The Greater Manchester Programme Fair 30th Dec: Full details

[footballprogrammes.com]

The biggest programme fair of the year outside of London takes place on Friday 30th December when the annual Greater Manchester Programme Fair is staged at the Cresta Court Hotel, Church Street, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4DP 11am – 3pm.

Over the last 10 years the event has typically attracted 200/250 collectors which apart from the two London fairs, is the biggest fair attendance in the UK. However, given the sheer number and variation of dealers, the relatively easy access from all parts of the North of England and North Wales I really think the event deserves a much bigger attendance. The number of dealers exhibiting is actually far higher than that at the Giant New year fair in London on Sunday 8th January 2012 yet the number of collectors present in London is typically double. Although the population of the London conurbation is obviously bigger, the catchment area surrounding Altrincham should really be ensuring a bigger attendance and I would urge all forum members to make the effort to come along.

As well as adding to your collection and chatting/putting faces to the names of the dealers, the fair represents an excellent opportunity to meet fellow collectors and forum members for a chat/swop/drink etc… The hotel has a bar or alternatively the town centre is just a few minutes walk. Regular forum contributors such as Treble99, ManchesterUnitedman1, museum de Latique are regular attendees and I would guess several other members are too! How about forum members arranging a meeting at the fair?

I have listed the participating dealers below with a brief stock summary.

Stewart Roberts – Bradford City expert Stewart offers a wide variety of programmes including current season. Other football memorabilia stocked too with Subbuteo a particular speciality!

AP Programmes – Based in Halifax, Andrew Pinfield not only specialises in his local club but ALL teams in the North of England from pre-war onwards.

PM Publications – Former Programme Monthly editor and co-organiser of this event John Litster offers his vast array of PM back issues plus the recent editions from the new publishers too. Stockist of bespoke programme binders, football history books and a selection of programmes from his huge archive.

Alan Stevenson – New exhibitor, collector selling his collection, details unknown?

Gary Maguire ¬– Trading as ‘Toys and Hobbies’ Gary offers a wide range of football programmes and memorabilia.

Ruth Crawshaw – Long established Bolton specialist Ruth is without a shadow of doubt Wanderers foremost collector and supporter. Simply a legend!

Soccer History – Editor Ian Nannestad offers the latest edition and also back issues of this high quality quarterly magazine devoted to the heritage of our national sport.

Bob Dobson – Blackpool based Bob offers a vast selection of vintage football books.

Tom Roe – Fine selection of antique football memorabilia with a strong North-West bias.

Mick Hewitt – Yorkshire’s largest dealer, Mick offers a huge selection of programmes with a particular emphasis on his beloved Leeds United.

Stockport County Supporters Society – Ian Watts represents County who are playing their first season in the Conference.

Terry’s badges – One of the UK’s leading football badge specialists

footballprogrammes.com – represented by fair co-organisers Elaine and David Allen. Over 1,000 excellent condition 1960s programmes available at £2 each, over 500 European Competition programmes same condition, same price. Books, magazines, badges, bargain bundles, Non League PLUS a fine range of vintage programmes, comprehensive current season, firsts & lasts etc… Something for everyone at this stand!

Colin Boulter – East Midlands based Colin has been involved in football programmes for well over 40 years now. Great stock boxes of all the local clubs and bargain bundles a particular strength.

John Dee Football Collectables – John and Teresa offer an excellent selection of programmes covering all aspects of the hobby from pre-war onwards.

Barry Swash – West Midlands based Barry aka Bazzabaggies on the forum offers a wide array of vintage programmes and memorabilia from pre war to the 1960’s.

Sportingold – Proprietor and keen City fan Chris Williams represents the hobby’s largest auction house. Pick up a catalogue, browse some straight sale antique stock, enquire about buying/selling at future auctions etc…

AB Programmes – Ipswich Town scout Alan and his wife Wendy probably exhibit at more fairs than any other dealer in the Country. Alan is a regular face on the auction scene too. Varied stock with Ipswich a particular speciality.

