Football Programmes Centre

footballprogrammes.com · Joined: 12 Jul 2011 Posts: 176 Location: London

The biggest programme fair of the year takes place a week today - Saturday 1st June 2019 when the annual Premier Programme Fair is staged at London’s Royal National Hotel, Bedford Way WC1H 0DG 11am – 4pm. 2 minutes’ walk from Russell Square tube station, 7 minutes’ walk from both Euston and Kings Cross mainline stations.

The event consistently attracts an attendance of 600 - 700 collectors which is by far the biggest fair attendance in the UK. The number of dealers exhibiting is also significantly the biggest assembled this year. I would urge all forum members to make the effort to come along.

As well as presenting their usual high quality stock and all this seasons big match programmes a number of dealers take extra space to bring along many thousands of additional programmes to sell at £1 each or less!

Not only does the fair give you the chance to add to your collection but also to chat and put faces to the names of the dealers, auctioneers etc. The fair also represents an excellent opportunity to meet fellow collectors and forum members for a chat/swop/drink etc… The hotel has a bar and there are numerous restaurants in the vicinity and at the nearby Euston/Kings Cross stations.

I have listed the participating dealers so far below (in no particular order) with a brief stock summary. I have also included their business email addresses should anyone wish to make contact for particular requests.

Ian Wilson – makes a debut appearance at the fair. Ian has over half a million programmes in stock so it will be interesting to see what he chooses to fill his four table stand with? [email protected]

Matthew Watson-Broughton – Another debutant for this year. As well as selling copies of his new book on Newcastle’s Fairs Cup triumph in 1969, Matthew will be selling programmes, tickets and memorabilia from his vast collection built up over many years. [email protected]

Neil Collin – We are delighted to welcome Neil who specialises in Foreign & Non League programmes as well as general football memorabilia. A regular on the markets in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and other specialist collectors fairs in the South of England. [email protected]

Pre-war and War-time Programmes – A collector who prefers to withhold his name from the forum will be breaking up a collection of ancient programmes and offering them for sale on a straight sale basis to fellow collectors rather than through ebay or an auction house.

Westward Programmes - Gordon Bennett without doubt exhibits at more programme fairs than any other dealer! What makes this even more remarkable is the fact that he makes the long trip up from Devon for the vast majority of them. Gordon carries a huge variety of stock much of which he obtains on his travels around the Country attending fairs. [email protected]

Sporting Profiles – Perry makes a welcome return to the fair offering his ever popular sets of trading cards, programme cover mugs and assorted football memorabilia and curios. [email protected]

Bookzone – John Bacon presents his fascinating display and selection of football books and associated memorabilia. [email protected]

North West Middlesex Programmes – Lee Hermitage has been on the scene for over 25 years. Working firstly for the Hayes FC club shop and now as a dealer in his own right. [email protected]

Chelmer Programmes – Stockists of a wide variety of programmes. Particularly strong in East Anglia and Non League issues. Keen Sunderland fan Dave Stonebank usually has some rare Mackem’s material also. [email protected]

D G Taylor – Lymington based Dorian is one of the few remaining ‘hard copy catalogue producing’ dealers in the business. Fine stock of vintage programmes covering all clubs though QPR, Bournemouth and Accrington Stanley a speciality! [email protected]

Martin Lane – Chelsea specialist and a selection of all other clubs and categories. [email protected]

Steve Harding – Prominent Peterborough United collector and part-time dealer. Poshimp72 on the forum.

