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So what can you expect when you come along to a home match for the first time? Well we've split your experience into some
handy sections for you to peruse through at your leisure! Please remember though that, while anyone can stand on the
touchline and cheer, Lochinch is a "registered club" which means to go into the clubhouse you need to be a member, or a guest
of a member. The opposition players, committee and fans are guests of the club on the occasion of a sporting event. You are a
member if you have joined and paid up your subscription to SPRA and a 'guest' if you have been signed in by a member. If we
haven't covered an area of concern for you - or if you have a question or comment then you can contact us here.
handy sections for you to peruse through at your leisure! Please remember though that, while anyone can stand on the
touchline and cheer, Lochinch is a "registered club" which means to go into the clubhouse you need to be a member, or a guest
of a member. The opposition players, committee and fans are guests of the club on the occasion of a sporting event. You are a
member if you have joined and paid up your subscription to SPRA and a 'guest' if you have been signed in by a member. If we
haven't covered an area of concern for you - or if you have a question or comment then you can contact us here.
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Firstly you can find driving directions here.
Parking – There is ample space at Lochinch with plenty of room, even for ‘girlie parking’
Arrival – If the match hasn’t yet started and you don’t want to watch the attempts at warm up
happening on the pitch then (if you are a member or a guest of a member) feel free to pop into the bar
for a pre-match drink. The door to the clubhouse is situated facing the pitches (on the opposite side of
the building from the car park).
Parking – There is ample space at Lochinch with plenty of room, even for ‘girlie parking’
Arrival – If the match hasn’t yet started and you don’t want to watch the attempts at warm up
happening on the pitch then (if you are a member or a guest of a member) feel free to pop into the bar
for a pre-match drink. The door to the clubhouse is situated facing the pitches (on the opposite side of
the building from the car park).
Bar and Toilets – The toilets are situated on the right hand side as you enter the clubhouse. There are also doors to the changing areas and other secret
rooms where the ‘bodies’ are stashed and we’ve never been allowed to go! The bar is up the stairs, which are directly in front of you. Don’t be put off if you
can hear bellowing shouts and laughter coming from the bar (even when you’re standing at the front door) – it’s just the home support warming up with a few
libations and stories of “matches of yore”. The bar is to your right as you enter and Estelle, our excellent manager, and her fantastic staff will be happy to
serve you with a drink or one of our fabulous coffees.
rooms where the ‘bodies’ are stashed and we’ve never been allowed to go! The bar is up the stairs, which are directly in front of you. Don’t be put off if you
can hear bellowing shouts and laughter coming from the bar (even when you’re standing at the front door) – it’s just the home support warming up with a few
libations and stories of “matches of yore”. The bar is to your right as you enter and Estelle, our excellent manager, and her fantastic staff will be happy to
serve you with a drink or one of our fabulous coffees.
Where to Stand – There are a number of options for viewing the match. The best place to see the action, red sweating faces and
really appreciate the heckling and swearing (and that’s just the spectators) is from the touchline – this is the white line that runs
down the long side of the pitch, however be warned that it can be muddy under foot. There is no railing or seating at Lochinch so
be careful not to wander onto the pitch during play - you quite literally are within touching distance of the action! You could also
watch from the paved terrace area or decking area, both of which give you a slightly ‘higher’ view of the match and a different
perspective on play (sometimes we look quite good from there!). They also have the benefit of being nearer the bar and less
messy underfoot. In very bad weather or if you find yourself under-dressed for the occasion then the bar will be the place for you.
Luckily the Lochinch bar is on the first floor of the building and has full-length windows allowing a view of the pitch. This is
conducive to relaxed and warm match viewing from inside when the weather gets too foul.
really appreciate the heckling and swearing (and that’s just the spectators) is from the touchline – this is the white line that runs
down the long side of the pitch, however be warned that it can be muddy under foot. There is no railing or seating at Lochinch so
be careful not to wander onto the pitch during play - you quite literally are within touching distance of the action! You could also
watch from the paved terrace area or decking area, both of which give you a slightly ‘higher’ view of the match and a different
perspective on play (sometimes we look quite good from there!). They also have the benefit of being nearer the bar and less
messy underfoot. In very bad weather or if you find yourself under-dressed for the occasion then the bar will be the place for you.