David Johnson ¬ - Lincolnmanred on the forum. Always a well stocked stall. Lincoln City, Liverpool and general football memorabilia etc...

Elmo Books – Emil and Karen make the long trip up from East Sussex to offer a huge selection of football and other sports titles from pre-war right up to date.

Neil Hassall – New exhibitor, collector selling his collection, details unknown?

Football Sports Auction – The UK’s fastest growing football memorabilia auction house. Andy Lane has unearthed some excellent private collections in 2011 with no doubt more to follow in 2012!

We all look forward to seeing you at the fair!

[Tynie Topics]

Re attendance, would an issue not also be that a lot of people work the three days between Xmas and New Year, I know I do, whereas the London events are held on a Sunday or public holiday? I would love to make it down for one but the timing doesn’t make it possible.
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[abfootballprogrammes]

Unsurprisingly on this forum, there's always someone who has a negative posting. Thanks David for 1) Organising the event and 2) Telling potential customers to make themselves known. You never know, someone might actually ask a dealer to bring with a programme/s they might want. On the other hand, we are all only selling what we cant get rid of on ebay at top prices - lol.

[Posh1959]

Hope to see you there Dave if i can get the day off work.

[MaccProgrammesWanted]

Will be at this one again, never tend to find too much of interest regarding Macc but it is a great fair and I will be there nonetheless
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[Tynie Topics]

abfootballprogrammes wrote:

Unsurprisingly on this forum, there's always someone who has a negative posting.

If that's aimed at me, then wind your neck in. A point was made about the attendance when compared to the London fairs, I raised an issue that may be a contributing factor.

There was nothing negative about the post
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[footballprogrammes.com]

Tynie Topics wrote:

Re attendance, would an issue not also be that a lot of people work the three days between Xmas and New Year, I know I do, whereas the London events are held on a Sunday or public holiday? I would love to make it down for one but the timing doesn’t make it possible.

Tynie thanks for your input and observation. Over the years we have held the Manchester fair at both weekends and public holidays. Indeed the first five or six years at the Cresta saw the event on a May bank holiday Monday AS WELL as a post Christmas date. The May fair was eventually dropped as the attendance never matched that of December. Weekend dates have again never matched the attendance we get in on a week day post Christmas. In an attempt to attract those that have to work between Xmas and New year we once changed the opening hours to Midday to 6pm – hardly anyone came in after 3pm so that was immediately shelved.

There is no right or wrong answer and it is impossible to come up with a formula to suit everyone. For example, getting to London for the New Year fair will be a ‘trying experience’ for those using public transport in the capital on a Sunday believe me!

[Tynie Topics]

footballprogrammes.com wrote:

Tynie Topics wrote: Re attendance, would an issue not also be that a lot of people work the three days between Xmas and New Year, I know I do, whereas the London events are held on a Sunday or public holiday? I would love to make it down for one but the timing doesn’t make it possible. Tynie thanks for your input and observation. Over the years we have held the Manchester fair at both weekends and public holidays. Indeed the first five or six years at the Cresta saw the event on a May bank holiday Monday AS WELL as a post Christmas date. The May fair was eventually dropped as the attendance never matched that of December. Weekend dates have again never matched the attendance we get in on a week day post Christmas. In an attempt to attract those that have to work between Xmas and New year we once changed the opening hours to Midday to 6pm – hardly anyone came in after 3pm so that was immediately shelved. There is no right or wrong answer and it is impossible to come up with a formula to suit everyone. For example, getting to London for the New Year fair will be a ‘trying experience’ for those using public transport in the capital on a Sunday believe me!

Cheers Dave, interesting stats.