PM Publications – Founding Programme Monthly editor and co-organiser of this event John Litster offers his vast array of PM back issues. Stockist of bespoke programme binders, football history books and a selection of programmes from his huge archive. [email protected]

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. [email protected]

Programme Monthly - Co-editors Paul and Kevin meet and greet the loyal band of readers of the World's greatest 'football programme magazine’ Pick up the latest issue and meet them in person. [email protected]

Mick & Alex Hewitt – Yorkshire’s largest dealers, huge selection of programmes with a particular emphasis on Leeds United. [email protected]

Terry’s badges – One of the UK’s leading football badge specialists. Enormous selection of badges League, Non League, foreign etc. You name it Terry will have it. [email protected]

footballprogrammes.com – represented by fair co-organisers Elaine and David Allen. Pick up your copies of all the end of season big match finals and Internationals and view our fine range of vintage programmes. Show specials include 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… Something for everyone at this stand! Check out www.footballprogrammes.com and email any requirements for collection at the fair to [email protected]

Football Programme Outlet – Specialists in cut price programmes. Everything on this stand is just £1. Programmes from the 1960s onwards including FA Cup Finals, European Finals etc... Bound to be worth a rummage!

Ellis Programmes – Romford based Ellis has had a stall at West Ham United and Romford market for many years. Stockist of all London clubs and big match programmes. [email protected]

Martin Scott – Specialist in all types of football memorabilia. Regular England away followers will have no doubt bumped into Martin selling his badges from far flung places such as Kazakhstan to Montenegro! [email protected]

Martin Silverman – Bushey based Martin has stalls at both Arsenal and Tottenham. Another long established trader with a wealth of knowledge and experience gained over more years than he cares to remember! [email protected]

Steve Smyth – Steve has stalls at both Arsenal and Chelsea FC. Comprehensive stocks of both clubs from pre-war to the current season. [email protected]

Kim Clark – Resident Chelsea expert with an unsurpassed knowledge of Blues programmes. Comprehensive stock of home and away programmes from pre-war to the current season.

Kevin Trivett – Essex based Kevin has excellent stocks of both West Ham United and Chelmsford City from the 1940’s onwards. [email protected]

Sport Remembered – Proprietor Dave Alexander specialises in North and East London clubs Arsenal, Spurs and his beloved West Ham United. [email protected]

Football Wanted – The UK's freshest and friendliest football memorabilia auction house. Based at Stacey's in Rayleigh, Essex. Football Wanted have sold some of the best 'new to the market' material since their formation five years ago. [email protected]

JW Binders – Stockists of high quality football programme binders. Ideal for storing your most treasured and valuable items.

Leonard Evans – One of the longest standing collectors on the London programme scene. Leonard offers his spares for sale and is always happy to share his wide knowledge on Arsenal, England and Russian football collectables. [email protected]

Spurs Collectables - Spurs specialist Trevor Jones presents a huge array of Tottenham Home and away programmes plus other Spurs memorabilia from Pre-war to date. [email protected]

We all look forward to seeing you there!
_________________
David Allen
http://www.footballprogrammes.com
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/FOOTBALL-PROGRAMMES-WAREHOUSE

bee007 · Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Posts: 250

What is the parking availability like at or near the venue please.

footballprogrammes.com · Joined: 12 Jul 2011 Posts: 176 Location: London

There is plenty of metered street parking which is then FREE after 1.30pm on Saturday. Alternatively, there is an NCP car park beneath the hotel.

A stallholders email address was omitted which is: [email protected]

Steve will have a selection of non league, reserve programmes and rare items pre war onwards.
_________________
David Allen
http://www.footballprogrammes.com
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/FOOTBALL-PROGRAMMES-WAREHOUSE

Westwardprogs · Joined: 29 May 2013 Posts: 689

I am pleased to confirm that I am one of the traders to be standing at the PREMIER PROGRAMME & MEMORABILIA FAIR THIS COMING SATURDAY, JUNE 1 at ROYAL NATIONAL HOTEL, BEDFORD WAY, RUSSELL SQUARE, WC1H 0DG (11am-4pm).

This is always the top fair each year, with queues at the entrance 100 yards in length before opening time!! BE THERE IF YOU CAN!

I intend bringing decent selections of FA Cup Finals, Internationals, European, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Spurs programmes, plus all others League clubs and plenty of Non-League clubs too, and a range of current season League and Non-League.