Luckily the Lochinch bar is on the first floor of the building and has full-length windows allowing a view of the pitch. This is
conducive to relaxed and warm match viewing from inside when the weather gets too foul.
WARNING - It is advisable to keep your eye on the play at all times! The ball is 'kicked into touch' frequently over the course of a game. You are standing in
the 'TOUCH' area and the ball can drop unexpectedly out of the sky on your head if you are not ready to duck/jump to one side/pull a fellow spectator in front
of you. We haven't lost a spectator yet but there have been a couple of cracking near misses!
The Referee will usually be wearing attractive day glow orange (or some other easily identifiable colour) – coming in all genders, shapes, sizes, levels of
fitness and experience, it is a new revelation every single match! The Ref is appointed by the SRU for League matches and has the ultimate control over the
game and therefore will inevitably find themselves the target of comment from the pitch and the touchline. In general interactions with the Ref will be civilised
as players can be penalised for behaviour that is considered ungentlemanly or abusive. You may well hear the Ref being called ‘Sir’ as a mark of respect to
the position - you may also hear the Ref being called other things too....but usually out of earshot.
The Touch Judges are there to mark when the ball comes over the touchline (and therefore out of play) and to establish whether the ball went through the
posts at a ‘conversion’. In higher level teams and international matches all of the officials will be ‘neutrals’, because of the lack of officials/amateur nature of
the game at our level the touch judges will usually be one person from our side and one from the opposition. It’s quite important not to get in their way as
they run up and down the touchline (well OK 'run' is generous - strolling perhaps is closer) keeping an eye on the play.
Other Fixtures on the Touchline - The substitutes, Medic, Match Reporter/Photographer and other dodgy characters will also be found hanging out on
the touchline at every game….
Moving With the Play - If you are watching from the touchline you may find that the spectator group (as a mass or in little clumps) moves up and down with
the ‘play’ on the pitch. This is to get a better view of what is going on and to keep the blood circulating and stave off frost bite on particularly cold match
days. Feel free to move with them or stay put depending on what your preference is.
Insults and cheering – please see our Touchline Support pages for more info.
Applause and Silence - While it’s good to clap, cheer, hug, kiss and generally caper around when we score it is also considered good manners to (at the
very minimum) break out in polite applause when the opposition score – good play from any player raises the game experience for everyone and should be
rewarded (but not too enthusiastically though - they are the opposition after all). It’s also considered good manners to be quiet during conversion or penalty
goal kicks whether they are our own or the oppositions. This is to allow the goal kicker the chance to concentrate on the task in hand.
Half Time – when the whistle blows after 40 minutes of scintillating and breathtaking play….well OK after 40 minutes anyway….there will be a short pause
while the team Captains pull the team in to a huddle and fully express themselves about the first half performance of the players. If you’re nearby it’s always
fun to count the number of swear words used – in fact there has been some pondering that if swear words were removed from this ‘discussion’ whether it
would last more than 30 seconds. Half time won’t last too long – usually about 5 minutes or so, but there may be time to scoot to the bar for a warm up/quick
drink (please see the apres rugby section below about tracking mud into the bar). And if the game kicks off before you get back you can always watch
through the window for a while!
Full Time - whether we have won or lost there is still one more set of bizarre rituals to go through. You may well be familiar, and indeed comfortable, with the
traditional ‘three cheers’ however you will possibly be surprised by watching what we have affectionately named the players ‘tunnel of love’. Much like a
playground game or 'Strip the Willow' dance set, the home team will form a ‘tunnel’ of two lines (leading towards the dressing rooms) between which the
opposition will walk while the home team clap and grunt/shout in unison (never quite worked out what it is but sounds like ‘oh’ or perhaps it’s ‘ug’). As they
funnel out of the far end the opposition will then form the same two line ‘tunnel’ and repeat the procedure as the home team go through. Don’t ask us why,
we don’t know, but it still makes us laugh every time we see it!
the 'TOUCH' area and the ball can drop unexpectedly out of the sky on your head if you are not ready to duck/jump to one side/pull a fellow spectator in front
of you. We haven't lost a spectator yet but there have been a couple of cracking near misses!
