2025/26 Programme of the Season Award

To be announced in June 2026

 

Arsenal’s programme retains the format of recent seasons, with a 92-page issue that excels in delivering news and updates across all areas of the club.

Each issue includes a section titled Arsenal Acts, which highlights some of the club’s key goals. This provides updates on its sustainability initiatives, including efforts to offset the environmental impact of producing the matchday programme. There are also two pages each dedicated to Arsenal in the Community and the Arsenal Foundation, both of which showcase the club’s wider social impact. In addition, an extensive Around the Academy section features match reports, statistics and interviews with the club’s under-21 and under-18 players. The women’s team also receives detailed coverage, alongside the usual statistical section, which includes reports from recent matches.

The programme offers a respectable amount of original content. Alongside the familiar interviews with past and present players, there are a couple of new features for the 2025/26 season. My Collection gives supporters the opportunity to showcase their memorabilia, while Elite Achievement marks Arsenal’s 100th consecutive season in the top flight with a look back at significant campaigns in the club’s history. Each instalment provides a narrative of the season, along with results, a league table, key figures, and a reproduction of the matchday programme from the time.

Coverage of the visitors includes notes on recent developments at the club, a brief managerial profile, and pen pictures of selected players. A Scouting Report then offers further insight, examining tactics, style of play, strengths and weaknesses, while Here & There profiles a player who has represented both sides.

The programme is cleanly designed, with generally unfussy page layouts, bold headings, and clear columns of text. However, the overall feel would benefit from a more structured flow to the content.

Perhaps lacking the depth of original, long-form features found in the league’s strongest programmes, the Arsenal issue is nevertheless impressive, offering supporters an unrivalled level of club coverage.

 

Aston Villa (v Fulham 28/09/25)

£4.00 (84 pp / 70 net / P)

Last season’s Bronze Award winners return with another impressive programme. For the 2025/26 season, Villa have moved to a larger page format while once again offering 84 pages with minimal advertising content.

The design work is particularly noteworthy. Each issue features an illustrated front cover, typically depicting players and supporters in and around Villa Park. Inside, the pages are cleanly presented, with clear, unfussy layouts, effective use of the club’s colours, and highly readable text.

One of the programme’s strengths in recent years has been its historical content, and this season’s edition once again includes a ten-page section titled Vintage Villa. The opening feature, Glory Days, looks back to the 1995/96 season, when the club won the League Cup and finished fourth in the league under the management of Brian Little. Another article examines Villa’s best goalkeepers over the years, while B6 Bookshelf highlights publications about the club and Memorabilia Memories showcases items from different eras of its history. Player by Numbers revisits the career of a former Villa player, while Cover Story reproduces a programme cover from a past meeting with the day’s opponents.

Additional content includes My Villa Dream Team, a two-page feature presenting the selections of a former Villa player, and AVFC – The Obsession, in which supporters reflect on their favourite players and matches. Former striker and radio commentator Garry Thompson contributes View From the Press Box, while club ambassador Ian Taylor offers his thoughts in Tayls Talking. Each issue also includes a dedicated six-page section aimed at younger supporters.

The visitors’ section runs to eight pages and includes brief notes on the club’s recent form, alongside a list of honours and Major Moments from their history. There are profiles of the manager and three key players, as well as sticker-style images of the wider squad. The standout feature here is a two-page Tactical Breakdown, which offers insight into the team’s setup, key battles, and potential areas to exploit.

The programme is also strong on club content, with news pages, detailed reviews of recent matches, updates on the club’s Foundation, and coverage of the academy and women’s teams. A well-presented two-page results and fixtures spread is also included.

All in all, this is another strong offering from Villa, with the depth and range of features standing out as a particular highlight.

 

Bournemouth (v Newcastle United 21/09/25)

£4.00 (84 pp / 59 net / P)

This season’s Bournemouth programme lacks the depth of the best Cherries issues from recent years. Missing the kind of long-form features that distinguish the league’s better programmes, Matchday offers relatively little in the way of truly engaging editorial content.

The only historical feature of note is Bourne Legacy, a four-page retrospective charting the career of a former Cherries favourite. The article recounts the story of their time with the club over four pages, with plenty of images accompanying the text. Elsewhere, a first-team player interview runs to ten pages, although much of that space is given over to imagery rather than text. Continuing this emphasis on visual content, Through the Lens provides a further collection of photographs from around the club. The programme also offers a four-page section for junior supporters.

The visitors’ section runs to seven pages, although it too places greater emphasis on images than written content. The opening page presents key facts about the club, alongside recent results. Four in Focus provides brief profiles of key members of the opposition team, while Scout Report looks in more detail at their most recent fixture – featuring their starting eleven and formation, match statistics, and photographs from the game. Additional information highlights the visitors’ leading performers, including those with the most appearances and goals.

Club coverage includes a three-page manager column, accompanied by various images of the manager from around the training ground and matchday environment, as well as updates from the club’s Community Sports Trust, and a basic first-team statistics section. Notes from the Women’s Team Head Coach, Development Squad Manager, and the Academy Manager, provide updates on recent performances and upcoming challenges. These are complemented by Get to Know, a five-page interview with a member of the Academy setup. Coming Up meanwhile previews Bournemouth’s next fixture, with reference to past meetings between the clubs, as well as practical details for travelling supporters.

The programme’s design is generally tidy, although the arrangement of different sections creates a somewhat disjointed feel. Certain stylistic choices – most obviously the use of italicised capital letters – hinders readability in places.

