Pirate Programmes

[hydemaine]

I've often wondered when Pirate programmes first started to be sold around the grounds ?

Does anyone have early examples of 'Pirates' for their own teams?

Was it a cheaper alternative than the official programme for the match or did match goers not really bother whether it was official or not?

This is my oldest example of a pirate.

[Wullie]

Surely the first pirate programmes were from early FA Cup finals. Even today they are sold by some as official programmes and can go for huge sums.

[pompeypete]

Wullie wrote:

Surely the first pirate programmes were from early FA Cup finals. Even today they are sold by some as official programmes and can go for huge sums.

Spot on 'Wullie'

Here's a couple from 1929 & 1934....



_________________
RESPECT..................

Flickr pages in the process of closing......

Happy to forward any info on Pompey...

[hydemaine]

Yes but in answer to part of my original question why did match goers buy the pirates when they could have got their hands on an 'official' ?

was it a cheaper alternative?

or did they buy both versions?

or were they unaware of the difference?

I suppose we won't know as the generation at the time of the earlier cup finals have gone now.

I can see why they have become an interesting side collection nowadays though.

[bisphamseasider]

hydemaine wrote:

I've often wondered when Pirate programmes first started to be sold around the grounds ? Does anyone have early examples of 'Pirates' for their own teams?

My earliest pirate involving Blackpool is also from the 47/8 season and was away at Arsenal. In fact there were 4 different versions for this game.

The only earlier Blackpool ones I know of are 46/7 Brentford away and 42/3 against Arsenal at Chelsea in the North v South Cup Winners Challenge Match.

I have never seen a pre-war Blackpool pirate programme.

[bisphamseasider]

hydemaine wrote:

Yes but in answer to part of my original question why did match goers buy the pirates when they could have got their hands on an 'official' ? was it a cheaper alternative? or did they buy both versions? or were they unaware of the difference? I suppose we won't know as the generation at the time of the earlier cup finals have gone now. I can see why they have become an interesting side collection nowadays though.

Pirate programme producers in the 40s and 50s (and for the pre-war finals for that matter) were obviously trying to cash in on the popularity of the game and I expect many fans were duped into buying one not realising it was not an official publication. That is until they looked closely at it.

I don't know what the extent of programme collecting was around the early post war years but no doubt there were collectors who would likely want whatever was on offer (and bought all versions) much like it is today.

[pompeypete]

From the scans I have......most are london clubs

I think they were printed for the big matches, mainly FAC in Pompeys case.

Man utd & sheff utd v pompey have been produced in the past (late 40's)

Of course you are still getting pirates now, mainly european matches thou....

I'll guess they were sold around the ground by "del boys" to the fans wanting something to remind them of a day out......

just think a lot of those souvenier programmes are worth more than the official ones...........now !!
_________________
RESPECT..................

Flickr pages in the process of closing......

Happy to forward any info on Pompey...

[hydemaine]

bisphamseasider wrote:

hydemaine wrote: Yes but in answer to part of my original question why did match goers buy the pirates when they could have got their hands on an 'official' ? was it a cheaper alternative? or did they buy both versions? or were they unaware of the difference? I suppose we won't know as the generation at the time of the earlier cup finals have gone now. I can see why they have become an interesting side collection nowadays though. Pirate programme producers in the 40s and 50s (and for the pre-war finals for that matter) were obviously trying to cash in on the popularity of the game and I expect many fans were duped into buying one not realising it was not an official publication. That is until they looked closely at it. I don't know what the extent of programme collecting was around the early post war years but no doubt there were collectors who would likely want whatever was on offer (and bought all versions) much like it is today.

Cheers for the reply.

Would they be roughly about the same price as an 'official' ?

[bisphamseasider]

A lot of pirates do not show a price but some examples were they do are:-

48/9 Aston Villa v Blackpool

Official 3d Pirate 6d

48/9 Everton v Blackpool

Official 1d Pirate 6d

49/50 Liverpool v Blackpool

Official 2d Pirate 3d

In all instances the pirate is dearer than the official so fans buying the pirate by mistake will have even more reason to feel aggrieved.

[beaudog]

Looking at the content of many of the pirate issues it had little to do with the match in question. It turned out for most people to be a complete waste of money. As they were purchased as you rushed to be on the ground for kick off time your mistake was rarely noticed until later. Fro experience of selling they are not in great demand unless you have one that is perhaps 50 years older and more and dip your toe in for a value, unless you can compare it with a catalogue or ebay or another source. Personally I avoid them at all costs, but a completest would no doubt be interested.

[hydemaine]

bisphamseasider wrote:

A lot of pirates do not show a price but some examples were they do are:- 48/9 Aston Villa v Blackpool Official 3d Pirate 6d 48/9 Everton v Blackpool Official 1d Pirate 6d 49/50 Liverpool v Blackpool Official 2d Pirate 3 In all instances the pirate is dearer than the official so fans buying the pirate by mistake will have even more reason to feel aggrieved. Wow! as it still goes on today thanks Bispham

were there's money to be made it will always go on.

[bisphamseasider]

beaudog wrote:

Fro experience of selling they are not in great demand unless you have one that is perhaps 50 years older and more and dip your toe in for a value, unless you can compare it with a catalogue or ebay or another source. Personally I avoid them at all costs, but a completest would no doubt be interested.

I am not sure which ones you have been selling but certainly those from the 40s, 50s and 60s are commanding some high prices lately.

I used to be able to pick up ones involving Blackpool (mostly aways) for just a few pounds but now prices seem to be going ever higher and higher.

Being a programme say 65 years old (1950) and available on the day at a game, I would never pass up the opportunity to add these to my collection, pirate or otherwise.

[Auchinleckian]

A lot of the pirate programmes in the 40's / early 50's in London would be sold to punters outside the tube station near the ground, so by the time they realised they'd been ripped off - ie when they were in the ground - there was very little they could do about it.

[Wullie]

Googling pirate programmes , it's astonishing how many were printed. Quite collectable in their own right I would think.

[bigearl79]

Wullie wrote:

Googling pirate programmes , it's astonishing how many were printed. Quite collectable in their own right I would think.

All I get is Captain Pugwash.

[Wullie]

bigearl79 wrote:

Wullie wrote: Googling pirate programmes , it's astonishing how many were printed. Quite collectable in their own right I would think. All I get is Captain Pugwash.

Ah yes Captain Pugwash along with Master Bates, Seaman Staines, and Roger the Cabin Boy .

[Ugarte5]

Here's a Wales v Ireland pirate programme from 1959/60


_________________
www.wrexhamprogrammes.com

[slightfold]

I can remember going to Wales homes in the 60's and hearing 2 different cries, 'Programme' and 'Official Programme.' A lot of the crowd only ever went to the big games and usually they were the ones being duped by the pirate issues which were just a bit of card and a team line up which was usually inaccurate. I personally don't like them but at least they were being flogged on the day at the ground, unlike some modern ones being knocked out on home printers which end up on Ebay.

[wandererpaul]

I have a number of pirate programmes, a few are below.

One from 1946-47 v Blackpool. A simple 4 page effort by GP Abbott.

The back refers to the programme being the work of Ex-Servicemen.





Another from 1964-65. A FA Cup replay v Burnley. An 8 pager by Tuckett's.



Then a poor copy of the 1942 War Cup Final - which I've not got around to replacing yet! - A 4 pager by Victor.


_________________
Not Forgotten; Allwright, Greechan, Hagan, Kennedy, Littler, Purver, Robotham, Saunders, Shields

[derby1884]

Another one that cost twice the price of the official issue!


_________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/derby1884/sets/