1997/98
Programme Reviews
Key
PP = Total Pages
Net = Total Pages Less Adverts
P = Perfect Bound
S = Stapled
Arsenal (v Bolton Wanderers 13/09/97)
£2.00 (48 pp / 43 net / S)
Aston Villa (v Crystal Palace 14/03/98)
£2.00 (48 pp / 34.5 net / S)
Barnsley (v Aston Villa 13/09/97)
£1.80 (46 pp / 32.5 net / S)
For their debut and, so far, only season in the top-flight of English football, Barnsley produced a 46-page programme. The Tykes issue was one of only five Premier League programmes in the 1997/98 season to cost less than £2.00, being priced at £1.80.
The programme opens with an in-depth column from manager Danny Wilson, who reflects on the additions to his squad of forwards Ashley Ward and Georgi Hristov. Ward is interviewed in ‘A View from the Dressing Room’, which recounts his career to date and his battle to overcome various injury problems. Barnsley’s new striking duo are also welcomed to the club by captain Neil Redfearn in his column.
Recent match action is covered in ‘Reds on Record’, which features various photos from the game, quotes from key figures, and the match details with line-ups and scorers. ‘Team News’ provides news updates from around the Premier League, while ‘Tyke Talk’ pulls together various snippets of off the field information from around the club. There are also various other articles that take an often sideways look at Barnsley’s fortunes in the early part of their first Premier League season. The programme includes coverage of the club’s reserve and youth teams, including notes on recent matches, and the familiar first-team season spread is also present. ‘Game On’ meanwhile looks ahead to the Tykes’ next fixture.
One of the most impressive elements of the programme is the amount of coverage afforded to matchday opponents Aston Villa. Two pages of player biographies are accompanied by notes on the club’s form, with reference made to the summer arrival of Stan Collymore from Liverpool in a then club-record move of £7 million. ‘The Aston Villa Diary’ recalls events at the club over the summer months and during the start of the season, while there is a one-page feature on Villa defender Gareth Southgate and the success he had enjoyed since switching from midfield to centre-back under Villa boss Brian Little. A couple of notable Barnsley v Villa clashes are recalled in ‘Passing Back’.
Despite only one Premier League issue having fewer pages of content, this Barnsley programme offered plenty of reading, with a broad range of articles for home fans and an excellent visitors’ section.
Blackburn Rovers (v Barnsley 31/03/98)
£1.70 (52 pp / 39.5 net / S)
Bolton Wanderers (v Leicester City 28/03/98)
£2.00 (36 pp / 27.5 net / S)
Chelsea (v Derby County 29/11/97)
£2.50 (64 pp / 51 net / S)
Coventry City (v Sheffield Wednesday 07/02/98)
£2.00 (48 pp / 33.5 net / S)
Crystal Palace (v Newcastle United 29/11/97)
£2.00 (60 pp / 42 net / S)
Derby County (v Manchester United 18/10/97)
£1.80 (52 pp / 35 net / S)
Everton (v Wimbledon 13/12/97)
£1.80 (40 pp / 33 net / S)
Leeds United (v Tottenham Hotspur 04/03/98)
£2.00 (52 pp / 37 net / S)
Leicester City (v Liverpool 17/01/98)
£2.00 (56 pp / 40.5 net / S)
Liverpool (v Coventry City 20/12/97)
£2.00 (48 pp / 36.5 net / S)
Manchester United (v Everton 26/12/97)
£1.80 (48 pp / 36.5 net / S)
Newcastle United (v Arsenal 06/12/97)
£2.00 (52 pp / 37 net / S)
Sheffield Wednesday (v West Ham United 13/04/98)
£2.00 (52 pp / 36.5 net / S)
Southampton (v Chelsea 29/12/97)
£2.00 (52 pp / 39 net / S)
Tottenham Hotspur (v Blackburn Rovers 20/09/97)
£2.00 (48 pp / 35.5 net / S)
West Ham United (v Southampton 25/04/98)
£2.00 (48 pp / 32.5 net / S)
Wimbledon (v Leeds United 25/10/97)
£2.00 (48 pp / 35 net / S)