I can confirm that many rugby writers took their lives in their hands walking out in the half-dark over the planks which (it felt like) were all that were standing between you and a 30m drop into the crowd below as you made your way out over the roof and into the old press box at Rugby Park (pre-development). Once safely ensconced in the box, however, you were treated with an uninterrupted view of Rugby Park - probably the best viewing of any press box I've been in. On a cold day, 'Albie' the one-bar heater would manfully attempt to keep the place warm. Its fraying power cord was an optimistic nod to the fact that if the stand did happen to burn down then we might be able to afford a new one. On a fine day, the big front window could be pushed up and out, and the roar of the crowd below provided an orchestral accompaniment to the game in front of us. It also allowed the media who were smokers (which was the norm rather than the exception in those simpler times) to pitch their butts out the front where they would bounce and hop their way down into the welcoming guttering.
I can confirm that many rugby writers took their lives in their hands walking out in the half-dark over the planks which (it felt like) were all that were standing between you and a 30m drop into the crowd below as you made your way out over the roof and into the old press box at Rugby Park (pre-development). Once safely ensconced in the box, however, you were treated with an uninterrupted view of Rugby Park - probably the best viewing of any press box I've been in. On a cold day, 'Albie' the one-bar heater would manfully attempt to keep the place warm. Its fraying power cord was an optimistic nod to the fact that if the stand did happen to burn down then we might be able to afford a new one. On a fine day, the big front window could be pushed up and out, and the roar of the crowd below provided an orchestral accompaniment to the game in front of us. It also allowed the media who were smokers (which was the norm rather than the exception in those simpler times) to pitch their butts out the front where they would bounce and hop their way down into the welcoming guttering.
Has the age old courtesy of having a programme at these games disappeared along with the press box?