The Referee will usually be wearing attractive day glow orange (or some other easily identifiable colour) – coming in all genders, shapes, sizes, levels of
fitness and experience, it is a new revelation every single match! The Ref is appointed by the SRU for League matches and has the ultimate control over the
game and therefore will inevitably find themselves the target of comment from the pitch and the touchline. In general interactions with the Ref will be civilised
as players can be penalised for behaviour that is considered ungentlemanly or abusive. You may well hear the Ref being called ‘Sir’ as a mark of respect to
the position - you may also hear the Ref being called other things too....but usually out of earshot.
The Touch Judges are there to mark when the ball comes over the touchline (and therefore out of play) and to establish whether the ball went through the
posts at a ‘conversion’. In higher level teams and international matches all of the officials will be ‘neutrals’, because of the lack of officials/amateur nature of
the game at our level the touch judges will usually be one person from our side and one from the opposition. It’s quite important not to get in their way as
they run up and down the touchline (well OK 'run' is generous - strolling perhaps is closer) keeping an eye on the play.
Other Fixtures on the Touchline - The substitutes, Medic, Match Reporter/Photographer and other dodgy characters will also be found hanging out on
the touchline at every game….
Moving With the Play - If you are watching from the touchline you may find that the spectator group (as a mass or in little clumps) moves up and down with
the ‘play’ on the pitch. This is to get a better view of what is going on and to keep the blood circulating and stave off frost bite on particularly cold match
days. Feel free to move with them or stay put depending on what your preference is.
Insults and cheering – please see our Touchline Support pages for more info.
Applause and Silence - While it’s good to clap, cheer, hug, kiss and generally caper around when we score it is also considered good manners to (at the
very minimum) break out in polite applause when the opposition score – good play from any player raises the game experience for everyone and should be
rewarded (but not too enthusiastically though - they are the opposition after all). It’s also considered good manners to be quiet during conversion or penalty
goal kicks whether they are our own or the oppositions. This is to allow the goal kicker the chance to concentrate on the task in hand.
Half Time – when the whistle blows after 40 minutes of scintillating and breathtaking play….well OK after 40 minutes anyway….there will be a short pause
while the team Captains pull the team in to a huddle and fully express themselves about the first half performance of the players. If you’re nearby it’s always
fun to count the number of swear words used – in fact there has been some pondering that if swear words were removed from this ‘discussion’ whether it
would last more than 30 seconds. Half time won’t last too long – usually about 5 minutes or so, but there may be time to scoot to the bar for a warm up/quick
drink (please see the apres rugby section below about tracking mud into the bar). And if the game kicks off before you get back you can always watch
through the window for a while!
Full Time - whether we have won or lost there is still one more set of bizarre rituals to go through. You may well be familiar, and indeed comfortable, with the
traditional ‘three cheers’ however you will possibly be surprised by watching what we have affectionately named the players ‘tunnel of love’. Much like a
playground game or 'Strip the Willow' dance set, the home team will form a ‘tunnel’ of two lines (leading towards the dressing rooms) between which the
opposition will walk while the home team clap and grunt/shout in unison (never quite worked out what it is but sounds like ‘oh’ or perhaps it’s ‘ug’). As they
funnel out of the far end the opposition will then form the same two line ‘tunnel’ and repeat the procedure as the home team go through. Don’t ask us why,
we don’t know, but it still makes us laugh every time we see it!
Après Rugby (or after the match) In the Bar at Lochinch. Please note that you need to be a member or signed in as a guest of a
member to go into the clubhouse.
Footwear - Tracking mud into the bar is a ‘no no’! As Lochinch is often used as a venue in the evening for parties and events it is
a big help if people don’t track half the pitch into the bar area. There is a boot scraper and doormats at the entrance for cleaning
boots/shoes, though some of us prefer a quick change in the car park back to more normal footwear.
member to go into the clubhouse.
