2021/22
2021/22 Programme of the Season Award
1st Place: Leicester City
2nd Place: Norwich City
3rd Place: Brentford
Where to Buy
Our blog post on the 2021/22 programmes includes all the details of where you can buy each club’s issues.
Programme Reviews
Key
PP = Total Pages
Net = Total Pages Less Adverts
P = Perfect Bound
S = Stapled
D = Digital
Arsenal (v Watford 07/11/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 70 net / S)
The Gunners have produced another typically well-presented programme for the 2021/22 season. As with recent seasons, each issue includes 84 pages, which benefit from nice clean page layouts and easy to read text, complemented by lots of high-quality images.
Inside, the content of the programme offers some variations from Arsenal programmes from the last few years. For example, rather than retaining the standard columns from head coach and captain, each issue includes an extended column under the heading ‘Official Voice’. This provides the thoughts of significant figures from the club in different issues – from the owners to the manager – providing an interesting alternative to the often rather generic columns that open many clubs’ programmes.
‘Red, White and Green’ is another recurring feature that looks at what the club are doing in the area of sustainability, with several news items and articles – including one in the Watford issue about encouraging supporters to get involved in the ‘upcycling’ of unsold matchday programmes. ‘Gallery’ meanwhile presents a series of images past and present, each over two pages with a sidebar detailing the context of the picture.
Club information is, as we’ve come to expect from Arsenal, thorough and comprehensive. There are sections on both the club’s academy teams and Arsenal Women, compiling recent news and a detailed set of statistics, as well as a profile of one academy player in ‘Young Gun’. Each issue includes several pages of news, while ‘Community Voice’ looks at a project being supported by Arsenal in the Community, with a further page devoted to the work of the Arsenal Foundation. There is action from previous matches, including images, match details and a timeline of key moments from the game. The first team results and fixtures section is perhaps the best presented in the league, making excellent use of the space afforded by the double-page spread, and intelligently deploying colour to help readers navigate the information presented.
Original content is more limited. The pick of the articles is ‘Behind the Headline’, which looks at a moment from the archives and the story behind the headline that went with it. Each article runs to five pages and presents the story in welcome depth, alongside several images from the time. The Watford issue, for example, recounted the story of the 1930 FA Cup Final when Arsenal met Huddersfield Town – a match famous for the appearance overhead of the Graf Zeppelin airship. In a similar vein is ‘Behind the Graphic’, which provides the detail behind a recently published infographic – an article that provides a perfect example of how to blend imagery, text, and stats. In addition, there is an extended player interview over eight pages.
Opposition coverage is reduced from previous seasons’ efforts, down to just five pages, although the section is still worth a read. An opening article considers the visiting club’s form, before providing a profile of the manager and several key players. Fortunately, the section retains ‘scouting’ notes from the always informative Michael Cox. This part of the programme could certainly be strengthened by the addition of one or two more features on the opposition.
Overall, this is an eye-catching issue that leads the pack in terms of presentation, showcasing the benefits of simple page designs and use of space. The programme focuses predominantly on providing details on all the latest from across the club, which is a natural enough choice, but this does mean it suffers in comparison to the very best issues in the league when it comes to depth of content and opposition coverage.
Score 33/40 – beautifully designed, with extensive information about all levels of the club.
Aston Villa (v Brentford 28/08/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 65 net / P)
The Villa News and Record is an 84-page, perfect-bound issue that retains the classy design and layout of last season’s issue. The outline image of the European Cup in the bottom right corner of the cover marks the 40th anniversary of Villa’s triumph in that competition.
It is something of a surprise therefore that the excellent historical section within the programme – known as ‘Villa Vault’ opts to focus not on that 1981/82 season, but on Villa’s Division Three title success a decade earlier. Over nine pages, the section looks back at that 1971/72 campaign, with ‘Season Tracker’ providing a commentary on Villa’s progress, with notes on each match played. ‘Programme Pieces’ reproduces programme covers from the games under review, alongside notes on the content of each issue. In addition, the section also includes a two-page profile of one Holte End Hero, and a ‘Numbers Game’ feature. In terms of other original content, there is a feature interview spread over five pages, a junior section for younger fans, and ‘Tayls Talking’ – a column from former Villa midfielder Ian Taylor.
The visitors’ section is typically well presented. Spread over nine pages, the section opens with a page of club facts, including key dates in their history. This is followed by ‘Scene Setter’, which provides notes on the club’s recent form. There are four pages of well laid out pen-pics, as well as a more detailed profile of the visiting manager. ‘Opposition Snapshot’ reproduces a photograph from the archives, showing the day’s opponents in action, while ‘Stats Zone’ includes a list of the club’s top five appearance makers, goal scorers, and managers, as well as a 20-year progress report chart showing finishing positions in the league.
Each issue also contains a good level of detail about each of Villa’s teams, with a three-page academy section that includes reports and updates, and the same level of coverage for the club’s women’s team. Reports from previous first team fixtures and nicely detailed and include photographs and line-up details, while a four-page stats section includes squad information, a league table, and the usual season results and fixtures spread. There are also a few pages of news and the ‘Villa Diary’ containing day by day developments at the club, as well as news from the Aston Villa Foundation.
The excellent historical section is certainly the highlight of this issue. Although we might have expected to see the anniversary of Villa’s European Cup success featured more heavily, the series of articles looking back to 1971/72 does serve as a reminder about Villa’s rapid rise back to the top from third-tier obscurity to European champions in just ten years.
Score 34/40 – some classy presentation and a collection of worthwhile retro features.
Brentford (v Liverpool 25/09/21)
£4.00 (84 pp / 72 net / P)
Brentford mark their first season in the top-flight since 1946-47 with an 84-page, perfect-bound issue, which features 72 pages of content – among the highest in the division. The Bees won our Merit Award for the best programme in the Championship for the 2019/20 season, and they’ve clearly maintained those high standards with this year’s issue.
The first thing to note with Brentford’s issues is the eye-catching, high-class cover design, featuring an illustration from David Flanagan. Among the best of this season’s designs were the Crystal Palace issue, which played on the Bees v Eagles theme, and the Norwich City issue, which marked Remembrance Day with an image of former Brentford player Thomas Pryce Hamer, who lost his life in the First World War. Inside, each programme is well laid out, with four columns across each page. The design would perhaps benefit from less white text on red backgrounds, and the font size is a touch small – although this does help to provide the space for some lengthy articles.
