: Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:46 am  

Dave T wrote:

Eddies didn't speak during the officialsilence, butjust after the tribute had been shown on the screen, Sky came back from a break, so he obviously had to explain what was happening. At that stage there was no official silence, and he talked about Leon.
.

Yeah I know he did not talk during silence, it was just realy quite in the ground and you could hear Eddie talking. Just shows how quite it was really.

: Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:49 am  

Very very moving, my heart goes out to the family & friends and well done to SKY and all at match.

: Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:13 pm  

The Clan wrote:

Well done to SKY (Bill Arthurs dumbest ever question excluded) and well done to everyone in the ground.

Last night was the most surreal atmosphere I've ever experienced at a game. Obviously the 10 minutes before kick-off was always going to be a very emotional time, but even that was very strange with the crowd not really knowing what to do after the tribute to Leon. In the end everybody opted for a respectful silence.

It was very fitting that Wakefield were the first team to score but to expect the players to continue for the full 80 minutes was just too much of an ask. The rest of the game was played in a very subdued atmosphere and while we watched the players do their jobs it was evident that the crowd and the players especially Wakefield were very flat.

Leon Pryce gets some very bad press at times, often deserved and self-inflicted, but last night his refusal to celebrate his tries and his post match interview were a credit to him.

It's my understanding that the minutes silence at all the other games was impeccably upheld and great respect was shown by everybody in attendance.Overall the whole of the rugby league community has emerged from last night's game with tremendous credit but special mention has to go to everyone involved that Wakefield Trinity.

Yes pal was at the jjb watching wigan v giants and was perfectly observed just planes overhead could be heard and paper blowing in the wind.

: Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:58 pm  

and a nod of respect to James Graham too, flatly refused any form of celebration after scoring, set the tone that Price followed.

the sky coverage was spot on, as was the crowds reaction for ten mins before the game, how anyone could have played a game after that is beyond me.

: Sat Mar 28, 2009 2:43 pm  

I was sat in the stand directly in front of the radio commentators bench and heard Ray French telling his listeners of the moment that Leon's family and team-mates walked out to half-way. His comments were something along the lines of;

"Leon Walker's family have just walked along the touch line to half-way to massive applause with everyone on their feet, and now the ground has fallen silent. It's an eerie silence with just the wind blowing around us. An impeccable silence, with still a good few minutes before the official minutes silence. I've never seen such a thing at a Rugby League game."

I don't often agree with anything Ray says, but that summed-up that particular few minutes nicely.

I was thoroughly choked last night, from the moment I walked up to Belle Vue to stand at the railings covered with tributes to Leon, through the Sky interview with his parents, and to the final whistle.

Well done to everyone who attended the game, and those involved.

: Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:13 pm  

Flubber wrote:

i didnt know what to do after that video of Mr and Mrs Walker. the ground was silent so i think everyone was in the same boat.

did anyone get to clip some idiots for disrupting the minutes silence???

all were well behaved near me

I thought it was a great tribute....Very moving

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:35 am  

I was at the game I was very close to crying I must admit. Fitting tribute for the lad I think it took a lot for the fans to recover from that, I had a lump in my throat and couldnt shout in the 1st half! Only thing what was wrong with sky was that disgraceful Arthurs question at the end to Demetriou, I thought JD answered it impecabley.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:01 am  

I take my hat off to the SKY Sports team in their wondeful handling of such a terrible situation, especially to Eddie Hemmings for his part in introducing the moving interview with Leon's parents. Having done eulogies (spelling?) at funerals for relatives of mine, I fully understand how difficult speaking in public on such a sad occassion is.

Well done SKY.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:53 pm  

Had to listen at work to Radio Leeds. 100% respectfull, gave a very good audio discription of the tribute. Had me in tears. You could hear a train passing it was that quiet in the stadium. Fast forward the iplayer to just over 46mins if you want to hear it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0 ... 7_03_2009/ Hope thats right (i'm not good at this post link stuff)

Had to listen at work to Radio Leeds. 100% respectfull, gave a very good audio discription of the tribute. Had me in tears. You could hear a train passing it was that quiet in the stadium. Fast forward the iplayer to just over 46mins if you want to hear it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0 ... 7_03_2009/ Hope thats right (i'm not good at this post link stuff)

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:40 pm  

i have never heard a game so flat for atmosphere...looking back it may have been a game too soon but it has to carry on..congrats to saints (nice strawberry blonde for james graham) and after my comments on an earlier thread about pryce, i thought that his behaviour and interview came over well...shame about the so called "chants!" from our beloved chavs!