The year Football didn't matter

July 22 2011 I remember being at work with BBC News on TV and the utter pain that went through me seeing a terriorist attack unfold in Oslo. It was exactly a week before we were due to leave for Norway Cup. The now well known event cost the lives of 77 people in the most beautiful and peaceful city in the world was devastating.

The week later was full of uncertainty. Would Norway Cup still go ahead? Once it became apparent that it was a lone man’s act of brutality, we finally got the green light from the Referees Department. Norway Cup once again wanted to ensure a stage was available for the world to come together with unity, development of friendships and above all, enjoy football.

The years event was as you’d expect was very different but a tremendous success to unify a broken city and a heartbroken community.

We flew on the Friday not knowing what to expect when we got to Oslo. Greetings from our international and especially our Norwegian friends were more heartfelt. There was to be a Parade of Peace leading upto the first day of football. The UK referees ensured that we marched in our kits to provide solidarity and expressed our grief with a rose and candles.

Downtown, we visited the masses of flowers and tributes left in the City. I recall the usually busy roads around the Cathedral and leading to Nationaltheatet were closed and thickly covered in flowers. We went to the bomb site and saw the eery remains of a blown out window and a curtain still waving peacefully in the breeze. It was unbelievable that someone, regardless of motive, could even imagine such an attack let alone carry it out.

The week was powerful with emotion and grossly placed things into perspective. As a community of referees we wanted to do something to make a lasting tribute of our unification with our Norwegian family. It was at this time, Scouse proposed a memorial plaque and we more than gladly contributed to provide the below plaque that was unveiled the following year. The plaque is still in place at Ekeberg by the finals pitch.

The plaque is a symbol. It’s a symbol of grief, a symbol of sorrow, a symbol of unity between two nations, a symbol of friendship. Above all, it’s a symbol that no matter what the world throws at us, we will come together as a family and overcome even the darkest of times.