Footwear - Tracking mud into the bar is a ‘no no’! As Lochinch is often used as a venue in the evening for parties and events it is
a big help if people don’t track half the pitch into the bar area. There is a boot scraper and doormats at the entrance for cleaning
boots/shoes, though some of us prefer a quick change in the car park back to more normal footwear.
The Team - It does take a while for the team to get scrubbed clean, changed into (nice) clothes and finish bickering/slagging each other off in the dressing
room. Eventually you should find that they emerge in club ties / shirts / waistcoats and occasionally the very special tartantrews….the home team tend to
congregate in the seating area nearest the bar
Hospitality - In true rugby hospitality fashion there is usually an offering of a pie and beans (or something similar) to all players and officials and jugs of beer
provided to give them some refreshment after their exertions on the field.
Raffle - At some point in the post match drinking and chatting you will be approached (probably by some very dodgy looking gents with a battered tankard)
and asked to buy raffle tickets….this is a relatively safe thing to do! £1 will buy you one strip and £2 will buy you three. The raffle will commence and there
are prizes galore to be won…erm…kind of. Traditionally when won, depending on how many people are drinking, the raffle prize is opened and Dark and
Stormies are made for all and sundry.
Singing - Occasionally, if the opposition starts it and/or the moon is in the correct phase and/or enough alcohol has been consumed there may be singing.
We wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise for you – but we will warn you that it’s not for the faint hearted or the prudish! If you’d like a better idea of what to
expect then head over to our songs page
Outrageous and Juvenile Games - You may be lucky and escape, if not or if you're looking for inspiration then visit our Games pages. Again not for the
faint hearted or easily offended! You have been warned!
room. Eventually you should find that they emerge in club ties / shirts / waistcoats and occasionally the very special tartantrews….the home team tend to
congregate in the seating area nearest the bar
Hospitality - In true rugby hospitality fashion there is usually an offering of a pie and beans (or something similar) to all players and officials and jugs of beer
provided to give them some refreshment after their exertions on the field.
Raffle - At some point in the post match drinking and chatting you will be approached (probably by some very dodgy looking gents with a battered tankard)
and asked to buy raffle tickets….this is a relatively safe thing to do! £1 will buy you one strip and £2 will buy you three. The raffle will commence and there
are prizes galore to be won…erm…kind of. Traditionally when won, depending on how many people are drinking, the raffle prize is opened and Dark and
Stormies are made for all and sundry.
Singing - Occasionally, if the opposition starts it and/or the moon is in the correct phase and/or enough alcohol has been consumed there may be singing.
We wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise for you – but we will warn you that it’s not for the faint hearted or the prudish! If you’d like a better idea of what to
expect then head over to our songs page
Outrageous and Juvenile Games - You may be lucky and escape, if not or if you're looking for inspiration then visit our Games pages. Again not for the
faint hearted or easily offended! You have been warned!
Players and fans will drift away over the post match period and usually ‘tossing out time’ is somewhere between 6 and 7pm unless
there is a core of hardened drinkers in or a special occasion. Sometimes there is ‘après après rugby’ and sometimes there isn’t.
There are usually at least one or two groups of people heading out for additional beverages elsewhere – feel free to pipe up if you’re
up for ‘making a night of it’. The down side of supporting a ‘polis’ team is that there are far too many ‘night shifts’ getting in the way of
the socialising! There is now a high risk of outrageous games in fact you could be looking at an Olympian session at this stage of
alcohol consumption. You have been warned!
there is a core of hardened drinkers in or a special occasion. Sometimes there is ‘après après rugby’ and sometimes there isn’t.
There are usually at least one or two groups of people heading out for additional beverages elsewhere – feel free to pipe up if you’re
up for ‘making a night of it’. The down side of supporting a ‘polis’ team is that there are far too many ‘night shifts’ getting in the way of
the socialising! There is now a high risk of outrageous games in fact you could be looking at an Olympian session at this stage of
alcohol consumption. You have been warned!