2020/21
2020/21 Programme of the Season Award
1st Place: West Ham United
2nd Place: Sheffield United
3rd Place: Fulham
Programme Reviews
Key
PP = Total Pages
Net = Total Pages Less Adverts
P = Perfect Bound
S = Stapled
D = Digital
Arsenal (v Leicester City 25/10/20)
£3.50 (84 pp / 70 net / P)
The Gunners’ programme has a familiar look from recent seasons, being an 84-page perfect-bound edition. As we have come to expect from Arsenal, each issue is attractively designed, with the page layouts being very well done – the only minor downside being a little too much white text on coloured backgrounds, which in places is not all that easy to read.
The programme excels in providing detailed information about all aspects of the club. There is, for example, a 12-page section devoted to Arsenal’s academy setup – including interviews with young prospects, match reports, news, two pages of stats, and updates on players that are out on loan. There is also ‘Academy Alumni’ – a feature that looks at the careers of former youth products after they have left the Gunners. This all offers an insight into the club’s production line that is unmatched in any other Premier League programme.
Each issue also includes a two-page roundup on the fortunes of Arsenal Women, while the first team’s stats section – under the heading “The Breakdown” is impressively comprehensive – providing tactical analysis of recent games and several pages of stats. The programme also includes the usual manager and captain columns, five pages of news in ‘Voice of Arsenal’, and articles on the club’s community work and the Arsenal Foundation. Reports from previous matches are also suitably thorough, with three pages containing a report, line-ups, stats, and several images.
The programme offers less in the way of original features than many other top-flight programmes, but there are still a few articles that are well worth a read. ‘Convertible Currency’ for example sees football historian Jon Spurling looking at how Arsenal players’ positions have altered, both recently and looking further back in time, providing an interesting tactical insight as to how roles can evolve. ‘Fourteen Times’ is a two-page features that marks the Gunners’ 14th FA Cup win in 2020 by looking at Arsenal connections with the number 14. Each issue also offers a couple of player profiles, as well as a two-page junior section for younger fans.
Coverage of the visiting team is spread over eight pages, and include an opening article, some basic information about the club, a manager profile, and a selection of pen-pics. ‘Mutual Admiration’ is a brief column that looks at one player that turned out for both Arsenal and their opponents, while ‘First Impression’ reproduces from Arsenal’s archives the oldest picture relevant to the visiting club. ‘Scouting Report’ meanwhile is a well-written tactical analysis of the opposition from football journalist Michael Cox.
Overall, this is a programme that remains one of the best designed in the league, and which offers Arsenal supporters an impressive amount of information about their club. The only thing preventing this issue from being recognised as the best in the top-flight is the relatively limited amount of original content. With a few additional longer-form articles, drawing perhaps on Arsenal’s extensive history, this programme would be hard to beat.
Score 34/40 – typically comprehensive programme from the Gunners
Aston Villa (v Liverpool 04/10/20)
£3.00 (52 pp / 39 net / P)
The Villa ‘News & Record’ has 32 fewer pages than last season’s standard issues, with the same 52-page format that the club used for last season’s behind-closed-doors games.
With the 2020/21 season marking 40 years since Villa’s last top-flight title success, the main reading in the programme comes in the form of a nine-page commemorative ‘Villa Vault’ section. This includes some excellent content, including detailed match reports and the league table as it developed through the season. A page is provided for a look back at each of the programme from the season, including an image of the cover and snippets from each issue. The section also offers profiles of squad members from 1980/81, and ‘Numbers Game’, which collects facts and figures from the season. The section has the same high design and layout standards as the rest of the issue, being presented on retro backgrounds, with a collage of images from the time. Other original content in the programme includes a player Q&A over three pages, a two-page section for junior fans, and a column from former Villa midfielder Ian Taylor, in ‘Tayls Talking’.
Coverage of the opposition is also well handled, with a dedicated seven-page section in addition to a quiz on the visiting club. Well laid out, and making good use of the team’s colours, the section includes an introductory page with the club’s honours and ‘A Trip Through Time’, which notes key moments in the club’s history. ‘Scene Setter’ looks at the opponent’s recent form, and there are four pages containing profiles of the players and manager, with just the right level of detail for each. ‘Opposition Stats Zone’ breaks down key numbers for the season to date and includes a graphic of the team’s most recent line-up and formation, as well as recent results against Villa.
The programme also contains a solid level of club information, including a two-page column from the manager, a page on the club’s academy and another that provides a focus on Villa’s women’s team. There are two pages of news, including Villa’s traditional ‘diary’ of recent happenings at the club, and a page on the work of the Aston Villa foundation. Previous matches are analysed with a match report that is accompanied by pictures and the Villa line-up, although there are no details of the opposition team from the game. There are also four pages of stats, including results, fixtures, player records, and a league table.
Despite the reduced page count, this is an impressive issue from the Villains, being attractively presented and featuring a solid mix of club news, opposition coverage, and readable content. With clubs at all levels of the game increasingly questioning the economics and necessity of providing a printed matchday programme, this Villa issue offers a model for how a smaller issue need not mean a reduction in quality. The team behind the Villa programme deserve credit for continuing to produce an issue that remains well-designed, informative, and still eminently collectible.
Score 32/40 – makes the most of the format and available page count
Brighton & Hove Albion (v Manchester United 26/09/20)
£3.50 (84 pp / 62.5 net / S)
Brighton have issued an 84-page programme for the 2020/21 season, which also features a separate junior pull-out section. The programme is well designed, making good use of colour to help produce some eye-catching layouts.
Each issue offers a decent amount of readable content. ‘Amex at 10’ is a detailed four-page feature that celebrates a decade at the club’s stadium, with past players recalling their favourite game from the decade. The programme also profiles a member of staff who has been with the club since the move to the Amex. ‘One Of Our Own’ is a well-written longer-form article that looks at a former player who came through the youth ranks to represent Albion. This runs to six pages and includes plenty of photos from the player’s time with the club.
Always one of the more interesting columns of any Premier League issue is that from Brighton’s CEO Paul Barber, who comments on both club matters and issues within the wider game. There are a couple of interviews with current members of Albion’s squad, while former player Steve Sidwell also contributes a column. The junior pull-out section is called ‘Extra Time’ and includes a wide range of content for younger fans – including quizzes, a wordsearch, stats, and an opposition focus – with the whole section folding out into a large poster.
