If The Queen Dies...

[captain sparkle]

I'm not a royalist but I am saddened by the news. The Queen has been a constant throughout the majority of peoples lives.
Growing up I (and many of you too) pledged allegiance to the Queen in Cubs & Scouts and, or, sang of her many, many times via the national Anthem, at school & loads of sporting & other events.
People generally don't like change & now we have a King, King Charles III, how strange does that sound!
I think it will be interesting to see what he has to say on events, he's always been ermm, a little outspoken on environmental issues?
Will he stick his tuppen'orth in when it comes to fracking/fossil fuel use etc?
we'll find out I guess.
Also we'll have to learn new words (word!) to the national anthem now!
R.I.P.

[Wild Bill]

Saddened by the news. RIP Elizabeth.

Within ten mins though I had to turn off the radio. Wall to wall coverage of how perfect she was. We had it last year with Phillip's death, then the jubilee, now this. It isn't an organic thing its been planned for years.

Yesterday was a big day in politics. The government want to subsidise energy bills with national debt instead of excess profits. It might get scrutiny in the future but for me this is still far more important for us as a nation.

I really hope football goes ahead now Saturday but it sounds unlikely. I think the Queen would have preferred it did but the institution if the monarchy (whoever that is) will probably overule.

Sorry for anyone who is feeling sad. I have mixed emotions personally on the Queen but hope Charles looks to modernise during his time. Let's see

[P/T Indie]

What will be interesting is that the Queen has always had a sense of mystery about her we don't really know what she is like and she just comes out for special occasions where as Charles has had to make another life for himself and is quite open about his interests e.g. the Princes Trust, environment there are many documentaries and interviews with him, I even saw one where Ant & Dec stayed at his house!

Will all that stop now and he basically goes he behind the castle walls and we don't see/hear much from him except at Christmas (some might say that's not a bad thing) or does he keep doing the same as he does now, will be interesting to see.

[Wild Bill]

What will be interesting is that the Queen has always had a sense of mystery about her we don't really know what she is like and she just comes out for special occasions where as Charles has had to make another life for himself and is quite open about his interests e.g. the Princes Trust, environment there are many documentaries and interviews with him, I even saw one where Ant & Dec stayed at his house!

Will all that stop now and he basically goes he behind the castle walls and we don't see/hear much from him except at Christmas (some might say that's not a bad thing) or does he keep doing the same as he does now, will be interesting to see.

Yes, it will be interesting how he adapts. In a way, the Queen fitted the role better as she was very young when she took over, so probably didn't have strong opinions on much and would have lacked confidence to speak her mind. Charles has a reputation for speaking his mind, which for me is no bad thing, but for the idea of a constitutional Monarch, it could be problematic.

[redrobo]

For me he can say what he wants as long as others are prepared to have a valid different opinion that they can express in a construtive way.

Will be an interesting conversation between ou King and the new Government.

[Alan]

It will be interesting to see how quickly coins & notes with the Queen's head on, are phased out and King Charles' head replace them.

The coins will not be phased out at all- when I was a schoolboy we used to get coins with every monarch from Queen Victoria in our money. Notes will probably be changed bit by bit as new ones are issued.

RIP Queen Elizabeth II

[Phil Anderer]

Charles has said on more than one occasion that if/when he became King he would stick to protocol and not talk publicly about political matters. That doesn't stop him having frank discussions with the prime minister in his regular audiences with her/him.

As an atheist I can't whole-heartedly support a monarchy based on divine right, but like Keith I much prefer our constitutional monarchy to a presidential system that can produce the likes of Donald Trump, Victor Orban, Jair Bolsonaro etc. It 's sad in a way that she's died, but she was 96. My (nearly) 92-year old father-in-law keeps saying 'I'm past me sell by date'. I'll be much, much sadder when he goes, and hope he carries on to 96 and beyond. He'll probably be bemoaning all the mourning in the papers and on TV more than anyone, as he's bordering on republican.

[redrobo]

The Tour of Britain cycle race has cancelled its final 3 days and awarded the various winners of the race categories to those leading after yesterday's stage.

In my opinion this was the correct decision.

I would hope that all football matches this weekend do the same but wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't a universal uptake.

[New_Ground_Watcher]

The Tour of Britain had no choice but to cancel as the Police motorbike riders have been recalled to London for official duties.

[redrobo]

The Polce motorcyclists are volunteers from throughout the UK and are not exclusively from the capital,

[Keith]

I would hope that all football matches this weekend do the same but wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't a universal uptake.

Why?

If you don't want to attend a football match due to grieving the loss of an old lady who you never met, then fine, that is your choice. But why should you, or anyone else, force me to grieve too?

If there are professional footballers, who are so grief-stricken that they don't want to play, then fine, give them the weekend off, but I bet there would be very few takers.

Apparently, the government have said games can go ahead, it is now up to the FA & EFL to decide.

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

I would hope that all football matches this weekend do the same but wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't a universal uptake.

Why?

If you don't want to attend a football match due to grieving the loss of an old lady who you never met, then fine, that is your choice. But why should you, or anyone else, force me to grieve too?