Each issue includes various historical features, all offering detailed analysis of their subject. ‘We’ve Met Before’, for example, looks at past encounters between Brentford and their opponents, including reproductions of programme covers from particular games. ‘From the Archive’ sees club historian Rob Jex telling the story of a notable match from the past, with the text accompanied by several retro images, as well as press cuttings and reports. ‘History Boys’ is another in-depth article, which profiles the players who represented the club during their 1991/92 3rd Division title triumph, with the memories of each player featured prominently.
‘Back In Time’ recalls memorable matches for both teams, while ‘Great Brentford Goals’ looks back at memorable strikes from the past. Each issue also includes an extensive interview with a first-team squad member, as well as ‘View From the North Stand’ – penned by season ticket holder Nick Bruzon – and ‘The Last Word’ from Ben Burgess.
The visitors’ section is a real highlight of the programme, with 14 pages of dedicated coverage including several highly readable features. ‘Spotlight’ opens the section, giving an overview of the visiting club’s recent form, while ‘No Place Like Home’ provides a view of the club’s home stadium. There is a brief profile of the opponent’s manager, a squad list in ‘Roll Call’, and information about four key players in ‘Four in Focus’. ‘Hot Off the Press’ features the opinions of one journalist who covers the team and ‘The Away End’ has a Q&A with a supporter of the team. ‘A Strip Down Memory Lane’ looks back at four kits from seasons past, which are memorable for either good or bad reasons.
Each issue includes a good level of detail about the club, including coverage of Brentford’s B and Women’s teams, plenty of first team stats, several pages of news, and a couple of pages on the work of the Community Sports Trust.
Brentford’s issue is certainly among the most impressive in the Premier League, packed with reading – including several fascinating historical pieces – all of which are complemented by some fine design work.
Score 37/40 – Bronze Award winners for an excellent all-round issue, with stand-out cover illustrations.
Brighton & Hove Albion (v Everton 28/08/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 63 net / S)
Albion’s programme is one of the bulkier issues in the Premier League, being made up of 84 pages as well as a separate junior pull-out in the centre of each issue. The programme benefits from some of the best design work and layouts in the division, with every issue being a real pleasure to read and browse through.
The Albion issue contains a few key recurring features. The pick of these is ‘Albion Internationals’, which looks at some of the players to have won caps for their country whilst at the club. This is a well-written six-page feature with various retro images, that turns the spotlight on some lesser-known names. The second regular feature is a focus on a past meeting with the day’s opponents. This has plenty of information about the match itself but what elevates it above many such articles is a sidebar that examines the programme from the featured match. Some of the games featured during the season go back to pre-war matches, so it’s great to see pages from older programmes reproduced as part of the article. Finally, there is a four-page interview with a former player who represented both Albion and their matchday opponents. Each issue also contains various interviews with members of Brighton’s current team, and a few ad hoc articles related to events on and off the field.
The opposition section has six dedicated pages, in addition to the related features mentioned above. The opening page of the section includes basic information about the club and lists their honours, whilst the next page is a short article considering the team’s recent form. There are basic pen-pics for each member of the squad, followed by a two-page interview with a key player. The section would be enhanced with some additional information, such as tactical notes or club history.
In respect of club information, Chairman Paul Barber contributes his usual column, offering his insights into goings on behind the scenes is what probably remains the best such article in the league. There is a column from the manager, several pages of news, and information on previous matches. The work of Albion in the Community is covered and there is a first-team stats section that include a well-presented results and fixtures chart, as well as news on the women’s and academy teams.
Above all, the programme benefits from some top-class design work. The issue is well laid out, with good use of colour throughout and lots of light backgrounds to make reading easy. Where creative touches are used, they enhance the readability, rather than complicating it, something which is often easier said than done, with credit due to the design team for their efforts.
Score 30/40 – bulky but well designed, this is another quality issue from the Seagulls.
Burnley (v Arsenal 18/09/21)
£3.50 (68 pp / 53 net / P)
After going digital last season, Burnley return to a printed programme for 2021/22, producing an attractive 68-page perfect-bound issue, entitled ‘Turf’. This is one of the league’s best designed programmes, making good use of the club’s colours to complement a series of clean page layouts. Each issue also benefits from some nice cover artwork, with representations of a couple of Subbuteo players in each team’s kit.
Perhaps the pick of the original articles in the programme is an archive feature looking back 40 years to Burnley’s Division Three title winning campaign of 1981/82, including notes from matches over the course of the season, with images and programme covers from the time. Another retro feature looks at ‘Last Minute Winners’ that Burnley have scored – recounting the key moments from the match with line-ups and a copy of the programme cover from the game too.
‘Looking Back’ turns back the clock 10, 20, and 30 years to assess Burnley’s fortunes on the corresponding weekend, complete with details of the matches played. ‘Tales of the Turf’ is a detailed interview with one former Clarets player, while one current member of the Burnley squad is featured over six pages, with ‘Away Days’ providing a supporter’s perspective on a recent game away from Turf Moor.
Opposition coverage is spread over eight pages, the first two of which provide brief notes on the club, as well as club records, an honours board, and a historical timeline, including pictures of the club’s ground and some key figures from the past. There are four pages of player biographies, which include a good number of the club’s squad – not just their first eleven, as well as a manger profile and ‘Opposition View’, which provides the thoughts of a visiting supporter on their club’s fortunes and prospects.
Each issue of ‘Turf’ includes plenty of information about all aspects of the club, including a couple of pages on the women’s team, with details of results and fixtures, as well as pages on the under-23 and under-18 sides. There are columns from manager, captain, and boardroom, as well as recent news, and a couple of pages on the club’s community work. ‘Where In The World’ meanwhile turns the spotlight on one of Burnley’s overseas supporters’ groups. Previous matches are covered with pictures only, while there is a four-page statistics section for the first team, which includes a look at Burnley’s last meeting with their matchday opponents and a profile of one player who turned out for both clubs.
Burnley’s programme is the smallest in the league, with 53 pages of content once advertising space is taken out. As this issue shows, however, this is not a barrier to a club producing a high-quality programme. ‘Turf’ may not have quite the amount of original content as some issues in the league, but there is still plenty packed in, providing a positive overall impression with some worthwhile reading and classy designs and layouts.
