Club Wembley News

Last season City dominated at Wembley:  the penalty shootout against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup and then blowing Watford away in the Emirates FA Cup.  I felt for Watford:  they were fantastic, coming back from 2-0 down to beat Wolves in the semi-final.  And they had their chances early on in the Final, too. But once City took the lead all their quality showed.  The way they’ve been playing the last couple of years has been sensational.  It was still good to see clubs from outside the top six, like Wolves and Watford, competing at Wembley, though.  

The FA Community Shield was a great day.  It’s a chance to recognise some grassroots heroes in football and, of course, it’s the first silverware of a new campaign.  After they gave us such a dramatic Premier League title race last season, it was fitting that it was Manchester City and Liverpool who had the chance to kick off proceedings for 2019/2020, wasn’t it?  I think those two are going to take some catching again.  Fingers crossed it will be another memorable battle this season.  I’m already looking forward to it.

I hope it’s going to be a special time for England as well.  England Women have got a big game against Germany in November, the first time the Lionesses have played at Wembley for quite a few years.  The men have got Euro 2020 qualifiers coming up against Bulgaria and Montenegro.  And then next summer, with seven games including both semis and the final being at Wembley, it’s going to feel like a home tournament.  Of course I remember ’66.  I remember coming to Wembley for all our games at Euro 96, too, and the excitement that took hold of us all.  Let’s hope England can be involved in the closing stages at Euro 2020 as well, with Wembley -- the home of football – right at the heart of it all.