So, being a bit pedantic, why was the applause started in the 45th minute and not the 46th minute (on the basis that Paul McCarthy was in his 46th year?
Should definitely be before kick off and I fail to see what it has to do with Sky. Players and officials only need to come our a minute earlier.
My preference is, and always will be, a minutes silence but we all know that it was changed to applause so that morons could not spoil it.