Score 33/40 – an issue which shows size is not a barrier to quality – a welcome return to printed issues from the Clarets.
Chelsea (v Manchester City 25/09/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 67 net / P)
Chelsea’s programme for the 2021/22 season has a familiar look to the last few seasons, being one of the best designed issues in the league and featuring several well-written features.
As with the issues of recent years, when it comes to original content the emphasis is on quality rather than quantity, with a small number of more lengthy features included. Among these is a look back a decade to the 2011/12 season, when Chelsea won their first Champions League. Over ten pages, the article covers the ups and downs of the season with reference to key turning points and developments with players and management.
‘Rising Sons’ is another interesting feature from club historian Rick Glanvill – who turns the spotlight on the club’s greatest youth products through the ages. The article, which has featured players such as Venables, Tambling, and Harris, is spread over five pages and includes some excellent images from the archives. ‘Tell Us About Chelsea’ meanwhile features the words of former players and famous fans, who talk about their association with the club, again with plenty of retro images to accompany the text.
Each issue also offers a seven-page interview with a member of the first-team squad, and ‘Rewind’ – a two-page feature on a classic match against the day’s opponents – with a detailed report, line-up information and pictures from the game. Another nice touch is an ‘Honours’ page, which lists the titles won by Chelsea down the years, against the backdrop of an image of one of the trophies.
One of the real strengths of Chelsea’s programme is the level of detail in the coverage afforded to each of the club’s teams, with three pages devoted to each of the Development Squad, Under-18s, and Women’s teams. Each issue features a two-page interview with a player from one of the squads, as well as three pages from the head coach of each team, with results, fixtures, player stats, and league tables all included. The programme also includes an extensive first-team stats section, including a well-presented double-page results and fixtures spread, which makes good use of colour and offers details such as the formation used by Chelsea in the match. Each issue also has a page on the work of the club’s foundation.
By contrast, the visitors’ section is somewhat underwhelming. Spread over eight pages, the section includes a two-page opening column from former Blue Pat Nevin, who profiles the visiting team and highlights some of the tactical issues and player match-ups likely to play a role in the fixture. There is a two-page opposition fact file, which includes the club’s record last season, a head-to-head record against Chelsea, and key stats. This is followed by three pages of basic pen-pics and a manager profile.
As with previous seasons, a more in-depth opposition section would see Chelsea’s programme rank among the league’s best, with the issue scoring highly for design, original content, and club information.
Score 32/40 – some fine historical features but would benefit from a beefed-up opponents section.
Crystal Palace (v Southampton 15/12/21)
£3.50 (76 pp / 65 net / P)
Palace have produced a 76-page, perfect-bound, A5 programme for the 2021/22 season. Each issue contains some highly readable features, although the overall ‘feel’ of the programme lacks coherence.
The best feature is ‘Peter Manning 1861’, which marks 160 years of Palace history with a look at the club in the years up to 1915. Author and supporter Peter Manning has penned a series of excellent articles that build into a valuable record of Palace’s early years and provide an insight into football at the time. For example, the programme for the visit of Southampton contained a column on Palace’s participation in the very first FA Cup competition in the 1871/72 season, which included an image of a winner’s medal from the time, as well as a picture of Palace player Cuthbert Ottaway, who would become England’s first recognised captain. A really well thought out piece.
‘Non-League Neighbours’ is another well written feature, looking at the fortunes of four non-league teams from South London – Beckenham Town, Bromley, Corinthian Casuals, and Holmesdale FC – providing a look at the positives and challenges of football outside of the league. There is another archive feature looking at various stories and characters from Palace’s history, as well as ‘Voices of South London’, which sheds light on the names and events that have shaped the area – through the eyes of various people associated with Palace. Each issue also offers an interview with one current player over 11 pages, including ‘The Follow Up’, in which the player is asked about their idols, and a column called ‘Writers’, which offers aspiring journalists the opportunity to gain some exposure by penning a feature about the club.
The section dedicated to the visiting club runs to ten pages and opens with a nicely designed page that includes the club crest. The contents of the section include a match preview, a look at the last five seasons, a form guide, and the team’s last result with line-up and formation details. There are pictures of the players over four pages, with short biographies of some key squad members, while former Palace favourite Darren Ambrose looks at the opposition and what to expect from the day’s fixture.
In terms of club information, the programme offers columns from manager, captain, and chairman, and a couple of pages on the club’s foundation. There is plenty of coverage of Palace’s other teams, with a dedicated academy section that includes a feature on one young prospect, a column from one of the academy coaches, and ‘Made in South London’, in which club historian Ian King recalls some of Palace’s best academy graduates. There are also interviews with members of the women’s team and a two-page spread with results, fixtures, tables, and player stats for each of the under-23, under-18, and women’s sides. The first team stats section includes the usual two-page season spread, the league table, and the day’s fixtures.
Whilst this programme lacks the level of original content that marks out the best issues in the league, there are a number of columns whose writers deserve credit. However, the issue suffers from some occasionally over fussy design work – such as article titles overlaid on page headings, some of which also include a picture – and the programme lacks a logical ‘flow’ with, for example, the academy section, women’s coverage, and the respective team’s stats, all apart from each other. A more coherent layout may help overcome the somewhat disjointed feel of the Palace issue as it stands.
Score 29/40 – enjoyable and informative original content but overall an inconsistent feel.
Everton (v Norwich City 25/09/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 62 net / P)
Everton’s programme for 2021/22 is a familiar looking 84-page issue. The great majority of the original content in each programme is made up of interviews and other features with players past and present.
The pick of these articles is a single-page heritage feature, which recounts the career of a former player. Along similar lines is ‘He Wore Blue’ – a retro feature in which one past player from the Toffees is interviewed. ‘My Hometown’ is a Q&A with a player looking at where they grew up, while ‘The Lowdown’ delves into the archives to see what was happening on the date of one player’s birth. There is also an eight-page interview with a current squad member and ‘On the Spot’ – another Q&A – as well as a couple of pages for younger fans.
The section on the visitors to Goodison Park covers eight pages, opening with a history of the opposition including honours, and information on record holders, the club badge, and their home ground. Following this is a two-page action shot from a past match-up with the visitors. There is also a page of stats and a short profile of a ‘key man’ to look out for, with four pages of pen-pics for the full squad completing the section. All nicely put together, with good use made of the opponent’s colours, but the section feels rather light on readable content.
