If you'd told me in August 2019, on my last visit to Lens, that before I visited again, the world would be hit by a virus that would kill millions of people and leave millions more suffering the after effects of its vicious bite. Not only that, but a generation of children would miss out on months of schooling while class sizes would be no more than 15 per class. Add to this, the biggest immunisation programme would have taken place, world-wide and still the death toll would be rising.
Coronavirus had been a tragedy in so many ways although there had been moments to feel proud in human kindness. With the elderly and at-risk being forced to protect themselves in their homes, there were many tales of friends, neighbours and relatives rallying round to fetch food and other supplies. The NHS workers were hailed as the heroes they had long been by everyone: even the government. Sadly though, this support from on high didn't extend to an increase in salaries to match their devotion. It was also no surprise to hear that Boris and his cronies, on the whole would have continued to be mostly incompetent and self-serving.
It was also no surprise that the UK's relations with Europe took a nosedive after Brexit. On two occasions I had been all booked up to visit my favourite French destination when last minute rulings by Boris and co had led to cancellation and frustration. When I booked up to visit Lens for the match against Metz, I really was not sure whether I would really be able to get there and back, ever the optimist (or is that just blind faith?), return tickets were reserved from Newcastle to London, overnight stay and return Eurostar to Lille. A PCR Covid-19 test was also bought to take on my return to the UK. France didn't need any such test, just proof of being double vaccinated and a self-certification that I was fit and well and where I was going to be staying.
The previous season and a half had been virtually played without supporters as Coronavirus forced restrictions to be tightened and national borders closed. Watching so many matches taking place in empty stadiums was sobering for myself and all fans and a reminder, if one should be needed, of the virus' destructive nature.
On the pitch, however, Lens had secured the long-sought-after promotion to Ligue 1 with a penalty converted by Frank Sotoca in front of a deserted Delacourt stand. The home encounter with Orléans, the final match of the 2019-20 Ligue 2 season, was won 1-0 and allowed les Sang et Or to leapfrog both AC Ajaccio and Troyes into second spot and a fortuitous promotion spot. The match had only been coach Franck Haise' s second game in charge. After taking over from the faltering Philippe Montanier, he had guided Lens to two victories out of two. As the affect of Coronavirus took hold, the French Football Federation decided to abandon the season and allow promotion and relegation between Ligue 1 and 2. Just like that, we were up. Franck, previously coach of the reserve team was thrust into the limelight and in the following season, almost achieved European competition but a 0-0 draw at home to Monaco allowed Rennes into the Europa Conference League. But hey! Lens were still in Ligue 1 and finished an unbelievable 6th!
In 2021-22, the fans were back and Lens continued to take the footballing world by surprise. By the time the Metz game arrived, they were second only to moneybags Paris St Germain!
Coronavirus had been a tragedy in so many ways although there had been moments to feel proud in human kindness. With the elderly and at-risk being forced to protect themselves in their homes, there were many tales of friends, neighbours and relatives rallying round to fetch food and other supplies. The NHS workers were hailed as the heroes they had long been by everyone: even the government. Sadly though, this support from on high didn't extend to an increase in salaries to match their devotion. It was also no surprise to hear that Boris and his cronies, on the whole would have continued to be mostly incompetent and self-serving.
It was also no surprise that the UK's relations with Europe took a nosedive after Brexit. On two occasions I had been all booked up to visit my favourite French destination when last minute rulings by Boris and co had led to cancellation and frustration. When I booked up to visit Lens for the match against Metz, I really was not sure whether I would really be able to get there and back, ever the optimist (or is that just blind faith?), return tickets were reserved from Newcastle to London, overnight stay and return Eurostar to Lille. A PCR Covid-19 test was also bought to take on my return to the UK. France didn't need any such test, just proof of being double vaccinated and a self-certification that I was fit and well and where I was going to be staying.
The previous season and a half had been virtually played without supporters as Coronavirus forced restrictions to be tightened and national borders closed. Watching so many matches taking place in empty stadiums was sobering for myself and all fans and a reminder, if one should be needed, of the virus' destructive nature.
On the pitch, however, Lens had secured the long-sought-after promotion to Ligue 1 with a penalty converted by Frank Sotoca in front of a deserted Delacourt stand. The home encounter with Orléans, the final match of the 2019-20 Ligue 2 season, was won 1-0 and allowed les Sang et Or to leapfrog both AC Ajaccio and Troyes into second spot and a fortuitous promotion spot. The match had only been coach Franck Haise' s second game in charge. After taking over from the faltering Philippe Montanier, he had guided Lens to two victories out of two. As the affect of Coronavirus took hold, the French Football Federation decided to abandon the season and allow promotion and relegation between Ligue 1 and 2. Just like that, we were up. Franck, previously coach of the reserve team was thrust into the limelight and in the following season, almost achieved European competition but a 0-0 draw at home to Monaco allowed Rennes into the Europa Conference League. But hey! Lens were still in Ligue 1 and finished an unbelievable 6th!
In 2021-22, the fans were back and Lens continued to take the footballing world by surprise. By the time the Metz game arrived, they were second only to moneybags Paris St Germain!
My journey began on the Thursday night, racing away from work to catch a train to London at 5:30pm. Fuelled by a Zapatista takeaway, the journey passed swiftly and it wasn’t long before I was wandering around St Pancras looking for my usual photoshoot with John Betjeman. Obviously, it wasn't hard to find him.
The short journey from Lille Eurostar to Lille Flandres was for once, one to be wary of. The relationship between Lens and Lille has often been one of near-hatred and this spilled over in the recent derby match. At half-time, a small group of Lille fans threatened to break into the neighbouring section of Lens fans, which just happened to be the family section. So members of the Lens ultras decided to take matters into their own hands and stormed across the pitch to ward them off. At this point, the promised police presence had been absent, the ultras argued but the powers-that-be decided to imposed a punishment of two home games behind closed doors; my game just escaped this fate. This was rumoured to have cost Lens €2million in lost revenue. In the aftermath, relations between the club and their ultras became increasingly strained and it was with trepidation that I set off to France with another ultras strike looming. I thought avoiding a stadium-ban was going to be my main problem!
The sad thing was that the crowd trouble had overshadowed Lens' first victory against Lille since 2007.
For the first time, my
short journey from Lille Eurostar to Lille Flandres and the train to Lens had to tackled with my colours covered up. It was a throwback to those days in
England before Sky TV et al sanitised football.
My head had returned to a manageable state the following day, thankfully and I was delighted to be heading towards Lens on a sunny late-October morning. Our mood was not going to be dampened by the impending fan strike.
Inside the ground, it was clear that the fans behind the respective goals, Delacourt and Trannin, had accepted the challenge to inspire the team along with the Ultras groups not joining in the strike.
We sang
and cheered our way through 90 minutes. The game swung backwards and forwards as first, Wesley Said gave Lens the lead before Nicolas de Preville equalised. Said wasn't finished, however and he gave Lens the lead heading into the half time break.
In the second half, Metz pushed for the equaliser and had the ball in the net. After an agonising wait, the referee decided that the goal would not stand and that was all the home side needed. Substitute Ignatius Ganago came on for Lens and with virtually his first touch, he blasted the third goal home before shortly being substituted himself after a rash tackle on Metz goalkeeper Marc-Aurele Caillard. Polish legend, Frankowski, completed the scoring and the game finished 4-1.
The celebrations leaving the ground were reminiscent of my first ever home Lens game and I was able to celebrate my first victory since May 2019 and my first
Ligue 1 victory since October 2010.
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