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History of the Queen's Park Football Club 1867 - 1917
Chapter XLII.—Press and Telegraph Accommodation


The Queen's Park were the leaders in the movement to provide convenient accommodation for the press. Hitherto the pressmen had to be content with inconvenient tables and rickety stools, exposed to all weathers. Though the game had made great strides through the prominence given to it by the newspapers, the comfort of press representatives was little considered, and they had to discharge their onerous duties under difficulties, often from surging and angry crowds. Mr. Richard Browne, president of the club, brought forward a proposal in July, 1891, to erect a press box in connection with the pavilion. Plans were at once obtained, and the work proceeded with. The press box was ready for occupation by grateful reporters at the commencement of season 1891-92, accommodation being provided for twenty pressmen ; and a telegraph office, for press and public, opened in October, 1891, which was fully taken advantage of, especially on state occasions. Unfortunately, when dismantling second Hampden Park—now Cathkin Park—in 1903, the club had not made arrangements with the Post Office for the extension of the two telegraph wires from the old to the new ground, so that these wires fell to 3rd Lanark, who had them joined up to an office under their stand. Though the Queen's Park made frequent applications to the Post Office for wires to be led into the new stand, it was faced with terms which the club, in its then financial situation, had to consider twice before acceptance. The club in 1906 asked three members of Parliament for the city to use their influence, without avail. The committee were anxious to have their ground fully equipped for the convenience of the large number of pressmen and public attending the International on 7th April, 1906, against England. It was not until the International came to Scotland again, 4th April, 1908, that intimation was received from the Post Office authorities that they were prepared to extend live wires to the ground at a cost to the club of £40 for temporary, and £44 for permanent extension. The latter was accepted, and the Queen's Park at once fitted up a splendid telegraph office under the west stand, the equal of which is not to be found attached to any other ground, at a cost of over £100. This and all other telegraph offices established at football grounds in the city had to be closed during the war, as the Post Office authorities found themselves unable to supply the necessary telegraph staff. Telephone communication, however, remained. All the newspapers in the city have private telephones to their head offices, over which reports are transmitted as the games proceed. Only on state occasions are ground telegraph offices now opened.


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