Opposition coverage runs to eight pages, with an introductory article on the team’s form that also features notes on the manager, silverware won, a classic match, and club legends. There are pen-pics of the squad, with a more detailed profile of one player, while ‘Season In Numbers’ gathers key stats from the season to date. The pick of this section though is ‘United In Print’, which is a feature on programmes that looks back at past issues from games between Albion and the visiting club. This includes reproductions of various covers and provides details of the respective issues and the context of each fixture.
‘Inside the Academy’ provides an interesting look behind the scenes as well as notes on the club’s younger players. There is also a two-page interview with a member of the women’s team. Previous match coverage is mainly picture based, with a few basic match stats included, while the first-team stats section is five pages long and, like the rest of the issue, very well laid-out. Each issue also includes a couple of pages on the club’s community work.
This is a well put together programme that combines some well written content with quality design work. Whilst not offering quite the depth of content that the Brighton issue of a few seasons ago included, this is nevertheless a good read, and remains among the better Premier League programmes.
Score 35/40 – consistently impressive issue featuring some fine design work
Burnley (v Chelsea 31/10/20)
£4.99 (74pp / 56 net / D)
It is something of a disappointment to see Burnley opt for a digital only programme this season, becoming one of three top-flight clubs to do so. This is particularly so given the consistently excellent ‘Turf’ issue that the club has produced over several seasons, including winning our first ‘Programme of the Year’ award for the 2017/18 season. At least each issue is presented in a downloadable format for fans to be able to keep, although accessing the programme does require a subscription to the club’s in-house media channel, at a cost of £4.99 a month.
At least the club has retained the essential ‘feel’ of past season’s programmes, offering a well put together issue. The issue is well designed, with a consistent feel, including recurring motifs like page edging, (which are often absent from digital programmes), although the attempt to use outline fonts against pictorial backgrounds is less successful.
The amount of original content may have dropped in comparison with previous seasons, but there are still some impressive features that provide worthwhile reading. The pick of the articles this season is ‘From the Archives’, a two-page retro feature that looks back 100 years to Burnley’s 1920-21 title winning season. Each issue tells the stories behind the season, including some terrific archive images and press clippings.
Other content includes ‘Squad Numbers’ – a recurring feature that looks back at various players associated with a given squad number – telling the story of their time with the club and notes on what they have done since leaving Burnley. The main player feature covers six pages, while ‘Kit Cup’ gives fans the opportunity to vote on the club’s best kits down the years, and ‘Bird Box’ sees Phil Bird offering his thoughts on current footballing matters.
Opposition coverage amounts to eight pages, starting with an introductory article on the visiting club’s form and transfer activity. There is a tactical line-up graphic from the team’s last match and a manager profile, followed by four well laid-out pages of pen-pics and a two-page article called ‘In Numbers’, which gathers notable stats from the visitors’ history.
Each issue provides a thorough look at all aspects of the club. Alongside the usual manager and captain columns, there is a two-page update from the boardroom, with Chairman and CEO contributing their thoughts during the season. Previous matches are covered over two pages, with a backdrop of an action picture from the game, a report, line-up details, and match stats. Each issue also provides updates on the club’s community work, as well as coverage of Burnley’s women’s team, and the club’s under-18s and under-23s, with recent match news, player profiles, and squad stats. The first team stats section is well laid-out, with a nicely designed season spread, as well as the league table and a couple of ‘stat pack’ pages.
Whilst we hope that Burnley, like the other Premier League clubs currently providing digital-only issues, will return to printed programmes when fans return to stadiums, the Clarets deserve credit for at least providing a worthwhile digital issue. This is a generally well-designed programme, containing some interesting features and extensive club information.
Score 31/40 – a well-produced digital issue with some interesting historical content
Chelsea (v Crystal Palace 03/10/20)
£3.50 (84 pp / 68 net / P)
Chelsea’s programme retains the look and feel of last season’s issue, as well as the extended features that made that programme such a good read. With several longer-form articles within each issue this is a programme offering plenty of content.
Perhaps the pick of these articles is ‘Brick by Brick – The Story of The Bridge’, a recurring feature that recounts the history of Chelsea’s stadium over the years, with five pages full of detail about different aspects of the ground’s history. ‘The Deep Dive’ is another quality feature that offers insights into the Blues’ past. Varying between six and nine pages each issue, the article is usually focused on a particular player, but has also covered memorable or unusual occasions.
‘What’s the Story’ meanwhile sees a former Blue recalling memorable games from their time with the club, including plenty of archive images. Also showing off various images from the past is ‘The Vault’, which offers several pages of pictures on a different theme each issue, including everything from goal celebrations to autograph hunters!
On top of these retro features, there is also a seven-page player interview, including a selection of key stats and some impressive full-page photography. ‘On This Day’ provides a two-page image from the archives, together with some associated commentary, while ‘The Last Gasp’ is a one-page feature looking back at important late goals from Chelsea’s past. The programme also contains a two-page junior section with basic features and a competition.
Club information is extensive, with the coverage of Chelsea’s ‘other’ teams being impressively handled. There is a two-page spread for each of the club’s youth, development, and women’s teams, each with words from their respective head coaches, alongside images and stats from the season. There are columns from the first team manager and captain, as well a couple of pages of news and a page on the work of the club’s community foundation. The stats section towards the back of the programme is extensive, offering five pages including the usual two-page season spread, player records, and notes on recent landmarks.
Perhaps the only aspect of the Chelsea programme that prevents it from challenging for our end of season honours is the visitors’ coverage. There are seven pages devoted to the opposition team, starting with a two-page column from former Blue Pat Nevin, who previews the day’s fixture, looking at the opponent’s squad and form, and previewing the expected tactical battle. There is also some selected information about the visiting club, a short manager profile, and pics of squad members with basic biographical detail only. Separately, ‘Rewind’ looks at a past meeting of the two clubs, with a match report, stats, and pictures.
Very well presented, with some high-quality design and layout, the Chelsea programme has much to offer. The longer-form articles provide far better reading than is common in many modern issues, and the coverage of the club at all levels is impressively detailed. A more in-depth visitors’ section would place this programme among the best in the league.