Perhaps even casual collectors who are off between Xmas an NY are going stir crazy by then, so are driven out of the house in search of solace amongst the programmes

I've been to the last two London NY Fairs but sadly wont make it this time given its a week later. Good luck with Manchester, I'll get there one day
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[Altychief]

The Cresta court has a new parking system in place make sure you read the signs before parking up it will save you money

[treble99]

not only a football fair but a great social event as well.
even the leading collectors especially of north west clubs ALWAYS find something they need.
in fact usually they usually find too much it is that good a fair.
this is what i call an old fashioned fair where the dealers want to sell and he collectors want to buy and everybody(well almost everybody) has a smile.
i can't remember ever not finding something that i still need for my own collection

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[neilcrewe]

I'm Neil Hassall, will have lots of current season, big match from the last 10 years at competitive prices, crewe homes from the sixties, bargain bundles, Badges & anything else we can squeeze in.
Thanks dave

[efcbluenose]

i love this fair.i go every year.i met up with a few of here down the years and had good chats and made good contacts with them also.last year for instance met up with macclesfield collector who i did a deal with prior to the fair met up there and completed the deal and also with alan bennedict top man and once again i asked him bring stuff for me he obliged and the deal was done.i also seen there and got to know well now ruth from bolton who is rather good with her selection and dealers like mick hewitt who also brings a good selection with him programme promotions always worth a look and now neil from the crewe shop will be there.its an excellent fair and well worth supporting.once again i will be in attendance.maybe we could get together and have a drink in there hey if anyone from the forum is going after we all got what we want naturally

[footballprogrammes.com]

Thanks to all for your comments:

Macc programmes wanted: There is only a certain proportion of their stock any one dealer can take to a fair. In my case I have a shop, a warehouse and also a double garage at home full of programmes. I doubt I could get even half of one percent of my stock into my vehicle. No offence but apart from yourself not many others would ask to see a box of Macclesfield so it would not make the cut when I decide how best to fill the car. The beauty of the internet and email is you can google every dealer attending and ask them to bring your specific requirements. This applies to ALL collectors attending and I will gladly bring anything anyone wants to see from the www.footballprogrammes.com website.

Neilcrewe: Sorry mate didn’t realise it was you! Will be happy to do a current season exchange with you as we have in the past. Hope you have a good day on your stall at the fair and become a regular exhibitor.

Efcbluenose: Thanks for your positive comments on this thread and also in the past on this forum too. Can recall chatting to you at the fair in the past and your attitude epitomises what a programme fair is all about in the modern era.
As has been outlined by many in the past, dealers takings are down on what they used to be in line with dwindling attendances. Dwindling attendances can partly be attributed to ebay and to a lesser degree a lack of top quality material at fairs. From my perspective programme fairs are not only about taking money but meeting my customers, hopefully new ones too and chatting gauging opinion etc. I hope you find items for your collection at the fair but even if you don’t still have an enjoyable social day.

See you all on the 30th December.

[lambie the leap]

I have a vague recollection of attending in 1992 - unless my ancient memory is playing tricks!! I hope to be there this year but very much doubt I'll find anything I need - unless somebody conjures up a load of Burnley reserves from the 60s & 70s!!
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[CodeXIII]

Hi all,
I assume this is going to be almost 100% football related?
I collect rugby league so if any exhibitors have RL items that they may want to take along make yourselves known and I'll pop over to Alti !

cheers
DJ

[sharrowblade]

CodeXIII wrote:

Hi all, I assume this is going to be almost 100% football related? I collect rugby league so if any exhibitors have RL items that they may want to take along make yourselves known and I'll pop over to Alti ! cheers DJ

The next rugby league fayre and auction is at Bradford on Saturday 7th January, 2012, see link below

www.rugby-league-world.com

Hope that helps

Regards, Sharrowblade
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[Pagiemcfc]

I Will be there looking for any of my few elusive wants.

62/63
Blackpool V Manchester City (LC) 08/10/62 (Copy in Collection)
Blackburn V Manchester City 01/05/63

69/70
Academica V Manchester City (CWC) 04/03/70

Macc Programmes let us know nearer time what time you are getting there as would be nice to meet

[MaccProgrammesWanted]

No problem Darren, will get in touch closer to the time
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[Senior82]

Can anybody possibly help me with a list of contact details for dealers, or information on which of the dealers might be able to help me with a current season Droylsden programme?