Club information is presented in some depth, with plenty of information about Everton’s other teams. There is a feature on one of the players from each of the club’s women’s team and the under-23s, as well as a page of Academy news, with a detailed statistics section towards the back of the programme covering each of Everton’s sides. In addition to the usual manager and captain columns, there are various pages of news and updates on the club’s community work.
The overall impression is of a programme that is certainly well put together, but which lacks the quality or depth of content to stand comparison with the league’s better issues.
Score 30/40 – would really benefit from a few chunkier articles and more retro content.
Leeds United (v Leicester City 07/11/21)
£3.50 (100 pp / 71.5 net / P)
Leeds United’s programme shows some improvements from last season. The issue has increased from 84 pages to 100, providing the space for some additional content to be provided. The design of the programme has also improved, with some recurring motifs used throughout, and good use of yellow to add some colour to the pages.
The pick of the features is ‘Double Chasers’, which turns back the clock to the 1971/72 season, when Leeds were chasing the double under Don Revie. The club ultimately finished runners-up in the league but triumphed in the FA Cup Final against Arsenal. The article covers key stories from the season, with match information and stats, as well as pictures from the time, and programme covers from the featured matches.
In terms of other content, ‘Memory Match’ looks back to a past meeting between Leeds and their opponents, with a match report, stats, pictures, and the programme cover from the day. There is also an eight-page feature on one current member of the first team squad – which includes a couple of pages of stats and career landmarks – and several single-page columns from various contributors. For younger fans, the programme offers a two-page ‘Kids Zone’ section.
There are eight pages in all devoted to covering the team visiting Elland Road – mostly taken up with a couple of articles. The first of these looks at the team’s form, before the second casts an eye over the club’s squad, with pictures of key players. There is also a manager profile and various statistical items, as well as a page called ‘Ask Away’ – where a visiting supporter asks questions about their team.
Each issue includes an impressive amount of information about all aspects of the club. As well as the usual columns from head coach and captain, the Chief Executive contributes his thoughts over two pages. There is coverage of previous matches, with plenty of pictures sitting alongside the match details, as well as a few pages of news. Leeds’ other teams are covered in some depth, with a total of ten pages allocated to the under-23s, under-18s, and women’s teams, including match information, pictures, results, tables, and appearance records, in addition to a four-page first-team stats section. There are also pages covering the club’s Community Foundation and the official Supporters’ Club.
This season’s Leeds programme is certainly an upgrade on last year’s issue, although it still lacks the level of content to stand comparison with the best in the league.
Score 30/40 – an improvement from last season, with the 71/72 feature being a stand-out.
Leicester City (v Burnley 25/09/21)
£3.00 (84 pp / 66 net / P)
The Foxes have produced a programme of a consistently high standard for many years now and this season’s is no exception. Packed full of interesting, well-researched original content, and with extensive information on both Leicester and their match opponents, this is a very classy issue. The programme also benefits from design and layout work across its 84 perfect-bound pages that demonstrates the benefits of keeping things simple.
The central feature of the programme is an extended historical section under the title ‘City Heritage’, which pulls together a first-class selection of retro features. ‘Former Player Remembers’ takes the form of an interview with one ex-Leicester player over five pages – reflecting on their time with the Foxes and other key career memories. ‘Football Pioneers’ comes out of the club’s partnership with De Montfort University, in a continuing feature that profiles those players who “contributed to the growth and development of the game”.
‘Programme Vault’ looks at matchday programmes from each of four seasons where the cover design featured something other than a simple player image. ‘Leicester City Locations’ is another fascinating historical piece, which examines places of significance in the history of the club. The piece is accompanied by various images, including maps and documents that help bring the story to life. ‘Unseen Treasures’ spotlights various items from the club’s archives, while ‘A World in One City’ spotlights overseas players who have represented Leicester, and ‘City in 100 Players’ provides profiles of the greatest players to have appeared for the club in their 137-year history.
This consistently high-quality content includes several of the best and most original features produced by any club during the 2021/22 season, with great credit due to all involved in compiling the various articles. In addition to the City Heritage section, each issue also carries an extended player interview over eight pages, a column from former player and now club ambassador Alan Birchenall MBE, and a page of content for junior supporters.
The visitors section extends to 12 pages, with a double-page opening picture spread that shows an image from a recent match. A brief introductory article sits alongside club details, head-to-head information, and current season stats. There is a full-page profile of the team’s manager, and player profiles for ‘The Key Three’ and ‘The Main Threat’. ‘A Little Bit of History’ tells the story of a notable match from the visiting club’s past, while ‘Derby Days’ looks at the club’s main local rivals, examining the history between them. ‘Captain Fantastic’ meanwhile is a new feature for the 2021/22 season, spotlighting a current or former captain of the opposition who has made a special contribution to the club. There is also a short article that looks at the most recent meeting of the two teams. Overall, an excellent level of coverage for the visiting team.
Each issue also offers up a detailed look at all aspects of Leicester City, with coverage of the club’s women’s team worthy of note. There are six pages of coverage for the team newly promoted to the WSL for the 2021/22 season, including a player interview and a record of results and fixtures. There are also six pages on the club’s academy, a first-team stats section that covers three pages, and information on the club’s community work.
Overall, a fantastic issue that provides some of the best reading to be found in any current programme. Blended with simple but effective page designs and in-depth club and opposition coverage, the Leicester issue has a coherent and logical flow that makes it stand out as one of the league’s best programmes.
Score 38/40 – the pick of the issues for 21/22 – a programme that excels in every respect.
Liverpool (v Newcastle United 16/12/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 65 net / P)
In recent years, we’ve come to expect at least one lengthy feature within Liverpool’s programme, and this season is no exception, with a well-written article called ’30 Years of the Premier League’. This looks at a story from Liverpool’s more recent history, covering six pages. For example, in the Newcastle issue, the focus was on former player Stan Collymore, who so memorably scored the winning goal in the classic clash between the teams in the 1995/96 season. The article takes that goal as a starting point to explore Collymore’s wider record with the club.