Score 33/40 – would be competing for our awards with more in-depth opposition coverage
Crystal Palace (v Tottenham Hotspur 13/12/20)
£3.50 (80 pp / 65 net / P)
The Palace programme has a similar look and feel to last season, with an A5, 80-page issue offering 65 pages of content. There is a decent amount of reading within each issue, with the best features being a couple of historical articles.
The current season marks 30 years since Palace’s memorable 1990/91 campaign, and the programme includes a related feature from club historian Ian King. This looks back at the season when Palace finished third in the old Division One, and features newspaper clippings from the time. ‘Voices of South London’ meanwhile focuses on Palace-related people living south of the river. For the Tottenham issue for example, the feature looked at the work of Peter Manning, who uncovered the details behind Palace’s claim to be the oldest professional football club in the world.
‘Game That Changed My Career’ sees one former Eagle recalling a key match from their career, while ‘Kit or Miss’ looks back at memorable kits from Palace’s history, with an analysis of the kit itself and a ‘story of the season’ from when it was worn. The programme also features a couple of player interviews; ‘Copers Cope’ – a two-page photographic section; a three-page column from former Eagle Darren Ambrose; and a three-page junior section, with quizzes and games for younger Palace fans.
The visitors’ section covers nine pages, plus a separate quiz on connections between Palace and their matchday opponents. The section benefits from a nicely designed opening page, featuring the opposition’s club crest, with content including a match preview, club information (record holders etc), kit details, recent form, and the team’s last line-up, including a formation graphic. There are four pages of player information, with biographies of key members of the team. As well as the visitor specific content, there are two-pages of player comparisons, looking at stats for players from the Palace team against their counterparts in the opposition’s ranks. Journalist Daniel Storey pens a two-page feature on the visitors, providing a good level of detail about the team’s players and tactics.
In respect of club information, there are two-page columns from manager, captain, and chairman, while there are a couple of pages on the ‘Palace for Life’ foundation. The programme includes a three-page article on a Palace academy player, with two pages given over to a similar profile of one member of the club’s women’s team. There is also a page showing the results and fixtures for each of the club’s ‘other’ teams, while the first-team’s record is shown in the familiar two-page spread.
Each issue features an impressive cover design – echoing Burnley’s covers from last season – with details from Palace’s kit in the top half and their opponents’ colours in the bottom half – the covers for the visits of Wolves and West Brom being especially eye-catching. Inside, the programme makes use of mostly plain white backgrounds, but with a few additional design features when compared with last season’s issue. Rather oddly, some headings are placed to overlap page edges, with some disappearing into the perfect-bound spine.
A solid programme then from Palace. Whilst this is not an issue likely to compete for our end of season awards, there is certainly some worthwhile reading included, with the historical features being the pick of the bunch.
Score 27/40 – some noteworthy retro features keep things interesting
Everton (v Brighton & Hove Albion 03/10/20)
£3.50 (68 pp / 50 net / P)
The Toffees’ issue for 2020/21 is another that has been reduced in size, going down from 84 pages to 68. The main highlight of the programme is some impressive design work, with each issue benefiting from a series of clean, bright, and colourful page layouts. Unfortunately, the reduction in the page count means less space for original content.
There are a couple of interviews with current players. The main such feature runs to nine pages, with more reading than many equivalent features in other clubs’ issues. In keeping with the rest of the programme the page layouts are bright and make good use of photography to complement the text. Similarly, there is also an interview with a former Everton player that covers five pages – again with a good amount of readable content and plenty of archive images. The Everton Historical Society’s ‘Heritage’ page covers a subject related to the day’s visitors to Goodison Park, such as past meetings or players that have turned out for both clubs, including retro images such as programme covers.
Opposition coverage runs to eight pages, kicking off with an introductory section that contains lots of club information, including honours, stadium details, and several images, before a two-page picture from the visitors’ archive tells a story from one moment in the club’s history. There are four pages of squad pictures with basic biographical detail, as well as a page of current season stats that includes a ‘One to Watch’ profile.
Each issue includes a page for the club’s under-18s and under-23s teams, as well as Everton Women, with news and interviews. The usual season spread is well laid out, with good use of colour within the presentation, plus a page of club and league stats, and there is a page on Everton In The Community, as well as columns from manager and captain.
The focus of the original content within the Everton programme is predominantly on current players, with historical content limited to an interview with a former player and the single ‘Heritage’ page. The lack of additional material is perhaps inevitable given the reduced number of pages for this season, but the programme is nevertheless a pleasure to look through given the quality of the page designs.
Score 31/40 – well designed but would be strengthened with more historical features
Fulham (v Aston Villa 28/09/20)
£3.50 (100 pp / 82 net / P)
Winners of our Gold Award the last time they were in the Premier League in 2018/19, Fulham return with another impressive issue that retains the look and feel of that issue from two years ago. The programme is a 100-page perfect bound edition, packed full of original content, and benefiting from simple but effective page designs.
Nowhere is the quality of the design work better demonstrated that in the well put together opposition coverage, which runs to nine pages. A stylishly presented two-page spread opens the section – called ‘The Away End’ – with a club fact-file and an image of the club’s crest on a full-page of their primary kit colour. There are some opening notes on the team’s form as well as recent transfer activity, followed by a manager profile, and basic biographical detail of the squad with a ‘Star Man’ receiving the full-page treatment. ‘Number Crunchers’ collects key numbers associated with the visitors and the players, past and present, while ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ features an interview with a supporter of the visiting team.
There are a few pieces of original content in the programme that relate to the day’s opponents. ‘Those Were The Days’ consists of an interview with a player who turned out for both Fulham and the visiting club, looking back at their career. ‘Freeze Frame’ reproduces an old image from the archives, and traces the two teams from the match concerned, asking ‘Whatever Happened To?’ the players involved.
There is an extensive amount of other original content, including an eight-page feature with one current player that includes a biography and one journalist’s take on the player. Fulham’s record goal-scorer Gordon Davies contributes a column, as does journalist Dean Jones in ‘Football Insider’, but the best reading comes in a 16-page historical section.
