Programmes you love going back to look at, again and again!

[Dorking]

(apologies if this is a thread that has been been done before under a different name)


Most of my programme ‘collecting’ is simply buying at every game I go to, which being mainly either Palace programmes (current home and away games) or England homes, is pretty much run of the mill stuff. It goes on the pile, which grows taller through the season, then in the summer it goes into a box, and no doubt the majority never get looked at again! Very occasionally I buy a really old one, but most of the stuff I obtain is through habit and is pretty mundane!

There are some programmes I have however which I never seem to get bored of looking at! Either nice design, interesting adverts, maybe interesting or favourite pictures or articles. Sometimes the programme isn’t even that amazing, but it just brings back a memory of a decent or memorable game, or a special thing that was associated with the game.

In particular I seem to ‘keep going back’ to issues from abroad, but here are some of my favourite programmes for various different reasons which are probably illogical!!! Here are some favourites (with pics lifted off the internet where I could find them – not in all cases!). I don’t think many are worth much even!

England – Hungary 1981. My first programme. My dad went to the game (I didn’t even go!) but brought it back and gave it to me. I would have been 7. Lovely colourful thing, info on all the players, picture of KK on the front, who was my favourite player, just a combination of things – I must have read and re-read it a dozen times as a kid and pored over it studying everything from the ‘routes home’ diagram, to the arrangements (timetable) for the game!



Tournoi de France brochure 1997.

One of my first England away games I went to, by coach! I went to England’s final game at the Parc des Princes in Paris, and actually saw England lift the trophy, the only time I’ve ever seen England win any sort of cup!! Was nothing available at the game for us ‘normal’ fans in the stands, which frustrated the heck out of me with my OCD ‘must have a programme from every game I go to’ tendencies, so when Dave Allen’s catalogue had it available I was over the moon, and to my delight it was a lovely colourful glossy effort which I treasure even more because it was pretty much only intended for VIP issue as far as I know. Many times Dave’s England aways service has come up trumps for me, when the humble England away fan has been overlooked at the ground in terms of provision of programmes!!



Croatia away 1997

Went to this England away game, and like so many others, nothing readily available for England’s away fans to buy. Cue Dave Allen again!! Love it because it’s such a lovely colourful, glossy and picture filled issue! Just lovely to browse through.



Palace v Real Madrid 1962 floodlight opening friendly game – pirate issue

The official programme is common as muck – possibly the most common Palace programme around bar the 1990 FA Cup Final . The pirate is fairly rare and hard to get (there’ll be loads on ebay now!!! Really is nothing special but do like looking at it, and it’s only 4 pages (ie a single piece of paper folded in half!!)

Palace Italian tournament programme 1990

Palace played in a 4 team pre season friendly tournament in Italy in the summer of 1990 and a coachload of Palace fans went. Although I never went myself, a friend brought back a glossy tournament brochure, and it’s really special to me because I just like looking at it! Weird folk aren’t we!! I particularly like the team line up page which has the payers represented on a roulette table, as there was a casino nearby which was part of the tournament hotel set up. To play alongside Torino, Sampdoria and Fiorentina was exotic stuff back then!

[beaudog]

The programme that I return too over and over again is on my wall in my den. it is in front of me and is the match Wolves against West Brom from the 57-58 season. costing 3d about 1p now, this was the first first division match I saw. I would be 14 and went on the train from Stoke and managed to stand on the old North Bank. It was a full house of 55000, and the score was 1-1. From memory Derek kevan put the albion one up and Eddie clamp equalised with a penalty just before the end.
The Wolves team was according to the programme

Dwyer, Stuart, Harris, Clamp, Wright, Flowers, Deeley, Broadbent, Murray, Wilshaw, and Mullen

Albiion

Sanders, Howe, Williams, Setters, Kennedy, Barlow, Griffin, Robson, Allen, kevan, Horrobin

8 pages, lots of info with Wolves leading the way with albion second in the league at the time. Lovely, exciting memories and not spoiled by the fact that I had to leave 15 minutes before time to catch the train so that I could do my paper round in the evening. Sheer nostalgia .

[goodison]

Quote:

Palace played in a 4 team pre season friendly tournament in Italy in the summer of 1990 and a coachload of Palace fans went. Although I never went myself, a friend brought back a glossy tournament brochure, and it’s really special to me because I just like looking at it! Weird folk aren’t we!! I particularly like the team line up page which has the payers represented on a roulette table, as there was a casino nearby which was part of the tournament hotel set up. To play alongside Torino, Sampdoria and Fiorentina was exotic stuff back then!

I've got a copy of the Palace v Fiorentina game from Italian TV on DVD, never been sure what the game was, just assumed it was pre season friendly, so seeing that programme has filled in a gap in my knowledge.