Other content includes a couple of interviews with current players and the familiar ‘Anfield Extra’ – an eight-page fan-focused section. ‘Different League’ turns the attention to goings-on in other countries, with various Liverpool-related updates. There are also a few pages that provide a reminder of recent games against Liverpool’s opponents, as well as ‘Countdown to Kick Off’ and ‘Head 2 Head’, which preview the day’s fixture with stats and news.
The section on the visitors to Anfield has just five dedicated pages. The opening columns provide a brief scene-setter, with an image from a recent game, together with information on the players featured. There follows an article on the team’s form, as well as a squad list and a manager profile. A sidebar features information on an item of interest for the visitors, such as the history of their club crest or a look at their kits for the current season. In related content, ‘Back Story’ looks at a past meeting between the two teams with pictures from the day and a report on the game. In the Newcastle issue the article turned back the clock to Kevin Keegan’s return to Anfield with the Magpies in a 1984 FA Cup tie.
In terms of club information, each issue offers a page of news for the Academy and women’s teams, plus a separate page of results and fixtures for the under-23s, under-18s, and Liverpool Women. Previous match coverage includes a report, stats, and line-up details, while there is a five-page first-team stats section, and the usual columns from manager and captain.
Unfortunately, the programme has lost a few of the features that were included in last season’s issue, and the overall feel of the issue suffers as a result.
Score 27/40 – would be strengthened by some additional retro features and stronger opposition coverage.
Manchester City (v Crystal Palace 30/10/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 68 net / P)
After last year’s webpage ‘programme’ City have thankfully returned to producing a printed issue for the 2021/22 season – an 84-page, perfect-bound edition.
Perhaps the best feature within the programme is ‘City Reflections’ – a retro column from Gary James – which takes a different theme each issue and offers some good in-depth insight and statistics over four pages. This includes some notes on the average attendances achieved by City and the visiting club. For example, the Crystal Palace issue saw James examine City’s fortunes in the few years immediately prior to, and following, the introduction of the Premier League in 1992. Each issue also includes an interview with a current player – nicely presented over six pages; a short interview with one former City player; and ‘What’s in a Name?’ – which looks at one City player and highlights their key attributes and notable moments from their career using the letters of their name. Photographer and City fan Kevin Cummins introduces a selection of some of his favourite images – demonstrating the connection with Manchester’s music scene with spreads on bands such as the Happy Mondays and the Charlatans. There is also a short junior section under the heading ‘City Kids’, and ‘Buzz Word’ – a column from former City favourite Mike Summerbee.
Opposition coverage is rather limited – with only four dedicated pages on the day’s visitors, plus some related articles. The section offers up a head coach profile, basic player biographies – including a pen-pic of ‘One to Watch’, a ten-year record, and a form guide. The associated articles include ‘Last Time We Met’, which has notes on the previous meeting of the two teams, as well as pictures and line-up information; ‘Head-to-Head’, which compares two opposing players with their respective profiles; and ‘Played for Both’, providing a profile of one player to have represented both teams.
Every issue also contains a solid amount of club information, with some fine coverage of City’s women’s team, development squad, and academy team – each of which has two pages of news, match updates, and statistics. As well as three pages of first-team records, there is news from the Official Supporters’ Club, information about City in the Community – which this season marks 35 years of operations, and coverage of previous games in ‘Match Action’.
This is probably the best programme City have produced for several seasons now, which is an encouraging development, although it nevertheless lacks the calibre of content of the league’s best issues.
Score 28/40 – a promising return to printed programmes from City with hopefully more to come.
Manchester United (v Aston Villa 25/09/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 61 net / S)
United Review returns for 2021/22 in its familiar square shape. As usual, the programme is notable for its high-class design work, with plenty of eye-catching page layouts that make full use of the space available.
The programme takes a different approach to original content than many issues, with fewer recurring features and more one-off articles that are often related to recent on the pitch events. In the Aston Villa issue, there was a column called ‘Learning on Loan’, featuring profiles of various United players who have developed their skills on loan to other clubs. ‘Meet the Fan’ is an interview with a supporter who has been represented in the ‘handshake’ illustration that has adorned the cover of United’s programme for decades. One feature that is present on a regular basis is a two-page column from Paddy Crerand that this season includes ‘Paddy’s A-Z’ – described as “an alphabetical journey down memory lane”. Each issue also features player interviews as well as a three-page junior fans section.
The opposition section covers eight pages, each of which is well laid out with impressive use made of the team’s colours. The opening page gives club facts and some pictures from around their home ground, before ‘Talking Points’ examines the team’s fortunes, including some notes on what to expect tactically. A stats page provides a head-to-head record, key club stats, and the most recent Premier League line-up, while ‘In the Spotlight’ profiles four key players as well as the club’s manager, with full squad listings on two sidebars. ‘The Time Vault’ is a well-written feature, looking at various stories from the club’s history, accompanied by some retro images, and the section is completed by ‘Opposition Q&A’, in which a former player associated with the visiting club is interviewed and offers their thoughts on the team’s prospects.
Club information consists of a column from the manager, ‘Worth Knowing’, which collates recent news and other goings-on from around the club – as well as noting landmark occasions, and a couple of pages on the work of United’s Foundation. Unfortunately, not every issue provides updates from the club’s other teams, but when it is included, there is a solid overview of the academy and women’s teams. The first-team stats section is very comprehensive, covering four pages and including a two-page results and fixtures spread that makes excellent use of the width afforded by the programme’s shape. ‘The Month Ahead’ meanwhile picks out key dates for the diary, including fixtures for each of United’s various teams.
Whilst there is plenty to like about United Review, the approach to original content can leave certain issues feeling lighter in reading than others. This is a shame given the club’s storied history, with a more consistent approach to content likely to move this programme closer to the league’s best issues.
Score 31/40 – great to look at but could be improved with some more recurring features.
Newcastle United (v Leeds United 17/09/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 66.5 net / P)
The Magpies offer up an 84-page, perfect-bound edition for the 2021/22 season – an issue which contains some of the best historical content of any programme in the league.
Several of these features come from the pen of club historian Paul Joannou. ‘The United History Blog’, for example, offers up various items of interest from Newcastle’s past, alongside the continuing ‘United’s History in 100 Objects’ column that looks at items of Toon memorabilia, and ‘Forgotten Reserves’ – a fascinating article that profiles players who were on the club’s books but never played for the first eleven. Joannou is also the inspiration behind ‘140 Years of Action’, which looks at notable moments from the club’s history – decade by decade. Each article in this series offers something of interest, particularly those in the season’s early issues, which recounted stories from the late 19th century.