‘Ken’s Gems’ sees former Fulham photograph Ken Coton discussing an image from days gone by, while ‘The One Hundred Club’ is a four-page feature that looks at players who have made a century of appearances for the club. ‘Shirt Tales’ looks at Fulham jerseys from the past, with notes on what makes them memorable. ‘Back Issue’ focuses on a programme from a past meeting of Fulham and the visiting club, with images of selected pages from each issue. ‘There’s Only One’ meanwhile profiles a Fulham favourite from the past, with words from the player and images from his time at the club, and ‘Returning Heroes’ recalls those players who spent more than one spell at Craven Cottage. ‘The Stan Brown Collection’ looks at items of memorabilia from the archives of the former Fulham favourite, who died in 2018.
The Fulham programme also includes plenty of club information. Past matches are covered in ‘Instant Replay’, which includes line-ups, stats, and pictures from the game. There are two-page columns from manager and captain plus a couple of pages of news in ‘White Bites’. There are a couple of pages on the club’s women’s team, including match information and a player profile, as well as seven pages covering the club’s academy, with news, stats, and player profiles covering the under-23s and under-18s. There are also four pages of first team stats.
A fine issue from Fulham then – well-presented and offering some terrific reading – certainly among the best of the Premier League issues once again.
Score 36/40 – terrific range of content helps Fulham to third place in our awards!
Leeds United (v Manchester City 03/10/20)
£3.50 (84 pp / 63 net / P)
For Leeds’ first season back in the top-flight since 2003/04, the club has produced an 84-page perfect-bound, A5 sized programme.
The best of the original content in the programme is ‘Shaw’s Illustrated Compendium of Leeds United Characters’ – a continuing feature that sees Phil Shaw presenting various player and manager profiles, from past and present. There is also an eight-page player interview with one current member of the team, several one-page columns from various writers, and a two-page section for junior supporters. The programme certainly suffers from a lack of readable content and would benefit from one or two longer-form articles, perhaps delving into aspects of the club’s history.
The programme does better in providing a good range of club information. There are columns from the club captain and from the boardroom, while previous matches are covered over two pages, with a range of pictures sitting alongside the match stats and line-ups. There are a couple of pages of news from the Leeds United Foundation and a page from the Supporters’ Club. Each issue contains four pages on the club’s academy, with reports, results, and scorers, as well as a page on Leeds’ women’s team. Also included are several pages of stats, including the usual first-team results, line-ups, and fixtures summary, as well as a league table and a club roll-call.
Each issue contains seven pages dedicated to coverage of the day’s visitors. This is a well-presented section with an opening page that shows an image from a recent match, together with the club crest and key club information. In terms of content, there is a write-up of the club’s history, followed by player bios, information on the last meeting between Leeds and their opponents, a profile of the head coach, a squad list, and a graphic showing the formation in which the team lined up for their most recent match. The section also offers up ‘head-to-head’ stats for players for key positions on the pitch and a two-page article on players who turned out for both clubs. ‘A Moment in Time’ reproduces a photo from a past meeting between the teams, while ‘Memory Match’ delves into the archives to reflect on another match-up – including a report, pictures, stats, and the programme cover from the day. The section is concluded with ‘Ask Away’, which offers the opinions of one supporter of the visiting team.
The Leeds issue feels like a programme in need of a more distinct identity and voice, if it is to be compared to the best issues in the league, with the lack of any in-depth reading leaving a somewhat underwhelming impression.
Score 28/40 – lacks the depth of original content of the best programmes
Leicester City (v Wolverhampton Wanderers 08/11/20)
£1.50 (84 pp / 64 net / D)
Leicester is another of the Premier League clubs that have taken the decision for the 2020/21 season not to produce a printed programme. However, it is pleasing to find the same high standards that the club have applied to their physical issues for many years now also given to their digital programme, with each issue demonstrating the depth of content for which the programme has become so well respected in recent times. Each issue of the Leicester programme has 84 pages, with a PDF available to download for just £1.50.
The standout content of the Leicester issue remains ‘City Heritage’, a 13-page historical section packed with interesting features. Written by contributors including club historian John Hutchinson, the section opens with a profile of a former player, who reflects on his time with the Foxes. ‘Football’s Pioneers’ arises out of the club’s partnership with De Montfort University – and looks at those players who contributed to the growth and development of the game. ‘Programme Vault’ this season offers up the theme of ‘ancient and modern’, comparing issues from the mid-20th century with those from the 21st, including cover images and write-ups about the design and content of the issues featured.
‘City and the Second World War’ shines a light on how Leicester City adapted to the realities of wartime between 1939 and 1945. This provides an interesting insight into an often-overlooked part of football history in this country, and includes insights from the club’s archive, including old documents such as press releases. ‘City in 100 Players’ reviews the careers of some of the greatest players to represent Leicester, while ‘Unseen Treasures’ provides pictures and commentary on rare items from the club’s collections. Meanwhile, a new series for this season – ‘Leicester City Firsts’ – looks back to key landmarks from the club’s past, such as their first fixture as Leicester City in the Wolverhampton Wanderers issue. Other original content includes player interviews, a column from club ambassador Alan Birchenall, and a page for junior Leicester fans.
Opposition coverage is very well presented with strong use of the visiting club’s colours throughout, including a nicely laid out double-page section opener, featuring pictures of players, the club’s ground, and crest. The section covers 11 pages in all and begins with a short article that includes a link to highlights of Leicester’s previous meeting with their opponents. There is a page of various stats – current and historic – and a full-page profile of the team’s manager. The programme does not provide pen-pics of all the visiting players, but instead focuses on ‘The Main Threat’ and ‘The Key Three’, while ‘A Little Bit of History’ looks back ten years to see how the visitors were faring at that time. ‘Club Record’ profiles a player who broke the club’s record transfer fee, and ‘Landmarks’ selects for analysis some of the key moments in the visitors’ history – complete with pictures from the time.
In terms of club information, the programme offers columns from manager and chairman, several pages of news, information on the club’s community work. There are five pages of coverage for City’s women’s side, including results and fixtures – representing an impressive commitment to showcasing the team. Four pages are provided on the club’s academy, including player interviews and information on players currently out on loan. There are also three pages of stats, including a well-laid-out season spread.
Whilst we would always prefer that clubs make printed copies of programmes available, it is hard to fault Leicester’s digital issue. Where some clubs have used a shift to digital to reduce the content in their programmes, Leicester have remained committed to providing a high-quality production, offering the same level of content as with previous printed issues. One of this season’s best programmes.
