pulled down. Let’s moan if things are not right at the new stadium, but not now.
The interviews with Nobes Paolo and Trev were excellent. Very sad that Bonzo not there.
Anybody know why ?
Overall – unforgettable
I made a comment last night saying pretty much the same thing. After the amount of time they had to plan for the ceremony (years) imho it was poor. I still can’t understand why Bianca Westwood was there, she just looked way out of her comfort zone. Any where holding a mic is outside. Out of the whole recent history of the club Marlon Harewood was interviewed, Would have loved to see Tevez somewhere though.
the game itself more than made up for it. A display fit for the final curtain.
Here in the States the match and ceremony were televised by NBC and they worked hard to make it special for us watching here. With the late finish, they could only cover the first half of the ceremony but they featured a live link on the front of their website. For those familiar with where the beautiful game used to rate in American sports, this was a tremendous featuring of a ceremony many Americans watching probably didn’t fully appreciate the significance of. Despite the early troubles outside, West Ham showed up on the world stage last night and did us all proud. And our US TV coverage reflected how significant football, and the BPL, have become over here. Sean, it looked good from my position in front of the telly so maybe we didn’t feel the gaps you felt. Frankly, given the late hour, I’m pleased they got any of it in. Just seeing all the old faces coming from all over the world shows just how right Mark Noble was when he described us as a family. We won’t let some useless yobs define who we are. We are West Ham! The future is bright. Fortune’s always hiding but we found it over at the Olympic Stadium. Upward on onward, let the bubbles blow anew. COYI!!!
if am honest i think the closing ceremony was more designed for TV than the crowd. The sound system breaking down in the rain didn’t help
Must admit I loved the whole night,ceremony as well.There again I’m easily pleased,haha.Anyway it’s done & dusted now,what’s the point of moaning about it.Lastnight was about more than a few dodgy mics & how long it all went on off.All a bit trivial in my list of what was important to me lastnight 🙂
I’m surprised Sean, I wasn’t disappointed, i thought it was fine, as previously mentioned had an “olympic” feel to it because of the taxi’s etc The problem was the delay in KO which caused problems and a very late finish.
At least the club tried to do something and they got great TV coverage, but you’ll never please all the people all the time
Great game though!!
# Standard
Lol Rad.Yep,same old Percy,flies over here like butter wouldn’t melt then goes back to his Wetnest to rev things things up a bit with an odd comment here & there about wet things,lol.Time his wings were clipped terminally I think 😀
Lol rev things up, I don’t think it needs me to do that.
Always like reading the stuff on here, comment when I feel like it, simple 😉
Ah ha ha ha
I wish you had clipped my wings terminally yesterday afternoon Bill,I wouldn’t still have this raging hangover if you had.Kill or cure hair of the rabid dog needed I think 🙂
Just do it Rad.Get back on the booze.You know it makes sense lol
Absolute toilet and totally embarrassing.
Well now i know why you call yourself oldgit,lol.Maybe you forgot the ‘Miserable’ at the start 😉
You talking about Manures display Oldgit,that’s because they were so scared,
Such a crock today in the media,
This is Westam it went just as I expected it to,the new order is advancing and the old Kings will have to get used to it,
There whole football display was par for there season,except the ref was honest for a change,
The best team won,
The old girl had the last evening she deserved,
Did not see the entertainment after the game but had all the entertainment required by the end of the match,another great white knuckle ride,