‘Programme Matters’ is another great read. This is a three-page feature from columnist Stan Gate, focusing on programmes, teamsheets, ticket stubs, and trading cards with a connection to the day’s opponents. A related column is ‘Collector’s Corner’, profiling one United fan who discusses their collection and highlights some of their favourite and rarest items. It’s refreshing to see this type of article included within the programme, and always interesting to read about how each supporter views their collection.
Another well complied retro feature is ‘Toonament History’, which looks back at various European Championships and World Cups from days gone by and looks at the club’s connections with those tournaments. This is a nicely detailed article, looking at both players and managers, and featuring various stickers from the related Panini sticker album.
There’s plenty of other original content too – including ‘The Toon Tombola’, where a current player answers various random questions; ‘Q&A Revisited’ – which is a new feature for the 2021/22 season, featuring former players answering the same questions as they did during their playing career – alongside a reproduction of the answers they gave first time around; and ‘Fashionably Late’, which recalls memorable last minute goals that the Magpies have scored. Each issue also includes a four-page junior section and an interview with one first-teamer over eight pages.
Club information is also impressively detailed. In addition to a three-page first team stats section, news pages, and columns from manager and captain, there is in-depth coverage of the club’s other teams – the under-23s, under-18s, and women’s team, with plenty of updates, match information and stats, as well as ‘The Academy Diary’ – an interview with one member of the academy teams. Unfortunately, the font size used for the stats in these sections is very small, with this content really deserving a page of its own to make it more readable. There are three pages given over to coverage of previous matches, mostly made up of pictures from the game, but also including some commentary, line-ups, stats, and quotes, and two-pages on the Newcastle United Foundation.
Opposition coverage runs to eight pages, with an introduction that looks at recent form and transfer updates, followed by four pages of pen-pictures and a manager biography. ‘Split Loyalties’ takes a brief look at one player who represented both teams, while ‘Last Time Out’ shows the team’s line-up and formation from their most recent game. One of the highlights of this section is ‘Opposition Scrapbook’ – a nicely designed two-page spread showing pictures from standout moments in the club’s history.
A thoroughly enjoyable read then, with some of the best features around that offer a valuable insight and record of the club’s history.
Score 36/40 – unlucky to miss out on our awards with some features that show great originality.
Norwich City (v Brighton & Hove Albion 16/10/21)
£3.50 (116 pp / 81 net / P)
The Canaries have set high standards with their programmes in recent seasons – collecting both our Gold Award for Programme of the Year during their last season in the top-flight (2019/20) and our Merit Award for the best programme in the Championship for 2020/21. OTBC takes its title from ‘On the Ball City’ – the traditional club song – with each issue running to 116 perfect-bound, A5 pages.
There are several highly readable retro features in every programme, with perhaps the best being ‘A Season Retold’. This turns back the clock 40 years to Norwich’s 1971/72 Division Two title winning campaign, which secured the club’s place in the top-flight of English football for the first time. Over six pages, the feature includes match reports, player profiles, and a stats section that unfolds as the season progresses.
Along similar lines is ‘Seasons in the Sun’, which spotlights a particular campaign that was notable for either Norwich or their opponents, looking at how the season unfolded for both teams, and ‘Great Goals Retold’ looks back on a notable goal from the club’s history, profiling the scorer. ‘A-Z of Norwich City’ goes through the alphabet providing notes on everything from famous players to competitions the club has participated in. ‘Flown From the Nest’ turns its attention to a former player who has recently hit the headlines elsewhere, while ‘Premier League Forgotten XI’ looks at some of the less well-known players to have appeared for Norwich in their ten Premier League seasons to date. There is also a six-page interview with one current member of the Canaries’ squad, as well as an article from former player Darren Eadie, and one of the more substantial junior sections that includes quizzes and ‘Spot the Ball’.
The programme also includes a couple of features providing a supporter’s perspective. ‘My Carrow Road’ is a five-page feature that marks the return of supporters to Carrow Road following the pandemic lockdown by inviting fans to share their memories of the ground. ‘Why We Go’ examines different aspects of the matchday experience, such as ‘Your Seat’, ‘Hope’, and ‘Crunch Ties’. A real range of reading then, with some original ideas and well-written articles that tend to offer more than the content provided by many clubs.
One of the areas in which Norwich’s programme has excelled in recent seasons is the opposition coverage and this season is no different. The section runs to 13 pages and includes an opening article looking at the club’s recent history, which is followed by a ‘Scouting Report’, containing information on how the team play and a formation graphic. There is a one-page manager profile, before ‘Meet the Squad’, which provides football sticker style pen-pics of the first-team squad, with extended notes on the captain and ‘One to Watch’. ‘Away From Home’ looks at the birthplace of one overseas members of the opposition’s team, while ‘Ask the Celebrity’ contains an interview with a well-known supporter of the visiting club. There is no better opposition section among this season’s top-flight issues, with a real depth of coverage on display.
There’s also a wealth of club information included in each programme, including a couple of pages on the club’s foundation and a page for the Canaries Trust. Space is dedicated to coverage of the under-23, under-18 and women’s teams, including interviews, stats, and match updates, with a stats panel of results, fixtures, and league table provided for each team. ‘Loan Round-Up’ meanwhile provides updates on the fortunes of those Norwich players spending the season elsewhere. The first-team stats section includes a well laid-out two-page season spread, as well as the league table and player appearance information.
Another terrific effort from Norwich then, packed with some great reading and lots of information for home and away supporters alike. This is an issue that will surely be in the running for our end of season awards once again.
Score 37/40 – a third award in as many seasons for the Canaries with another fine programme.
Southampton (v West Ham United 11/09/21)
£3.50 (68 pp / 56 net / P)
The cover of Southampton’s issue marks 20 years of the club playing at Saint Mary’s Stadium, with pictures of several players past and present. Inside, each issue has similarities to last season’s programme, being made up of 68 perfect-bound pages and retaining many of the same features.
