Queen’s gardens transformed as William hosts historic game for FA

 
Game on: The teams take to the pitch in the garden of Buckingham Palace
7 October 2013

When football fans talk about the Palace, they are usually referring to the team that plays at Selhurst Park.

But today it took on an entirely different meaning as the Queen’s back yard was transformed into a football pitch.

Training: William takes to the field to show his ball control

The royal lawn — used in the past to stage concerts, a trade fair and even two boxing matches — played host to two amateur teams to mark the 150th anniversary of the Football Association.

Prince William, president of the FA and an Aston Villa fan, dreamed up the idea of the match between two west London-based teams — Civil Service FC, the last survivor of the 11 teams that formed the Football Association in 1863, and Polytechnic FC, formed back in 1875.

Handshake: Prince William meets the players

Before the game the prince joked: “I cannot tell you how excited I am that later today we will be playing football on my grandmother’s lawn. One warning, though: if anyone breaks a window, you can answer to her.

FOOTBALL MATCH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TODAY POLYTECHNIC FC VS CIVIL SEVICE FC. DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE TRAINING TODAY PICTURE JEREMY SELWYN 07/10/2013
FOOTBALL MATCH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TODAY POLYTECHNIC FC VS CIVIL SEVICE FC. DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE TRAINING TODAY PICTURE JEREMY SELWYN 07/10/2013

“In fact, Her Majesty, who has been the proud patron of The FA for 61 years, sends her regrets that she cannot join you today. The one small silver lining to Her Majesty not being present today is that there shouldn’t be any corgis running on to the pitch.

Historic match: Prince William watches play

“The beautiful game has changed an awful lot during The Queen’s reign, but it remains the most loved game in the country, most probably the world.”

After the match the prince was presenting medals to 150 grassroots volunteers in recognition of their dedication to the sport.

Wembley groundsman Tony Stones worked with royal household gardeners to create the pitch in the 39-acre garden. The lawn was reseeded in parts to repair wear and tear following a busy summer — and the gardeners are under strict instructions to get the garden back to normal before Her Majesty returns to London from Balmoral.

Historic match: The pitch in the grounds of Buckingham Palace

Premier League referee Howard Webb, who officiated at the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa, took charge of the historic fixture.

Polytechnic FC manager Geoff Brown said: “Everybody is really buzzing about it. They all know they are going to be part of something very special.”

The match formed the centrepiece of the FA’s Grassroots Heroes Day.

Game on: Groundsmen prepare the pitch Picture: Jeremy Selwyn

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