I wandered up to St James and entered its rather quiet main entrance with desk, manned by a receptionist and accompanied by a club official in shirt and tie passing on his thanks to a couple of visitors and escorting them to their car. How courteous I thought, a good example of the new, friendly and open policy that the club was now adopting towards its customers.

Up the stairs and into the corridor leading to the Chairmans Suite; one of the executive rooms just off the main corridor leading towards the "royal box"; the posh seats where only the rich and famous get to watch the match; seated on leather and with a complimentary club blanket in winter no doubt.