[tackler7]

I have items in my collection that I enjoy touching and looking at (and please don’t think me weird but smelling too!) for reasons that I can not necessarily always explain.

One is a 1914 itinerary card – the beauty of is the small size (it was designed to fit into a blazer pocket) and cardboard type paper – it feels really sturdy.

Another is the 1976/77 home programmes for my club. It was the season before I started watching them so there is no link in that respect but the sheer simplicity of them – just adverts, a brief welcome to the opponents and club news and team listing but the enjoyment is more than the sum of its parts – and I can’t really explain why that season is more enjoyable than others.

I have programmes from games that I attended and enjoyed but I enjoy the programme for the game and not vice-versa.

[James73]

It's OK tackler7, I get the whole sniffing gig.

I th as become a ritual when going to watch a game, all be it on my own or with a mate. Before we sit, or get in a comfortable standing position, the porgramme is opened at the centre pages and then a huge inhale commences (i'm sure there are nose marks on some of my programmes) much to the amusement and sometimes astonishment of those witnessing two guys in there 40's sniffing a programme.

Anyway, back to the thread. I always enjoy the first home programme of the season, being a Spurs fan there is always a good account of preseason with some great pics and reports in them.

The programme I do tend to visit many times is Germany V England from Sept 2001, brings back an amazing performance even after going 1-0 down.

The schoolboy international also between England V West Germany played in June 81 is another that invokes the memories. First trip to Wembley with Dad.

Finally the Canvey Island FA Cup run of 2001-02, the 4-4 home draw against Northampton was a belter with programmes at a premium. As well as those games the two FA Trophy final programmes also bring back the memories although loosing to Hednesford Town wasn't so good

[CNSOBU]

Tackler7
So happy you have admitted to the whole sensory thing - I thought I was a bit odd.

The first game I bought a programme from was Norwich v Liverpool 76/77.

I then used it when playing subutteo so heavily defaced.

I now have a clean copy as well as my copy. Love looking through it periodically.

All the players seem so familiar and real compared with today.

I also like reading through Bradford Park's last season issues. There is a real sense of the impending doom but a sense of many individuals working hard for the club.

[littlewiggy]

I've always "sniffed" and smelt my programme too, ever since I was a lad at my first game.

That freshly-printed aroma is always one that evokes those excited feelings and memories I used to get of actually being at the match.

I have mates my age (& older) who still sniff their programmes too.
I think it's a far more common occurrence amongst us footy die-hards than even we'd believe.

[Tynie Topics]

My name is Tynie Topics, I am a programme sniffer
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[James73]

I never new there were otherswho appreciate this.

I can now sniff with pride, I feel libereated

[bisphamseasider]

Getting a little concerned about some of the recent posts on this thread so to return to the o/p, I tend to revisit my pre war programmes over and over again and always seem to spot something I had missed or forgotten about whether it is something in a photo or an article, an old avertisement, or a piece of information that has become more relevant with the passage of time.

I must admit however that whenever I purchase a very old programme, that the wife catches me with, she always likes to sniff the paper.

[Ronsaunders]

The two England aways that you mention, I also have but got them through 2 different means. The Tournoi, I just walked into the press tent as bold as brass and was never challenged by anyone. Brilliant! Got about 20 which I mainly distributed to mates in the ground although I was a little the worse for wear with the free vino available to the press corps.

In Croatia, I was one of those imprisoned in the car park and so was struggling to "escape", let alone get a programme. However, I collared a UEFA observer who said that he'd send me one. Any port in a storm and all that so I gave him my address. 2weeks later, the programme, a Croatian FA pennant and badge and some UEFA stuff dropped through my door. Again, it feels like a real result despite the actual result.

Then there was Turkey in 93, Italy 97, both Andorras (pretending to be press in one of them!), trying the same stunt to get the press pack in Amsterdam in 2009. All added to the spice of England away! Those photos brought back a few memories Dorking. Thank you!

[Dorking]

Great post Ron. Cheers! More like this peeps!

[derby1884]

Must confess to being a "programme sniffer" myself - but, has anyone noticed the strange aroma on your fingers from handling the 1973 FA Cup Final issue?

Only if you rub your finger over the gold-coloured part of the front cover, though.

Ditto any similar issue (eg Preston 69-70).

I really must get a life....
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[Dorking]

You can't beat the musty smell of poor quality old paper by the boxload at a programme fair - pre 60s of course

[derby1884]

If you're a serious collector of Beatles vinyl, a good sense of smell is one very effective way of sussing out what is and isn't a first pressing.

Just got to have a thick enough skin to put up with the funny looks from vendors!
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[bigearl79]

For those that sniff programmes, it's no worse then what my partner's daughter does. She'll go in shoe a shoe shop and inhale deeply, and then walk out. I don't think she cares who see's her. At least we do it in private. Don't we?