City Hall stages penultimate Trophy Tour leg
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
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The penultimate leg of the UEFA Champions League Trophy's spring tour of London allowed the silverware to catch the eye at City Hall on the banks of the river Thames.
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Tower Bridge provided a spectacular backdrop for the penultimate leg of the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour as the focus shifted back to City Hall, where the countdown to the 28 May final began with the ticket launch in February.
With 11 days to go before Wembley stages the biggest event in European club football, the UEFA Champions League Trophy and its women's counterpart attracted quite a stir, with tourists and workers from nearby offices taking time to catch a glimpse of the prestigious silverware. Jorge Correia, an SL Benfica fan from Lisbon, told UEFA.com: "It's a beautiful trophy and it's great that the final is at Wembley, in the capital of football and in one of the biggest football countries."
Home to the mayor of London's office, the London assembly and the Greater London Authority, City Hall lies just a stone's throw away from HMS Belfast and directly across the river Thames from the famous Tower of London.
Prior to their arrival at City Hall, the two trophies called in at Panshanger FC in Welwyn Garden City, where children of all age groups gathered to pose for photos with the cups wearing Panshanger's vibrant green and black colours. Panshanger was founded in 1969 and is one of the oldest and largest football clubs in Hertfordshire, with over 20 teams and some 300 boys and girls registered.
"It was a great day," said Panshanger coach Peter Monk. "Having the trophies here put a smile on all the kids' faces – that's what football is all about. The children were completely made up because it's not something they ever get to see."
The trophy tour has already visited Old Spitalfields Market, Canary Wharf, Craven Cottage, Trafalgar Square and Heathrow Terminal 5, and will move on to Hyde Park for the duration of the UEFA Champions Festival from 21 to 28 May.
Supporters wishing to attend the 2010/11 UEFA Women's Champions League final in London can purchase tickets now priced at £3 for under-16s and £5 (€5.90) for adults. They can be bought via a portal on Fulham FC's official website or by calling +44 (0)843 208 1234 (option 1) 24 hours a day, seven days a week (no booking fees apply online).
