Travel minus trouble for today’s fans

NO doubt all the Middlesbrough fans will enjoy a safe time at Hull tonight.

- By ERIC PAYLOR

It's great to know that watching football these days is usually done in a safe environment. That wasn’t always the case. In fact, Hull’s former ground at Boothferry Park was never the safest place in the world, even for the media.

The press box was situated at the back of the main stand and the only access was by going behind the stand and climbing a rickety old steel staircase which was open to the elements.

It was particularly hairy when there was a strong wind blowing and not an enjoyable experience for anybody who did not enjoy heights. In today’s world the staircase would never have passed a health and safety ruling.

It wasn’t even safe in the press box. While we were waiting for one game against Boro to start, two local journalists began arguing rather threateningly.

Suddenly they were rolling about fighting. Everybody had to jump out of the way before a couple of braver guys managed to pull them apart.