Glasgow Programme Fair Swallow Hotel Sunday March 13th 2011

[Auchinleckian]

Tynie Topics wrote:

stewarty wrote: There is Brian Johnson's in Edinburgh...thats sort of north of Glasgow. But nothing else above there. Since when has east been sort of north?

I can see whwere Stewart's coming from because he's from Paisley and that'll be ever so more slightly moreish northish of Embra!
Having said that, when I live in Grimsby I used to consider myself a northerner, now I live in the south of Scotland I don't, and that's about 200 miles north of Grimsby. However, I did have a VERY large scotch or two last night having driven back from Grimsby earlier in the day.

[Strathmore1]

I was passed this review on, interesting analises of the Programme Fair from apparently Ian Mchee whom has done the Rangers Under 21 pro gramme for many a year now . Was interesting to read that 'dodgy Douglas' had in fact made the fair after all!

Programme Fair 2011


mckeei
Post subject: Programme Fair 2011Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:45 pm


Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2010 10:45 pm


The now ‘Annual’ Scottish Programme Fair took place on Sunday 13th March 2011 at the Swallow Hotel.

There were 7 stallholders present although very few actually displayed their names, however from the stock in hand it was fairly easy to deduce who was who.

Going anti-clockwise when I entered the room we had Steven Jacobs from Glasgow Programmes with the ‘top’ table, he had a good selection of programmes on display and some boxes and folders to mull through.

Watching Steven in action is an entertainment in itself as he haggles and negotiates prices and sales, very much the stereotypical Jewish salesman. I purchased the recent Liverpool v Manchester United programme for Conor for £4, £1 over cover price, fair enough. I was offered other programmes at reduced rates but with my collection almost complete any other programmes would just be taking up space.

Next was Stewart Davidson from Renfrew who had an impressive array of Junior and non league programmes and books for sale and they were all very reasonably priced. Sadly he didn’t have his terrific selection of Junior Badges this year as he had sold a lot to a collector down south, I had hoped to pick up some more this year from him. All I got was St. Mirren v Liverpool, again for Conor, at the bargain price of £1, so happy with that. He also had some interesting programmes, some from Malta which interest me, but again I am looking to reduce rather than increase that part of my collection soon.

Next to Stewart was D&D programmes, though Dougie Stevenson wasn’t around, but the prices on the stock meant it could only be one man! Yet again a good selection of current and rare items however most could be picked up from the other dealers in attendance at a lot less than he was asking. Needless to say no purchase was made there.

At the bottom of the room was what looked like a stall from Bargain Books, all books with the same kind of labels, however The Mo Johnston Story was anything but a bargain at £50, imagine a book written by Chick Young being valued at £50!!

Tam the Badgeman had some boards in the corner but his ‘sales assistant’ shut up shop soon after I arrived at 12.30pm and packed them away to go round to the Stadium.

Brian Johnston had come through from Edinburgh and brought a reasonable amount of stock with him, however by this point it was getting much of a muchness and familiarity was breeding contempt with most if his stock already been viewed elsewhere. The backboards contained some interesting items, but again, at considerable cost, he did have some ‘Russian’ publication covering the two 2008 European finals Chelsea v Manchester United and of course Zenit v Rangers. Wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be or by whom, though it did say ‘Pro Sport’ issue, but at £100 quid I didn’t fancy it. I think the massive advert on the cover for Garnier Shampoo put me off.

The last stallholder was the guy who does the first day covers and he also had some nice framed articles as well. I pondered on the First Day Cover for Liverpool v Napoli as he did have more attractive ones, however as I had taken Conor down to the match for his birthday last year I got him it as it did have more significance, not sure on the value of these things but I decided £5 was fair enough, the wee man likes them and does look after them so they should at least maintain their value for him.

Attendance wise it was quite disappointing as considering Rangers were across the road and the Celtic match was called off early I would have expected more Old Firm collectors at it. However on departing the Swallow and heading over to Edmiston Drive I noticed the Glasgow Programme stall doing a roaring trade. I was told it had been really busy when the Fair opened between 10am - 11am but died down once all the big spenders had got what they were after and left.

Full credit to Steven for taking the initiative again and organising the Fair, hopefully it is something that will continue and maybe one day increase in popularity.