If there are professional footballers, who are so grief-stricken that they don't want to play, then fine, give them the weekend off, but I bet there would be very few takers.

Apparently, the government have said games can go ahead, it is now up to the FA & EFL to decide.

I agree 100% with you Keith.

[Redalert1970]

ALL EFL matches OFF 9th and 10th Sept

Probably won't go down well with some fans but it's the right thing to do in the circumstances

[redrobo]

ALL EFL matches OFF 9th and 10th Sept

Probably won't go down well with some fans but it's the right thing to do in the circumstances

Totally agree as a matter of respect

[Wild Bill]

Bit disappointed but not surprised. I guess its a moment in the nation's history but at least we can look forward to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.

[black morse]

Once the Premier League had postponed the EFL was bound to follow suit.

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

ALL EFL matches OFF 9th and 10th Sept

Probably won't go down well with some fans but it's the right thing to do in the circumstances

Totally agree as a matter of respect

Would Queen Elizabeth have cancelled the Derby or Grand National for example? I doubt whether she'd have been in favour of the decision that's just been made.

I hope all the travelling fans who have already travelled or are on route to grounds throughout the country can afford to be so much out of pocket. Ditto all the hospitality venues that have bought extra food, taken on extra staff, and hotels and boarding houses who have to juggle with whether to not they can reimburse clients who will no longer travel.

And will all other sectors follow the lead of the Premier and EFL decision?

What will I do? Well I'm already committed pre-match in Lancaster, so I'll travel up and back home as normal from Scouseport, a 5 hour round trip on public transport.

[Redalert1970]

Will there be another meeting regarding the midweek games

[lancaster shrimp]

Tomorrow should have been played imho. Armbands. Minute silence. National anthem. Then postpone games for the funeral. The Queen loved her sport.

[twosheds]

Looks like sport will resume normal service as from Monday....so the game on Tuesday should go ahead.

The club have just announced on their Faceache page that games between 9 - 11th have been postponed...

[Keith]

ALL EFL matches OFF 9th and 10th Sept

Probably won't go down well with some fans but it's the right thing to do in the circumstances

Totally agree as a matter of respect

Bollocks.

It is forced mourning. She was a ninety-six-year-old woman. Yes, she was a long-serving Queen, and undertook the role with dedication. But if you choose not to go to football two days after she dies, that should be YOUR CHOICE. Her passing has zero impact upon my life. Well, until the postponement of a game, that I probably won't now be able to see when it is played mid-week, because other people believe I need to mourn someone I never met and who never knew I existed.

Hope the bloody pubs are open.

[lancaster shrimp]

I imagine the funeral will take place on a Saturday? Possibly next Saturday? So I guess everything will be postponed then?

[black morse]

Why has sport taken it upon itself to cancel? The government guidelines gave all the choice and I doubt whether cinemas, theatres, fun parks. zoos etc etc will be closed.

I think it's been done just to annoy Keith

[captain sparkle]

Bizarrely, King Charles III has just flown above my house in Heysham, not 20 minutes ago, on his way to Northolt!

[Keith]

I think it's been done just to annoy Keith

Worryingly, so do I!

I have emailed the EFL.

I travelled to England yesterday, in order to watch Morecambe v Derby County tomorrow. Despite the government saying the games could go ahead, you chose to postpone them for a period of enforced mourning.

The three nights accommodation and the travel to get here, comes to £420.

Please, could you advise me who to invoice for reimbursement?

To be fair, they were very swift in saying 'tough'

Hello Keith,

Thank you for your e-mail, we appreciate you getting in touch and acknowledge that fans will have been looking forward to attending matches this weekend.

As you are aware, a short time ago the EFL announced that games taking place on 9-10 September would be postponed as a mark of respect by the National Sport to the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

This is aligned with the approach that has been taken by the Premier League and the FA.

If you wish to read the full statement in relation to the postponement of matches this weekend you can do so here.

Unfortunately, the EFL are not in a position to reimburse supporters for any travel or hotel costs, and we can only recommend you contact the service providers directly in this regard.

Thank you for contacting the EFL.

Kindest regards,

Niamh
Supporter Services Department
EFL

I've messaged Niamh

Thank you Niamh for your swift response.

Unfortunately, having already travelled, and now sitting in a hotel room, I cannot ask for my travel costs or hotel accommodation back, as I'm actually using them.

If you could please pass on my concern to the people who make these decisions, that the EFL should avoid imposing 'forced grief' upon supporters.

If football went ahead, people could choose not to attend, if they felt it was disrespectful. The 'choice' would have remained. 'Grief' should be for the individual to embrace, not the collective to enforce.

The EFL have chosen, to impose a period of forced grief, with, as per usual, no thoughts for the supporters, and the costs that they incur by supporting their team.

I understand that yesterday was a significant day in British history and that many people admired the Queen and her devotion to her public duty. However, I disagree that somehow, respect for her would have been diminished by football going ahead.

I am fully aware that nothing will come of this, but if you would kindly forward this to the complaints department, and/or provide me with a copy of the complaints' procedure. After all, I have nothing better to do tomorrow, other than sit in my hotel room.

Kind regards, Keith