Inside The Box

A little look inside the press boxes of professional football.

1. 30/1/2011 FA Cup – Fulham 4 – 0 Tottenham

So after weeks of waiting, I've finally managed to get a chance to go inside the world of sport journalism week in week out. Thanks to a press pass from the Premier League I can now apply for tickets to go to any press box in the country (as long as there is enough room in media areas) in both league and cup competitions. For my first game I chose to take a visit to London to watch Fulham play London rivals Tottenham in the 4th round of the FA Cup at Craven Cottage.

Having been to a couple of media events I knew before Sundays match what sort of things to expect. Head to the ground about 90 minutes before kick off, have some complementary food and make sure all preparation is done pre game, chat with the other journalists present, head to the seat in the press box, watch the game, listen to the managers press conference, and finally either write up an article there and then or head off home.

However this was the first time I had been to a game in the press box on my own, and I can tell you as a 22 year old rookie to the journalism world, the prospect of going solo was quite ominous. My pre game nerves were not helped by the London transport system. Thanks to work on the line no trains were running from Clapham Junction (my base camp for the weekend) to Putney. Instead a replacement bus service was running and, as you would expect, it was running 30 minutes late in the busy London traffic. So arriving at the ground a good 45 minutes after I wanted too I was already a little edgier (and sweatier) then I had hoped to be on arrival to the press room. Opening the door to the office I was immediately taken a little by surprise to see BBC pundit Garth Crooks sat straight ahead of me about 5 yards away.

Now Garth Crooks is your stereo typical BBC football pundit. Squeaky clean, very polite, and smartly dressed. The opposite of Sky's more casual relaxed atmosphere in their studios.

The Garth Crooks sat in front of me was something totally different. Next to a very attractive press assistant for Fulham, Crooks wore jeans, a shirt covered by a black jumper and topped off with a black leather flat cap, a leather jacket draped over the chair behind him. This didn't look like squeaky clean BBC. This looked.....well.... kinda badass, something I never thought I would say about the man. So after processing this new information in my head I signed in, grabbed my press pass and stepped into the room. Finding a seat at the side of the press area I put my bag and coat down and tried to settle in to this new environment. Looking around the room it was fairly obvious that I was in the big leagues and I was a little out of my depth. Here was a small room filled with a number of people, who had done this job for a fair few years, all familiar with one another and all with more background knowledge then I could dream of. Being right in the middle of the season also meant that all the journalists in the room had met at some point that year. I was an anomaly, and I seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. Dressed in a shirt, jeans, suit jacket, smart shoes and overcoat I looked much smarter then anyone else in the room (the shirt jeans and old man jumper the attire of choice for most) yet I was about 15 years younger then anyone else and was obviously trying a little too hard to look the part.

Determined not to sit in silence for the hour before kickoff I went back to the main table at the entrance to find out just where I could go and who I could talk to with the pass I had. I discovered that currently I couldn't talk to players post game, but could still go to the mangers post match press conference. It was however possible to try and ask a young lady called Katie for a mixed zone pass that would allow me to to grab a few words from some of the players post game, but this would only be available to a limited number of people, and the chances didn't look too good.

Ian, another representative of Fulham who liaises with the media at home games, took me on a tour of the ground after I explained it was my first time going alone at a game and first time at the Cottage. Chatting as we went he introduced me to a number of important members of staff, and showed me the lounge where post match press conferences would take place.

After the tour it was time to get back to the media room, make sure all my prep was sorted and ready to go, and watch the last 20 min of Man City v Notts County and the 5th round draw of the FA Cup.

10 minutes before kickoff I was in the press box in the stand opposite the dugouts at Craven Cottage. The old rickety wooden chair with no tables were a stark contrast to the Molineux press box I had visited last season, but having no one in the row in front of me meant I had a clear view of the monitors on the front bench of the press area. I also had two seats spare before the aisle of the stand so I was able to have a little room to manoeuvre in as I write in my note pad that match incidents and talking points. The use of the notepad was another indicator to the rest of the journalists that maybe I didn't belong. Most journalists were using their laptops to update their websites or send live messages to their readers or production studios as the game went on. Others were writing their match reports before the game had finished. I on the other hand was using a pen and note pad, old school style. This was because a) I didn't want to have a bright shiny screen allowing someone behind to read my unedited, uneducated rubbish that I may have written, and b) my typing skills lack the proficiency to be able to type and watch the game at the same time. The pad allows quick notes and a slight bit of privacy while I work letting me develop my own technique and style before being judged too harshly.

Unfortunately in my slightly nervous state that day I had forgotten to pack a spare pen. Yes thats right, the most rookie error of all time, the thing your taught to do from GCSE exams or even internal school exams from year 8. HAVE A SPARE PEN! Well I didn't, so 5 minutes into the second half the obvious rookie of the bunch became the dunce of the class as I leaned forward to ask the “real” journalist in front of me if “I could borrow a spare pen because my F**king one has packed in”. The shame and embarrassment I felt was a new low, but luckily I also knew that only this chap in front new of my mistake, and as long as he kept his mouth shut it would all be fine.

He did.

The rest of the day had a number of highlights. Getting my dictaphone in a prime position on the table at the press conference was one of them just because it meant the material recorded was of a very high quality and easy to get quotes to send to my boss. Just getting to watch a live top class football match from inside the ground was a pleasure I haven't enjoyed in a long time. But the top moment of the day came from the man himself Mr Garth Crooks.

11 minutes into the first half, Clint Dempsey picked off Dawson's poor pass and broke into the Tottenham penalty area before being bundled over by a clumsy challenge from Alan Hutton. As Danny Murphy stepped up to the spot I felt someone leaning over my left shoulder. Looking up I saw Garth looking into the monitors in front of us to see a close up of the incident. Looking down at me he said “doesn't look like he gets any of the ball there does he?”

“None of it at all really Garth” I replied and turned back to the game to watch Murphy slot away the resulting penalty. This was a pretty cool moment. Here was a guy, who's reached a very high level in the broadcasting world, asking me for my opinion on the incident. Sure it wasn't for a television broadcast or an article in a magazine, but it was a small sign that this guy saw me on a similar level to him in some way, either as a fan or as a sports analyst.

This was not the best moment of the day, put merely part of the build up to it. 4 minutes later Dawson pulled back Dembele in the Spurs penalty box, and Referee Phil Dowd game another penalty and Dawson his marching orders. As before I felt someone leaning over me to view the monitor, and again it was Garth. The well spoken BBC pundit turned to look at me before giving his oh so BBC style analysis on the incident.

“This ref is having a f**king mare here. He killed this game as a contest. What a f**king joke”

And with that he was gone. I didn't chat with Garth for the rest of the day, I watched the rest of a great, if a little one sided, game of football, watched the post match press conferences and left Craven Cottage itching to get back there on Wednesday night for Fulham's league tie against Newcastle. An incredible day and a fantastic experience I would love to repeat over and over again. And as for Garth, well he just goes to show that what you see on TV isn't always what you get, nor can you remove the passion of a fan from analysts or ex-players, and I can't wait to get to see more of this side of the game as the season continues.