Score 35/40 – packed with interesting reading this is the best of the digital issues
Liverpool (v West Ham United 31/10/20)
£3.50 (84 pp / 64 net / P)
Liverpool’s programme retains the 84-page perfect-bound format from last season, with each issue benefiting from the high-quality design that characterised last term’s programme. Page layouts are attractively put-together, with consistent motifs throughout and good use of the club’s home and away colours.
The opposition section of the programme devotes only five pages to coverage of the visiting club, but what is there is certainly well put together. Contents include a profile of the club’s manager, a photograph from a recent match that includes information on some of the players shown, and article on the team’s recent form, and two pages of basic pen-pics, which are well presented.
Related content includes ‘Back Story’, which goes back in time to recall a moment of significance from a match-up between Liverpool and their visitors. There is also a two-page feature that recalls last season’s meeting between the two clubs, and ‘Head-to-Head’, which includes various stats related to the day’s match.
Other readable features include the always impressive ‘Big Read’, a longer-form piece spread over eight pages, which remains the centrepiece of the programme’s original content. The ‘Anfield Extra’ section offers a look at programmes from past meetings with the day’s opponents, including some images from a notable issue, while there are two current player features – a four-page interview and a separate Q&A, and a page for junior supporters.
The programme also offers up a good level of detail when it comes to club news and information. In addition to the usual manager and captain columns, ‘Countdown to Kick-Off’ presents recent news and a look ahead to the day’s fixture. The programme devotes pages to a write-up of the club’s academy and women’s teams, including details of results and fixtures for each team. Match reports from previous first-team games are well handled and include pictures, line-ups, stats, and commentary on key moments. There are also five pages of first-team and Premier League stats at the end of each issue.
The Reds programme offers a nice mix of content and, given the quality of the design work, is always a pleasure to read through. The opposition coverage could benefit from a few more pages specifically on the visiting club – such as notes on aspects of the club’s history or some tactical analysis, but overall this remains an impressive programme.
Score 33/40 – would be among the best with some beefed-up opposition coverage
Manchester City (v Burnley 28/11/20)
£0.00 (page count not applicable / D)
Of the three clubs to produce a digital only programme for 2020/21, Manchester City’s is by far the poorest – existing only as a page on the club’s website, rather than a downloadable PDF, and therefore offering no real value to collectors. Even the club’s somewhat mediocre programmes of the last few years provided some features of interest and impressive design work, whereas this season’s effort cannot in any sense be recognised as a programme at all.
The webpage includes various ‘panels’ that each contain scrollable content. Some brief opening words are followed by notes from the manager, and a ‘Buzzword’ column from club ambassador Mike Summerbee. Photographer Kevin Cummins has a column that is complemented by various of his images. A couple of recurring features are also included – ‘Dream Team’, which sees a former player selecting their best-ever City eleven, and a column from BBC 6 Music DJ Marc Riley.
The section on the visiting club includes notes on the team’s form during the season so far, and an article looking back at previous meetings between the two sides. There is also a player spotlight that offers key stats for one member of the opposition team, and a link to City’s YouTube page for highlights of a previous meeting between the two teams.
Given the heights that City’s programmes have reached in seasons gone by (with various high-class issues throughout the 2000s, for example) it is especially disappointing that the club have opted to offer so little this year. It is only to be hoped that City’s approach is temporary and that a return to printed programmes will coincide with the regular return of supporters through the turnstiles at the Etihad.
Score 9/40 – poor attempt at a digital programme offering nothing of value
Manchester United (v Arsenal 01/11/20)
£3.50 (84 pp / 60 net / S)
The familiar square-shape of ‘United Review’ returns for 2020/21 with another stylishly designed issue. Attractively presented throughout, the programme serves up some high-class page design that make good use of the space available with the square format.
The programme offers perhaps fewer recurring features than many other clubs’ issues but does provide some one-off articles that are well worth reading. For example, the programme for United’s match against Arsenal included an article putting together a team of London-born reds from the past. That same issue also included a feature on the ‘Manchester United Calypso’ from 1957, written by Eric Watterson and Ken Jones – a four-page article on this most unlikely of football tracks!
One recurring retro article takes for its inspiration United having recently passed the 10,000 goal landmark, having former players look at which goal was their favourite. There is also a five-page player feature, including some full-page photography and plenty of reading.
The visitors’ section covers six pages and includes a two-page opening article called ‘Opposition Focus’, noting the club’s recent form, alongside their tactical set-up and various stats. There is also a brief manager profile, biographies of four key players, and ‘History Lesson’, which shines a light on notable aspects of the club’s past.
The programme features several articles related to past matches between United and their opponents. ‘I Remember’ has the recollections of one player involved in a notable clash between United and their visitors, while club legend Paddy Crerand contributes a column in which he looks forward to the game ahead, as well as looking back to past encounters.
United Review includes a decent amount of club information, with pages for the club’s under-18 and under-23 teams that include news, match updates, and fixture details. There is also coverage of United’s increasingly prominent Women’s team, and ‘The Month Ahead’ which previews upcoming matches for each of the club’s teams. ‘Worth Knowing’ is a news section over three pages, and there are two pages devoted to the work of the Manchester United Foundation. Each issue also features a comprehensive stats section.
There is much to like within the United programme, although it does perhaps lack a coherent flow, in terms of how the various sections sit together. This gives the programme a slightly a disjointed feel, despite the quality of the page designs, with the impression left of an issue that would benefit from a more logical arrangement.
Score 32/40 – great to look at but lacking consistency in terms of content
Newcastle United (v Everton 01/11/20)
£3.50 (84 pp / 65 net / S)
The Newcastle programme is the issue that shows the most marked improvement since last season. Having undergone a revamp ahead of the 2020/21 season, each issue is now B5 in size, providing more space than the A5 issue of recent years. Whilst the price has gone up by 50p, there is certainly enough content to justify the price increase.
The best features are a series of historical articles, the pick of which is arguably ‘The Wonderful World of Football Programmes’, penned by columnist Stan Gate. This four-page feature looks at various programme from United’s past, with a focus on issues produced for past matches against the day’s visitors. There is also a ‘Collector’s Corner’, offering information about unusual or rare items and other news on collecting the club’s issues. Including images of various covers for the featured programmes, this is a highly readable column that would surely be of interest and value to collectors of United’s issues.