If any collectors wish me to bring any specific items to this Fair, please contact me by email on or (preferably) before Thursday May 30 (as I shall be driving up from Plymouth on the Friday). [email protected]. Or phone 07543-845396.

WILL BE BUYING ON THE DAY: CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL OR PHONE

TheMusic · Joined: 13 Aug 2011 Posts: 533

Dear All,

While I don't have the impressive depth or range of items that Gordon and others will have, I will still be looking forward to meeting you on Saturday.

As well as a few dozen pre 1965-specials, I'll mainly be offering signed copies of my new book entitled 'The Amazing Journey - How Newcastle United Conquered Europe' (no, it's not a fiction!), written in a groundbreaking new style about the Geordies' incredible 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup campaign.

Drawn from dozens of interviews across Europe and hundreds of hours of research, it really is something totally different in sports literature and I've received excellent feedback so far, so at 340 pages including 100 photographs (some never seen before), I hope you'll agree it's well worth 19.99.

Thank you in advance for your support and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

Kind regards,
Matt

LUFCPROG · Joined: 29 Nov 2012 Posts: 74

Any requests for Saturday at the London fair?
I will have sections on all Southern based clubs .
Large Chelsea ,Gillingham and Maidstone sections .
Welsh ,Scottish.England International.
World Cup inc Russia 2018.
Leeds are our specialist club and we will have pre war to current Leeds available .
Man Utd ,City,Liverpool,Everton,Villa,Birmingham,Forest , Derby,Sunderland,Newcastle,
Autograph section .
Metal Badges.
Match tickets .
Stall may collapse.

scottfootball · Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 2:33 pm Post subject:

I will have my usual huge selection of programmes and badges.
However I can't fit everything in the motor so if there are any specific items you are after please contact me.
I am buying items of interest especially old badges.

Martin Scott
[email protected]
scottfootball.com

sir craven · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 94

Iam looking for Watford and Southall programmes from the early to middle fifties,home and away.

Westwardprogs · Joined: 29 May 2013 Posts: 689

I shall be bringing a few Southall programmes'

sir craven · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 94

great,see you saturday.

NWM Football · Joined: 02 Oct 2015 Posts: 264 Location: Middlesex

As always, get a spot of help from the missus with this (and the New Year one), so best part of two cars full of gear being prepared for Saturday !.

Plenty of Big Match programmes from 1940's onwards (Cup Finals, Internationals, European Competitions etc).

Classic Magazines from 1950's to 1980's - Charles Buchan's Football Monthly, Soccer Star, Goal, F.A. Today, Soccer Monthly, Football Weekly News, 'new' Football Monthly, World Soccer, Shoot, Match etc. A few issues of Monthly Soccer (that's the amateur one which appeared for a few months in 1969-70) have dropped into my lap, also have a few of the scarce Football Star which ran for just 11 issues in the autumn of 1973.

Books - plenty of autobiographies (including a handful signed), club/stadium histories etc.

Complete Season Sets - full runs home programmes (various seasons) for clubs including Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Ipswich, Fulham, Coventry, Watford, Arsenal, Brentford, West Bromwich Albion, QPR and Manchester City. Bargain packs of Cup Finals (bought some wholesale stock from Steve Earl when he first announced he was winding down three years ago) also available.

Pre-1960 Football League & Pre-1970 Non League programmes - plenty of folders packed with the above, plus other folders including Testimonials, Friendlies, Foreign progs, signed items, progs with tickets (I don't really do tickets, so pair them with matching progs where available). Will also be a couple of boxes of general 1960's Football League, with those at £1 each.

Shirts - plenty of 'pre-owned' shirts from a variety of teams and clubs, in excellent condition. Selection of player issue shirts (Everton, Leeds, Southampton, Brentford) also available. May also bring a selection of matchworn shirts from my days at Hayes/HYU if space allows.

DVD's - F.A. Cup Finals, Club Histories, End of Season reviews etc.

