Guardian article on programmes

[derby1884]

In today's Guardian.

Concentrates on non-issue of progs for BCD matches:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/10/fa-suspending-england-programmes-frustrates-collectors-amid-boom
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[Dorking]

Excellent article. I used to have an England programme subscription through Haymarket magazines - there should be enough subcribers to keep it going.

At the end of last season, Villa did a great job - they knew they'd get far less subscribers, so they slimmed it right down, but kept the editorial content high.

Bournemouth were totally lazy, just a teamsheet (but better than nothing I suppose)

I really don't understand why clubs can't at least put a printable teamsheet online for fans to print off - Palace used to do that.

Credit to Slough Town of the National League South, who take pre-orders for printed programmes, and even Farnham Town of Step 6 of non-league print paper copies for their circa 100 crowds

A certain company named after a northern motorway have done a fine job in recent years producing printed copies where only pdf's are produced, and I myself make a point of printing myself a paper copy of any 'pdf only' programmes for non-league games which I go to.

In decades to come, clubs will lose the hard drive, the memory stick or the technology where the pdf was held becomes obselete, and wise fans of today who bothered to make and keep their own printed editions will be the ones whose copies are coveted.

Clubs should be required to do a lot more in my opinion. It's not about paper hugging, it's about keeping hold of the today for tomorrow

[James]

I think the biggest mistake some teams are making when it come to producing programmes is that they have to produce a 64/80/100 magazine. Maximum of 36 pages needed unless it is a big game for the team and they decide to produce something special.

I'm not an Everton fan but got their programme for the Carabao Cup game against west Ham and that is what you would call an ideal size programme and the content is exactly what is needed.

Contents page - With Club directory, honours list etc
Managers column
Captain Column
Previous match review
Interview with player
Opposition profiles
Fixture list with player appearances
Back cover team lines ups.

But Everton also have two great little articles as well.
1 about the proposed new stadium
in this particular programme a member of the Heritage Society had written a piece about "Everton in the Texaco Cup"

Perfect size programme and content, nothing else needed.



What I can't work out is how football teams at step 6 and below can produce programmes for all their games when they are part time teams and have next to no full time staff and most of the staff who work at the clubs are voluntary, are able to produce programmes constantly without any problems for every game, yet the people who run the sport have decided that for the first time in well over 100 years that they can't be bothered to produce programmes for the FA Cup Semi Finals or the England internationals.

[Dorking]

Totally agree with that last paragraph James, its a disgrace, and I mean that.

I went to Alfold's first ever game in the FA Cup in early September, 160-odd crowd (a big gate for them, usually its 80-100)

They did a printed programme and publicised it fully in advance, it was nothing amazing, but I swear it probably added 20-30 to the gate, because there are groundhoppers for whom the chance of a programme swings it for them