‘The United History Blog’, written by club historian Paul Joannou, offers a couple of pages on Newcastle’s past, making good use of retro images alongside the written content. Joannou also pens ‘Windows Into The Past’ – highlighting lesser known stories from Newcastle’s history – all well presented with plenty of photos to complement the text. ‘Lost Grounds’ meanwhile recalls those former venues once visited by Newcastle, looking back at the ground itself and the club that played there, as well as noting United’s fortunes there.
‘Guest Appearance’ offers up an interview with a former Newcastle player. Spread over five pages, the feature offers some interesting reflections on their time with the club, as well as a statistical fact-file. There is also an eight page interview with one current player – all well laid out and uninterrupted by adverts, which makes a welcome change from many clubs’ issues. ‘Zoom Army’ references the use of online communication tools during the pandemic – seeing fans submitting their questions to one of the club’s players.
The day’s visitors to St James’ Park are afforded six pages – again with no breaks for ads – with content provided including a page of opening notes on the club’s recent record, which is followed by a manager profile and pen-pics of the club’s squad, which offer a nice level of detail for each player. There are also details of the last five meetings between the two teams. An additional article or two, perhaps including some notes on the tactics employed by the team would strengthen the section but, as with the rest of the programme, what is here is certainly worthwhile and well presented.
The programme is also strong in terms of information about all aspects of the club. There are the usual columns from manager and captain, a couple of pages of news, match reports – spread over three pages, with line-ups, key moments, stats, and several photographs – and a couple of pages of news from the club’s foundation. Coverage of the club’s academy teams is well handled, with a profile of one under-23 player and a statistical section for both the under-23s and under-18s. As with the first team’s stats section, some of the text here is very small, which is a shame given the quality of the design and layout throughout the rest of the programme. Unfortunately, there is no mention of Newcastle’s women’s team.
Praise is certainly due to the team behind United’s new look programme. Benefiting from a consistent feel throughout and with good use of colour and photography and clean page layouts, the programme is easy to navigate and read through. All of this, together with the quality of the historical content in each issue, has elevated the Newcastle programme to being among the pick of the Premier League issues.
Score 35/40 – a quality issue and the most improved programme of the year
Sheffield United (v Leeds United 27/09/20)
£3.50 (100 pp / 83 net / P)
Sheffield United’s ‘UTB’ returns in the form of another highly impressive 100-page perfect-bound issue, which retains the looks and feel of the programme that took our Silver Award last season.
The amount of original content in the Blades’ programme is especially notable, with a diverse range of features packed into each issue. These include a series of articles under the ‘United in History’ heading, which provide a great deal of worthwhile reading. ‘Fables & Folklore’ for example sees Blades historian John Garrett, taking a look at one of the more unusual facets of the club’s past.
‘Seasons in English Football’ turns the spotlight on one season since the start of the Football League, noting Sheffield United’s fortunes and other key developments within the English game. ‘Lost Wonders of Football’ focuses on one aspect of football no longer in the game, while ‘Blades in Print’ seeks out articles about the club from the archives.
There are two pages devoted to items of club memorabilia – some sent in by supporters with others taken from the club’s archives, often showcasing some terrific old programmes. ‘He Shoots He Scores’ delves into the archives to highlight a memorable goal from a United player, giving the background to the strike and the outcome. Each issue also features an extended interview with a former player, including action pics from his time with the club, which complement an always interesting discussion.
Several of the historical features are connected to the day’s opponents on the field. ‘Kit Clash’ pairs up popular retro strips from United and their matchday opponents. ‘The Return of the Ex’ looks at former United players who became renowned for scoring against their old clubs, and Paul Holland recalls games against the visitors – one win, one loss, and one draw from down the years.
In addition, UTB also includes various contemporary features. The main current player interview is spread across eight pages, uninterrupted by adverts. ‘Arty Bianco’ celebrates the work of local artists and Blades fan Nick Bianco, and there is a two-page section for junior United fans.
The opposition section of the programme is spread over eight pages, kicking off with a striking design for the opening double-page spread, which uses a picture of the club’s stadium and their official crest. There are detailed profiles of the club’s manager and one player, with briefer profiles of three other players, as well as notes on the last meeting between the two teams, and ‘Opposition in Numbers’, which picks out various figures of significance to the visitors. There are also notes on a club legend and ‘Managing to Succeed’, which profiles several leading managers to have taken charge of the club. The whole section is well presented, with intelligent use made of the visiting club’s colours to help the section stand out.
Club information is extensive, including a page of news, results, and fixtures for the club’s under-18s, under-23s, and women’s teams, under the heading ‘All Blades Aren’t We’. There are seven pages of club and league stats including the usual two-page season spread, and a column on topical figures from Blades’ stats man Andrew Kirkham in ‘Stats All Folks’. There are two pages on the club’s community work, while ‘The Story So Far’ provides a diary like record of events at Bramall Lane, including match details, signings, and developments within the league. Previous matches are well covered in ‘Match Action’, which provides line-up details, brief notes, and match stats.
This is a hugely impressive issue from Sheffield United, offering extensive reading as well as a detailed look at all levels of the club. There are few programmes elsewhere in English football that offer the range of content included in UTB, with each issue offering up fascinating insights into the club’s past.
Score 37/40 – excellent once again and fully deserving of a second successive Silver Award
Southampton (v West Bromwich Albion 04/10/20)
£3.50 (68 pp / 52 net / P)
The Saints’ issue has a reduced page-count for the 2020/21 season, down from 84 pages to 68 this term. Otherwise, the programme retains the B5-sized, perfect-bound format, with a similar look and feel to last season’s issue. Southampton were however the only club not to produce a programme for each game (assuming Manchester City’s ‘efforts’ are counted as such), opting not to issue for five games in the second half of the season – Brighton, Burnley, Leicester, Crystal Palace, and Fulham.
With the reduced page count, the amount of original content provided has decreased and the programme suffers from a lack of readable material. There is an interview with one member of the squad that runs to eight pages; a column from club historian David Bull called ‘That Reminds Me’; a two-page picture from the archives headed ‘Blast From The Past’; and a column from former player Francis Benali, in which he reflects on the Saints’ recent fortunes. The programme also offers one of the more detailed junior supporter sections of any programme in the league – including a two-page player interview as well as various quizzes and space for notes on the match.