And not forgetting "Luscious Laminates" !!! Plenty of posters, adverts etc, salvaged from scrap/sub-standard football magazines, and given a bit of imagination and TLC to give them a new lease of life !

(Please make contact no later than around 4pm to 5pm on Friday if there are any specific items you need bringing along or reserving).

Best wishes to all for a successful day's collecting !
_________________
Visit http://nwmfootball.com/ for programmes, books, DVDs, shirts & sportswear and other football collectables. Click here http://nwmfootball.com/nwm-diary/ to see which Programme Fairs and Antiques & Collectors' Fairs we will be attending.

bluejames · Joined: 30 Mar 2016 Posts: 169

I 've had a bit of help from my missus also.
She's restricted me to £50 spend only
I hope that the likes of Gordon Bennett has some nice prices on 1950's and 1960's that i am looking for as i feel that is my best chance to get a good bundle for my money

Westwardprogs · Joined: 29 May 2013 Posts: 689

Yes I'll have plenty of nice prices on 1950's and 1960's, as usual!

TheMusic · Joined: 13 Aug 2011 Posts: 533

I'd just like to add that I'd really appreciate it if people could bring any Hungary-related items (especially tickets from the Nepstadion), any vintage Newcastle United items or match tickets from semi-finals of the European Cup/UCL, ECWC or UEFA/Fairs Cup/Europa League.

Thanks in advance,

Matthew Watson-Broughton
(author of The Amazing Journey - How Newcastle United Conquered Europe)

manchesterunitedman1 · Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Posts: 3349 Location: United Kingdom

Not been for 4 years, but this time I will be there Wave

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bluejames · Joined: 30 Mar 2016 Posts: 169

What a fair.Packed to the rafters and full of lots of people happy to discuss programmes and collecting.
I managed to complete back to 1956 but spent more than i expected to.Now aiming to complete back to 1953 but due to lack of funds that will take a while
I bought that many many programmes that i had to get a taxi home,due to bulk, but at least the missus was happy enough with that suggestion.
I think i will give other London fairs a miss and just wait for the next Premier programme fair
It was like the old days.Thanks so much to all the dealers

kempo · Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 50

Attended todays fair think it needs a bigger venue or bigger room

Baltimore · Joined: 08 Feb 2013 Posts: 371 Location: France

Good to hear it was such a Success!

1. Any photos of the event?

2. Being curious....how did the anonymous vendor do , disposing of their collection? Presumably it is no longer a secret.

3. It would be interesting to get some feedback from Vendors, once they have got the time!

bee007 · Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Posts: 250

I also attended the Fair yesterday and while it was good to see so many people there, the venue was to small. There wasn't enough room between aisles, with people looking at one stall and others on opposite stall, it was difficult to get through. I actually had to go out at one point because I felt a bit claustrophobic. I felt sorry for the chap in the wheelchair, trying to negotiate his way round. The positives were that there were so many people, and the dealers seemed to have brought their entire stock, so a great choice and variety to look through. I arrived early and left about 12.45, and the place seemed still packed. Maybe next time they could also use the room next door. I would also like to hear from any Dealers point of view regarding people, sales etc.

colchestersid · Joined: 08 Mar 2009 Posts: 757

Agreed with the above comments, I think the fair is getting bigger and busier every year & would really benefit from a larger venue.

Maybe also have one room for the bigger dealers and open up another for collectors just having one table & a backboard each plus a wider range of "offshoots" such as badge dealers, card dealers and (dare I say it) something aimed at younger collectors - modern trading cards etc

Usual grumbles - most dealers did not have a sign to identify themselves - why not even have name badges - I know a lot of them but I'm sure there were others I've dealt with but never connected name & face. Not much room outside to sit down

Other thoughts, in fairs of old I remember there was always a stand of really old/pre WW1 stuff on display (sorry - can't remember who did this?)

Overall then a really good fair, well worth going every year but could be a bit more ambitious and imaginative!