Iain



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[Tynie Topics]

Can’t disagree with much of that, particularly in relation to the stallholders “advertising” who they were. I didn’t realise that D&D were actually there (I don’t use them at all) although I must admit I only made purchases from Brian’s/Almondvale Programmes stall as I was in “Scotland” mode and he had a fair amount of stock with him in that respect and I filled a number of gaps, I didn’t look too closely at the other stalls other than a quick once over.

Whilst it was good that there was a fair, and it’s good to hear that it was busy upto midday (I arrived soon after), I was disappointed at the lack of dealers in attendance and therefore variety of stock available. Perhaps it was due to the date as I understand Rundo couldn’t attend due to the Dundee United match that afternoon, I also noted the lack of any dealers from south of the border.

Hopefully the exercise is repeated again later in the year at a more accessible central venue and with more dealers in attendance, it has the potential to be as good as the fairs of old.
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[stewarty]

D&D werent there but Richard Cairns was selling off some of his own collection and spares, and had a few boxes of recent big match etc, that was being sold for D&D. It did, after the first hour or so, get reduced to half price which made it reasonably priced - it muts have been as I saw Brian Johnston then buying a few !

Its a double edged sword. There arent many people attend these fairs anymore so therefore the englihs delaers that ued to attend these fairs years ago dont come up as its not worth their while, Peter Rundo was unable to attend and there arent many scottish dealers overall.
To be fair, that why the likes of me (and Jim Crawford who I was sharing my stall with) and Richard Cairns are able to attend. Pity the likes of maybe John Holroyd (aka auchinleckian) werent there as I feel that these fairs would be better with some collectors being there selling off their spares - would certainly add to the selections available.

Attendance was suggested at somewhere between 100 and 150, a lot shorter than than the 2000 that used to attend 30 years ago.

Tynie Topics wrote:

Can’t disagree with much of that, particularly in relation to the stallholders “advertising” who they were. I didn’t realise that D&D were actually there (I don’t use them at all) although I must admit I only made purchases from Brian’s/Almondvale Programmes stall as I was in “Scotland” mode and he had a fair amount of stock with him in that respect and I filled a number of gaps, I didn’t look too closely at the other stalls other than a quick once over. Whilst it was good that there was a fair, and it’s good to hear that it was busy upto midday (I arrived soon after), I was disappointed at the lack of dealers in attendance and therefore variety of stock available. Perhaps it was due to the date as I understand Rundo couldn’t attend due to the Dundee United match that afternoon, I also noted the lack of any dealers from south of the border. Hopefully the exercise is repeated again later in the year at a more accessible central venue and with more dealers in attendance, it has the potential to be as good as the fairs of old.

[Auchinleckian]

Stewarty, I tried and tried to get a stall, as you know, but to no avail. I disagree with you on one thing - if the venue is right, and there's plenty of stalls available, they'll come from England. I do the same in reverse and that's why I've been down to Stoke, Bolton, Preston (Lancashire Fair) Widnes, Stafford, and others. Guaranteed good venue, near to motorway access, and the collectors know well in advance, and there's nearly always a good turn out - the last Widnes Fair being the exception. There's always plenty of variety, and that's what fairs need, if you get every stall holder selling much of the same it's small wonder folk don't think it worthwhile going.

[treble99]

this sounds like "Field of Dreams"
Build it and they will come!!!

[Auchinleckian]

They used to come in their droves up from England in the heyday of programme collecting, because they always knew they'd make more money in Glasgow than at any other British Fair....ask BazzaBaggies

[BAZZABAGGIES]

Its true..The attendances used to be well over a thousand.
Ive been to many Glasgow Fairs and although a lot of stuff went missing due to the large amount of people, and not enough eyes I had good fairs. I even had a few of those strange £100 notes that I had not seen before or since.
Im afraid its like all fairs, the stall fees and petrol prices are too much and the attendances are well down due to the internet.


In fact I take more at Car Boot sales than some programme fairs You collectors have now got it too easy

[Auchinleckian]

BAZZABAGGIES wrote:

Its true..The attendances used to be well over a thousand. Ive been to many Glasgow Fairs and although a lot of stuff went missing due to the large amount of people, and not enough eyes I had good fairs. I even had a few of those strange £100 notes that I had not seen before or since. Im afraid its like all fairs, the stall fees and petrol prices are too much and the attendances are well down due to the internet. In fact I take more at Car Boot sales than some programme fairs You collectors have now got it too easy

Tarpaulin whip round?

Lancashire Fair will hopefully be as good as in the past - very similar to Scottish fairs in a lot of respects. Good venue, good crowd, people willing to buy decent programmes......