The following is an account of DCist’s experience as part of the press corps covering DC United’s 4-0 win over Celtic FC.

Ever wonder what it would be like in the press box during a big game? There’d be scores of reporters, banging away on their typewriters, cigarettes hanging from their mouths with a half inch of ash dangling precariously. A man sporting a fedora would run in and say, “Here’s the scoop, ya hear?” And there would be a lot of banter. Clever banter. That’s what I imagined as I approached the RFK stadium press entrance yesterday. Turns out things weren’t quite like that.

We here at DCist had a special opportunity yesterday when we were able to secure a press pass and field pass to last night’s game between DC United and Glasgow’s Celtic FC. To score a pair of tickets to the game would be exciting enough; the matchup alone had our mouths watering. But to venture up into the hallowed domain of the sports reporter? To roam the sidelines, camera in hand, close enough to see the grass fly up from each slide tackle? There was no way we were passing this up.

All photos by leafblower. More after the cut.