The main original content is included in a section called ‘The Rest is History’. This includes a feature called ‘That Reminds Me’, in which David Bull recalls stories of interest from the past. ‘Once Known at This Address’ provides a profile of one former player with connections to both the Saints and their visitors for the day. ‘20 Years of Saint Mary’s’ includes a look back at classic matches that have taken place since Southampton’s move to the stadium from the Dell. The article includes a match report, quotes, and line up details. Other original content comes in the form of an interview with a current player, which runs to eight pages, while there is also a seven-page section for junior supporters. Former favourite Francis Benali also contributes a column called ‘The Final Word’.
Opposition coverage is sadly somewhat limited, being restricted to just four pages. These open with a short introductory article on the team’s recent form, before highlighting three key players to watch from the visitors’ ranks. There is also a short profile of the club’s manager. This is followed by an impressive column called ‘Tactical Watch’, which is a well put together piece looking at how the opposing team prefer to play, including their likely line up in a formation graphic, accompanied by brief notes on a few of the players.
Club information includes a couple of pages of content for Southampton’s women’s team, including match updates, player interviews, results, and fixtures, while ‘Inside Staplewood’ is a behind the scenes look are the club’s academy. There is a column from the head coach, a couple of pages of news in ‘Inside SO14’, and a five-page statistics section that includes tables for each of the club’s teams, basic stats for each member of the first team squad, and a traditional fixtures and results spread. Each issue also includes a couple of pages on the Saints Foundation.
The Saints issue is a very tidy programme, featuring nice design touches such as some well-used recurring motifs. However, the issue lacks the depth of content to compete with the better issues in the league and would also benefit from more in-depth coverage of the visiting team.
Score 26/40 – a well-presented programme but would benefit from greater depth in places.
Tottenham Hotspur (v Chelsea 19/09/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 62 net / P)
Tottenham’s 84-page, perfect-bound programme has a similar look to issues from recent seasons, although the amount of original content is still rather limited when compared to the league’s better programmes.
Perhaps the best of the features included here is ‘Paper Chase’, which has club historian John Fennelly looking back at what supporters were reading about in and around the ground on the occasion of a past fixture against the day’s visitors. This includes some notes on the match programme from the day, as well as other news from the time. ‘Treble Top’ is another interesting historical article, looking at Tottenham hat-tricks against the day’s opponents, including some background career information about the players involved.
‘Fifty 50’ marks the occasion of Brentford becoming the 50th club to play in the English top-flight during the Premier League era, profiling Spurs’ record against each of them over the course of the season – looking at the first meeting between the teams, Tottenham’s best win, and memorable goals. There are a couple of supporter-based features, namely ‘In That Number’, with one fan offering their memories of supporting the club, and ‘My First Game’ where a supporter reminisces about the first Spurs fixture they attended. Other content consists of interviews with current and former players, a three-page section for younger fans, and ‘Home and Away’, in which one Spurs player looks at the stadiums that have featured prominently in their careers.
The opposition section is rather limited, being predominantly focused on images of the visiting team’s players, with a few key squad members having brief pen-pictures. These are spread across several pages, with the only other content of note being a short manager profile, a ten-year record for the visiting team, a form guide, and notes on the last meeting between the two clubs. Some additional articles, such as tactical insights and the history of the club, would be welcome here.
Fortunately, club information is more detailed. There are two pages for each of the women’s team, development squad, and academy teams, which are well laid-out over two pages, including match updates, results, fixtures, tables, and pictures, as well as a short interview with one member of the under-18 squad. The usual manager column and news pages are present, while coverage of previous matches is spread over two pages for each game, with pictures and each team’s line-up. The first-team statistics section runs to three pages.
When set against the best issues in the league, the Tottenham programme feels somewhat disjointed, with little coherence in terms of the flow of the issue. There is some worthwhile material included, but more than anything, this feels like an issue in need of a refresh for next season.
Score 27/40 – some worthwhile features but would benefit from some fresh thinking for next season.
Watford (v Wolverhampton Wanderers 11/09/21)
£3.50 (84 pp / 73 net / S)
The Hornets’ programme for 2021/22 is an 84-page issue, with a square shape that is not dissimilar to Manchester United’s familiar programme. This season, each of Watford’s issues commemorates ‘100 Years at the Vic’ with a range of classy cover designs featuring ‘Men Who Made the Vic’, as well as offering a historical section inside the programme.
That section opens with ‘Home Ground Heroes’, which profiles the club legend pictured on the cover, looking over their career and a selection of notable highlights. ‘Limited Editions’ looks back at match programme covers and excerpts from past meetings against the day’s opponents, each accompanied by a report on the game. ‘The Boss Files’ turns the spotlight on those men who have managed the Hornets down the years, while ‘The Last-Minute Club’ recalls memorable late goals from the club’s history. ‘On the Board’ profiles various club officials and decision makers who have been part of Watford’s story, offering an interesting alternative to the bulk of historical feature that focus on players and managers, and providing some insight into some of the off the field issues each person faced. This whole historical section is well compiled, with some interesting reading and well-designed layouts.
The pick of the rest of the content is ‘The Ambassadors’, which provides interviews with former Watford players who have since become ‘Hornets Ambassadors’ – described in the programme as “an informal collective of former players going right back to the 1950s”. There is also an interview with one current Watford player, and an extensive ‘Junior Hornets’ pull-out section in the centre of each issue, featuring quizzes, competitions, and a player poster. ‘Dream Team’ sees one player selecting their ideal five-a-side team from those players they have played with or against.
The opposition section covers eight pages, although the actual amount of content is a touch on the light side. There is an opening two-page spread with an image of one player from the visiting team, recent form, and a head-to-head record. There follows a manager profile and ‘5 Things You (Maybe) Didn’t Know About’, which highlights some lesser-known facts about the opponents. ‘The FM Four’ uses the Football Manager database to spotlight four key opponents – with the remainder of the squad given the usual pen-pic treatment. A few additional features, such as tactical insights, would help to round out this section.
Each issue gathers an impressive amount of club information. As well as the familiar columns from manager and chairman, ‘Voice of the Vic’ provides updates and news from around the club. Previous matches are covered in ‘Action Replay’ – a two-page spread including line-ups, stats, and images from the game. ‘Academy News’ offers updates, interviews, and a results and fixtures spread for Watford’s youth teams, while there are an impressive six pages on the club’s women’s team, and a three-page first-team stats section. ‘Watford Welcomes’ is a page with news from the club’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Team, and there are a couple of pages on Watford’s Community Sports & Education Trust. Another column worthy of note is ‘Team Behind the Team’, which provides interviews with unsung heroes who work behind the scenes for the club.