The opposition section offers only five pages dedicated to the visiting team, opening with a fact-file that includes details such as the club’s honours. There is a manager profile and notes on four key members of the team, with a squad list for the remaining players. An excellent ‘Scouting Report’ by Sam Tighe includes the team’s likely line-up in a formation graphic, with notes on some key positions, in addition to analysis of recent games and tactical shape. In related content, there is a two-page head-to-head history feature, recalling memorable games from down the years – complete with line-ups and pictures from the matches.
The programme offers a comprehensive look at each of the club’s teams, with two pages each for the women’s team and the ‘B’ team – both featuring news, results, and fixtures. In addition to columns from manager Ralph Hasenhüttl and ‘From The Dressing Room’ with Danny Ings, each issue offers news in ‘Inside SO14’; notes on the work of the ‘Saints Foundation’, and a first-team stats section that covers five pages.
It is a shame that the Saints programme was trimmed down for the 2020/21 season, and even more so that the decision was taken not to produce an issue at all for five of the behind closed doors games, particularly given that this is a programme that had shown clear signs of improvement in recent years. The return of the programme for the final home fixture against Leeds does at least offer hope that normal service will be resumed for the 2021/22 season.
Score 28/40 – the reduced page count has been felt in a lack of readable features
Tottenham Hotspur (v Newcastle United 27/09/20)
£3.50 (84 pp / 62 net / P)
Spurs’ programme remains largely like last season’s programme – being an 84-page perfect-bound edition. Despite having one of the lower net page counts of any issue in the division (after advertising content is removed) this is a programme that still offers some worthwhile reading.
Each issue contains a five-page interview with a current Spurs star, a three-page junior section, and ‘In That Number’ – a one-page interview with a Spurs fan. However, the focus of the original content is very much on historical content and there are several interesting articles.
‘Spurs Firsts’ for example is a recurring feature that looks at the people and occasions that have shaped the club’s history. ‘Back Issue’ highlights Spurs programmes from the past from games against the day’s opponents, with the article including images of the respective issues and notes on the context of the games. ‘The Road to Glory’ celebrates several anniversaries, with Tottenham’s renowned good fortune when the year ends in one! The column reflects on a game from one of these seasons, including an image of the programme cover from the day and some press clippings.
‘Three of a Kind’ invites a former Spurs player to select their three favourites from various categories, including goals, matches and so on, while ‘Where Are They Now?’ investigates what players from the past have been doing since retirement. ‘Legends on Legends’ is a new feature for the 2020/21 season, asking one player who turned out for the club about their memories of great players from their opponents – the Newcastle United issue for example offering the thoughts of Teddy Sheringham on his former England strike-partner Alan Shearer.
The day’s visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are covered across six dedicated pages. The section includes a brief manager profile, a ten-year record showing the club’s performance, and player pictures with basic biographical detail. The section is heavily oriented towards statistics, showing graphics such as action zones, but there is also a form guide and three ‘Ones to Watch’. This section would certainly benefit from an article or two on the visiting club, to offer some insights beyond the basic detail provided.
The programme does contain a good level of information about all aspects of the club. In addition to the manager column there are three pages of club news, and previous matches are covered across two pages, with stats, line-ups, and pictures. Coverage of Tottenham’s Women’s team is impressive, with two dedicated pages that offer news, stats, and match information. The club’s academy teams are given similar treatment, and there is a further page of stats covering each of the teams, while the first-teams stats section runs to three pages.
The programme is well designed, with the use of the club’s traditional navy and white complemented by flashes of brighter colours in certain sections, and the page layouts are generally unfussy and easy to read. Overall, this is a solid issue from Tottenham, with the focus on offering a range of historical content worthy of note.
Score 31/40 – lots of interesting reading but lacking material on the opposition
West Bromwich Albion (v Sheffield United 28/11/20)
£3.50 (68 pp / 57 net / S)
Always one of the best reads of any season, the West Brom programme returns for 2020/21 with a retro design, using the same styling as the team’s current home shirt both on the cover and in places throughout the issue.
In line with what we have come to expect from a Baggies programme, there is plenty of fascinating historical content. This season, many of those relate to the club celebrating 120 years at The Hawthorns. ‘Programmes of the Past’ for example, looks at a selection of programmes from past meetings with the day’s opponents, with notes on the content and pictures of various pages from the respective issues. ‘Hawthorns History’ is another such feature, telling in detail the history of the club, while ‘The Hawthorns’ Greatest Games’ recalls notable matches played at the stadium. As with the other features, this is beautifully written and makes good use of historical images, as well as a cover of the programme from the match.
Perhaps the pick of the historical features though is ‘The Impossible Dream’, a four-page article that goes back 90 years to tell the story of the 1930/31 season, when the club won promotion and the FA Cup – the only time this particular ‘double’ has been achieved in English football. The level of detail about matches from the time provides a fascinating and valuable insight into this unique achievement.
The programme also offers a feature looking back to the 1992/93 season, when West Brom achieved promotion to the second tier, while ‘Memory Match’ reports on a notable game against the day’s opposition. There is also a four-page junior supporters’ section and an interview with one current player.
Given the high quality of the original content included, it is somewhat disappointing that much of the rest of the programme feels rather more perfunctory. The opposition coverage for example is limited to seven pages, with something of a statistical focus. Only ‘Opposition Lowdown’ provides any kind of reading about the visiting club, being written by a reporter associated with the team. Similarly, club information is a touch patchy. There are several pages of stats about the first team, including detailed reports of previous matches, and a couple of pages on the club’s community foundation, while Albion Supporters Club Chairman, John Homer contributes a column. Information on the club’s other teams is more limited. There is an article on one of the club’s younger players who is currently out on loan, but it seems no dedicated sections with information on the form of the development squad or women’s teams.
Whilst this programme lacks the consistency of the league’s best issues, ‘Albion News’ is arguably the pick of the bunch in terms of the quality of its original content. Impressively written, and offering fascinating insights into the club’s past, the West Brom programme provides some of the best reading of the season.
