First and Last Seasons

[Wullie]

When i was much younger, getting hold of an "Ex-League Club" programme was very exciting. Such exotic names as Accrington Stanley, Bradford Park Avenue and eh ... Gateshead.
Every five years or so, some unfortunate club would be banished to non league for the rest of eternity and their programmes against league opposition were among my most prized possessions.
Now of course with two up, two down, the magic has gone and it's almost impossible to keep up with the changes. Does anyone still bother collecting first and last seasons?

[slightfold]

I mainly collect first and last games and am up to date with all the movements! I also collect a few seasons like Gateshead 60/1 first non-league, Bradford PA 69/70/71.etc.
I agree that things were simpler when there were a few odd movements. At one time I used to only collect the first and last league games, but now I collect the non-league, and the pre-season friendlies, it's usually about 26 progs per year to get In total there are about 450 since 1946.You should see my wants list!!
Incidentally there are just over 200 ground movement programmes if you collect everything, since the War.
If anyone ever wants any info on the above categories, I can probably help.

[derby1884]

I did "collect" the first seasons for Wimbledon, Wigan, Scarborough and Maidstone Utd but not sure if "collect" is the most appropriate verb as I wrote to the clubs themselves to subscribe for the season.

Concur with you about the ex-lge clubs - back in the 70s, though, I recall it being quite difficult to find an Accrington or Gateshead prog at a reasonable price. Most dealers didn't have any. And spending £5 on one single programme back then seemed very extravagant.

Used to have a complete set of H/A for Bradford PA's last season - but not sure what happened to it. I must have either sold it or it's still lying about in a long-forgotten box somewhere in this shambles I deign to call a "house"
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[MINSTERMAN]

I just want to testify that slighfold knows his first and lasts, he and I having exchanged many emails on the subject in recent months.

My wants list is now considerably better educated but longer!

I've decided to seek the last BPA, Gateshead, and Accrington homes in the league on the basis that their original grounds no longer exist.

Any advice on the issues to chase, or the prices I can expect to pay, would be welcomed.

[derby1884]

Last I read, the 69/0 Bradford PA v Scunthorpe would go for about £12........and I sold a 61/2 Crewe v Accrington (their last game) for about £60 some fifteen years back.
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[das]

The last home programme for accrington stanley was v Bradford City and was incorectly dated as 1961 instead of 1962. The last actual home game was v Rochdale but no programme was produced. There was a programme produced for a postponed game v Hartlepool on the 26/12/61 but the game was never played as Stanley resigned from the league before it could be rearranged. the final programme was for the match away at Crewe. both it and Bradford at home can still go for quite a bit on ebay.

[Tynie Topics]

The only first and last I have are Wimbledon 1977/78 (still need Barnsley away if anyone can assist) and AFC Wimbledon 2011/12.
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