There’s plenty to like about this Watford issue then, with an excellent historical section and several other worthwhile articles and features that offer something different to the norm.
Score 33/40 – quality historical articles top off a fine overall effort from the Hornets.
West Ham United (v Tottenham Hotspur 24/10/21)
£3.50 (116 pp / 78 net / P)
Last season’s Gold Award winners return for 2021/22 with another very strong programme. Each issue runs to 116 pages, in addition to a separate junior pull-out section.
The pick of the content comes in the ‘Hammers Heritage’ section, which runs to ten pages and includes three highly readable historical features. ‘My West Ham Scrapbook’ kicks off the section. Over five pages it tells the story of a former Hammer, who reminisces on their time with the club. The feature is packed with retro images and press cuttings to complement the stories included. ‘Hammerabilia’ is penned by historian and Hammers fan Steve Marsh, highlighting interesting item of club memorabilia. For example, the Tottenham issue included a focus on cigarette cards produced in the years after the First World War, with notes on some of the rarest items. ‘Programmed’ meanwhile looks at issues for games against the day’s opponents, with information about the programmes (including pictures of their covers) and details of the matches for which they were issued. In addition to these historical articles, each issue includes an extended player interview over nine pages, and a column from Evening Standard Correspondent Ken Dyer, as well as the junior section at the back of the programme.
The visitor’s section covers eight pages, opening with a nicely designed double-page spread showing an image of the club’s stadium or supporters. The other pages also feature some high-class design work, which helps to give this section something of a different feel to the rest of the programme. There is a short article looking at the club’s recent history, together with club records and honours, as well as first-team depth chart that shows the team’s strength in each position on the field. There is a page of tactical analysis, which leads into a look at the visiting team’s players. This is done on more of a narrative basis than the traditional pen-pic approach, going through each area of the team and assessing the players available in those positions. One or two additional features on the opposition would further strengthen this section.
Each issue contains extensive information about all aspects of the club, including several pages of supporter information to enhance the matchday experience. These include ‘Over Land and Sea’, which provides a guide for travelling supporters on upcoming away fixtures, including the club’s European trips this season. There are two pages of news and stats for each of the under-23s, under-18s, and women’s teams, together with ‘Where Are They Now?’ – which traces the fortunes of a former Academy player who didn’t quite make the grade with West Ham – looking at the career they have had after leaving the club. There are a couple of pages on the work of the club’s foundation, and a first-team stats section that includes a detailed two-page season spread with some useful colour coding for the various competitions the club are participating in. ‘The Month Ahead’ looks at West Ham’s upcoming calendar, with information for each of the club’s teams, and there is in-depth coverage of previous matches – spread over two pages each with a detailed report, line-ups, stats, and pictures from the game.
Another high-quality issue from West Ham then, featuring some excellent articles and with comprehensive club information. This year’s programme perhaps doesn’t quite hit the heights reached in last season’s, with a little less in the way of original content and a slightly slimmed down visitor’s section, although it still remains one of the league’s stronger issues.
Score 35/40 – not quite hitting the heights of last season but still a very impressive programme.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (v Manchester United 29/08/21)
£3.50 (100 pp / 80 net / S)
After their ‘double’ issues of last season, Wolves have returned to producing a separate issue for each match – offering up a terrific 100-page issue. Wolves have consistently produced high-quality programmes since their return to the top-flight and claimed a Merit Award in 2019/20 for their outstanding Europa League special editions. This season’s issue is another excellent effort, packed with content and creative design work.
The amount of historical content in the programme is worthy of special mention, with each issue including a dedicated section called ‘The Old Gold’, which collects various features over ten pages. ‘Flashback’ reproduces several images from a meeting with the day’s opponents, while ‘Cult Heroes’ tells the story of those players who were favourites of the fans. ‘Play / Delete / Rewind’ has one former player looking back over their Wolves career and picking out their highlights and lowlights. In ‘71/72’ historian Clive Corbett revisits Wolves’ fortunes from 50 years ago, recounting matches from the time, complete with newspaper clippings, from a season in which the club reached the final of the UEFA Cup.
In addition to the features in this section, each issue also includes an article called ‘Classic Clash’, which reflects on a memorable meeting between Wolves and their visitors. This is a well-written piece by Clive Corbett and Steve Gordos that includes plenty of information about the match, as well as pictures and clippings from the time.
Other content includes a preview of the day’s match from club legend Steve Bull, who reflects on Wolves’ form and runs their rule over their matchday opponents. There is a seven-page interview with one current player, while ‘Friends Reunited’ looks at when one member of each squad lined up on the same team. ‘Preparing to Battle’ goes through the pre-match rituals of a member of the Wolves squad, and ‘My Perfect Wolves Player’ sees one commentator piecing together their ideal player from the attributes of various others from down the years. There is also a four-page section for junior fans in the centre of the programme.
The opposition section of the programme runs to seven dedicated pages, opening with news from the club and recent results. There is a well put-together ‘Scouting Report’, which identifies potential threats in the opposition ranks, and shows the line-up from the club’s last match in a formation graphic, with the roles of a few key players highlighted. ‘Past X Present’ compares four club legends with their modern-day counterparts – looking at managers, captains, academy graduates, and goal-scorers. There are no standard pen-pics or manager profile however, which is a shame given the size of the programme.
Club information is presented in impressive depth. For example, a section on Wolves’ Academy runs to ten pages, including match updates for the under-23s and under-18s, together with notes from the respective head coaches. There is also information on players out on loan, a ‘Getting to Know’ article on one player, and ‘Stars of the Future’, which examines the prospects of one academy youngster. ‘Career Paths’ meanwhile traces the career of a former academy player after they left the club.
There are also four pages dedicated to Wolves Women, with news and an extensive interview with one member of the squad. Previous matches are covered over a couple of pages, with line-ups, a match summary, quotes, and images from key moments. Each issue features news on the activities of the Wolves Foundation, and there are articles on groups such as Wolves Disabled Supporters Association. In addition, the programme offers the usual manager and captain columns, and a five-page statistics section.
Overall then, another fine programme from Wolves, containing plenty of interesting features, and showcasing some high-quality design work that make each issue a pleasure to look through.
Score 35/40 – only a more in-depth opposition section away from awards recognition – an excellent issue.