Score 32/40 – some fantastic historical features keep Albion News among the best reads in the league
West Ham United (v Fulham 07/11/20)
£3.50 (116 pp / 85 net / P)
The largest issue in the Premier League, running to some 116 pages (85 net of adverts), the West Ham programme is also among the best. Containing an extensive amount of reading and carrying in-depth information about all parts of the club, this is a high-quality production from the Hammers.
The centrepiece of the programme is a historical section that ties in with West Ham’s 125th anniversary. This runs to more than 20 pages in each issue and is impressively comprehensive, with several features recounting tales from the club’s past.
‘125 Years of Hammers History’ sees content editor Rob Pritchard going through the archives to tell the story of the club, building a historical overview through the season. ‘Iconic Irons’ is a two-page photo spread with club photographer Arfa Griffiths selecting memorable images from his time working with the club. ‘A to Z of WHU’ takes a different letter of the alphabet each issue and tells various related stories – covering a mix of players, position, countries, and the like, including some impressive images and press cuttings.
‘My West Ham Scrapbook’ sees one former Iron going back over moments from their career with the club, while ‘Added Time Tunnel’ takes fans back to a particular year, recalling cultural highlights from the time. ‘Ken Dyer’s Memories’ feature the veteran Evening Standard reporter evoking his time covering West Ham. Each of these articles is well presented, with some creative page layouts that use the club’s claret and blue colours to good effect, creating a truly stand-out section within each issue.
There are various other items of original content within the programme. ‘Back to the 90s’ picks out some memorable players who turned out for the Hammers during the decade – highlighting some lesser-known names as well as more prominent figures. Each issue also features an extended interview with a member of the first-team – including some well designed spreads with images of the player. ‘My Dream Teammates’ has one former player selecting their all-time eleven from the players he took to the field with during his career. Club icon Tony Cottee contributes a lengthy column with his thoughts on the club and issues within the wider game, and there are two pages of content for younger Hammers supporters.
The opposition section has nine pages dedicated to coverage of the visitors to the London Stadium. The section opens with a two-page photograph from a recent game that also features the club’s name and crest on a sidebar. ‘History in 100 Words’ is a brief run-through of the visitors’ past, while there are separate notes on the team’s more recent fortunes. Also included is a profile of the head coach, an honours board, and a ‘depth chart’ that shows the options the team has in each position, with notes on how the team is likely to set up. ‘Meet The Opposition’ profiles the players, going through each area of the pitch in turn and assessing the options available – an interesting alternative to the regular pen-pics used by most clubs. ‘View From The Press Box’ is a two-page interview with a figure from the media who covers the opponents, offering a useful insight into the current situation of the team. There is also a related two-page article on the history between the two teams.
The Hammers programme also excels when it comes to club information. On top of the usual manager and captain columns (which are more detailed than many similar articles elsewhere), there are a couple of pages of news, and reports on previous matches that include line-ups, stats, and photos. ‘The Academy of Football’ section is devoted to the club’s academy teams, covering them in some depth with news updates, player spotlights, and behind the scenes features. There is also an impressive commitment to showcasing the club’s women’s team, with four pages offering player profiles alongside results and fixtures. The programme also includes four pages of first-team stats and three pages on the work of the West Ham United Foundation.
Overall then, this is a terrific issue from West Ham, excelling in many areas with the depth and breadth of its features. The team behind the programme are to be commended on maintaining such a high-quality issue, and also for making the digital version of each issue available free online on the day of the game.
Score 37/40 – packed with reading and club information – a worthy Gold Award winner
Wolverhampton Wanderers (v Southampton 23/11/20)
£5.00 (132 pp / 110 net / P)
This season’s programmes from Wolves cover two matches in one issue, with the programme being split in half with reversible covers. For the purposes of our review and consideration for our end of season awards we focus here on the unique content within each issue to provide a better comparison with other club’s issues. Each fixture covered within an issue therefore has 66 of the 132 pages devoted to it, and there is the usual mix of quality content that we have come to expect from Wolves given the excellence of their programmes in recent seasons.
Each issue contains an impressive amount of original content, with a historical section called ‘The Old Gold’ offering the best reading. ‘My Golden Game’ is an interview with a former Wolves favourite, while ‘Snapshot’ dips into the archives to find a photograph related to the day’s match, which is reproduced across two pages. ‘Old Gold Fifty Years On’ heads back the club’s 1970/71 campaign, providing the story of the season and match by match stats, including some programme images and pictures from the time. ‘How It Used To Be’ is another photographic feature, showing some aspect of the club as it was in the past.
Other original content includes ‘The 300 Club’, which profiles those players who have turned out for Wolves on at least 300 occasions, offering an impressive level of detail on each such player. ‘Home and Away’ sees one Wolves player selecting the stadiums that help to define their career, with favourite and important matches recalled. ‘My Wolves XI’ meanwhile has one former player from the club choosing their dream Wolves line-up. An interview with one current player runs to six pages and there is a two-page junior section also included.
The opposition coverage for each visitor to Molineux offers ten pages of dedicated content. The section opens with a stylishly designed page showing images of players and fans, as well as the club’s crest. There are notes on the season to date, plus various stats and a ‘trophy cabinet’. The coverage includes profiles of four key players, including their record against Wolves, which is a nice addition, and ‘Scout Report’ offers a tactical insight into the visiting team with commentary on the team’s style of play and likely formation. ‘Expert View’ provides a look at the team’s fortunes from a journalist with inside knowledge of the club, while ‘Premier League Years’ looks at the club’s record since the formation of the Premier League – telling key stories from that time, together with a graphic showing their finishing positions. There are also related articles included, notably one looking at transfers between Wolves and their opponents, and a memorable meeting between the two clubs.
In respect of club information, each issue contains three pages on the Wolves Foundation, while there are six pages devoted to the club’s academy teams, with news, reports, and stats for the under-23s and under-18s, plus an interview with one young player. Wolves’ Women’s team also benefits from three pages of coverage. There are columns from manager and captain, while information on first-team matches covers a couple of pages, with pictures, line-ups, and match stats. The usual results and fixtures spread is also present.
There is much to admire about this programme from Wolves, with each issue being attractively designed and benefiting from plenty of highly readable content. We hope that the club will revert to single match issues for next season, as they did for the visit of Manchester United when supporters returned to Molineux on the last day of the season.
Score 36/40 – another fine issue from Wolves and only just missing out on our awards