A programme that prioritises visual presentation over editorial depth, Matchday lacks the calibre and range of content needed to be truly engaging, or to fully justify the £4 price.

 

Brentford (v Manchester United 27/09/25)

£3.00 (68 pp / 52 net / S)

Brentford’s programme has undergone a number of changes in recent years, perhaps most notably a drop in page-count from a high of 100 pages in the 2022/23 season. The result of this has been a reduction in original content, with each issue now built around two central features – one historical and one contemporary.

100 Years in Red and White ties in with the club marking a century of playing in their famous red and white striped shirts, profiling some of the key players that have called Brentford home during their careers. Running to five pages, it provides an in-depth look at a selection of the Bees’ most notable players. The other extended feature, spread over 11 pages, is an interview with a first-team player, who also features on the programme cover.

The visitors’ section is among the programme’s strongest elements and makes effective use of the opposition’s colours throughout. An opening article looks at recent developments with the visitors, while Roll Call offers a squad list and The Boss profiles the club’s manager. Two pages are devoted to the team’s most recent match, with a report alongside key statistics and a formation graphic. Four in Focus spotlights key members of the opposition squad, while Hot Off the Press takes the form of an interview with a journalist covering the club, offering useful insight into current issues and what to expect from the day’s fixture.

The section is enhanced by several analytical features. Stat Attack compares a range of metrics for the two teams, including expected goals, a goal map, and a strike timeline, while Head to Head highlights a key individual battle to look out for during the game. Former Bees favourite Ben Burgess rounds off the coverage with his Big Match Preview, offering his thoughts on the game ahead.

Club information includes coverage of Brentford’s various teams – their under-18s, Brentford B, and Brentford Women – with a focus on interviews with squad members. While these features offer useful insight into the individuals involved, they do come at the expense of more detailed statistical information such as results and league tables. The first-team statistics section comprises a fixtures and results two-page spread, as well as the Premier League table.

Despite the reduction in size over the last few seasons, there remains much to admire about Brentford’s programme. The design work is clean and consistent, while the visitors’ section is a definite highlight. However, a limited range of original content inevitably makes it difficult for the programme to compete with the Premier League’s strongest offerings.

 

Brighton & Hove Albion (v Manchester City 31/08/25)

£4.00 (68 pp / 45.5 net / S)

Brighton have issued a series of retro-style covers for their 2025/26 programmes, with each edition featuring artwork inspired by designs from the club’s past. Inside, a short section explains the thinking behind each cover, outlining the sources of inspiration.

Among the regular features is Get With the Programme, which extends the retro theme by spotlighting the issues referenced in the cover designs. Each article provides detailed information on the seasons covered, including the number of programmes produced and their key features.

Other historical content includes Hello… Goodbye, which explores the circumstances surrounding the arrival and departure of a former player. Chairman Paul Barber’s column returns, once again offering insight into matters on and off the pitch, and providing a welcome line of communication with supporters. There is also a four-page interview with a first-team player.

Opposition coverage is relatively limited. An introductory article sets the scene with information on the visiting club’s form and outlook, before Four to Watch profiles key players from the opposition ranks. There are also notes on previous meetings between Albion and their opponents, along with a profile of a player who has represented both clubs. Perhaps the most useful feature is The Opposing View, which offers the perspective of a contributor following the visiting side.

Club content includes the latest news, photos and match statistics, alongside two pages each dedicated to the women’s team, under-21s and under-18s. There is also a well-presented results and fixtures spread, as well as a couple of pages covering the work of the club’s Foundation.

The Brighton programme has a similar feel to editions from recent seasons, with bright, well-designed layouts and text typically displayed on plain or light-coloured backgrounds. One notable drawback is the relatively high ratio of advertising to editorial content – higher than any other programme in the Premier League this season. Nevertheless, there remains a solid amount of content, and the choice of topics, along with the quality of the writing, makes for an enjoyable read.

 

Burnley (v Liverpool 14/09/25)

£4.00 (68 pp / 51 net / P)

For a club that previously claimed our Gold Award in 2017/18, this season’s Burnley programme is somewhat underwhelming. Featuring just 51 pages of content, many of which are rather sparsely filled, Turf struggles to justify its £4 cover price.

Design work throughout is functional but basic. Most pages feature black text on white backgrounds with the club’s familiar claret colour used sparingly in page headings and sidebars. A good example of the latter is an attractive Club History, which appears at the start of the programme and charts Burnley’s major honours, accompanied by images of the trophies they have won along the way.

The best feature in the programme is The 200 Club, in which club historian Shaun Borman looks at those players who have turned out on more than 200 occasions for Burnley. Alongside details of each player’s first and last appearances for the Clarets, there is a short biography that complies key facts about their time with the club.

In Behind the Lens, club photographers select some of their favourite images and tell the stories behind them, while Claret and You explores one supporter’s experience following Burnley, including their favourite moment watching the club.

Opposition coverage is limited, with four pages looking at the club’s honours, their most recent game, a Club Classic that highlights a notable match from the past, and pen-pics of the manager and key players. The programme also includes Memorable Moments, which recalls five meetings against the day’s opponents, and Pick N Mix, which spotlights five players who have represented both teams.

Elsewhere in the programme is a head-to-head record graphic and a look back at the last meeting between the clubs. This is a welcome addition, but also serves as an example of some of the programme’s design and layout shortcomings. The text is rather small and made more difficult to read by the use of white lettering on a coloured background. The feature is also separated from the main opposition section, disrupting the overall flow of content.

Club coverage includes columns from the manager and chairman, basic coverage of the club’s women’s and academy teams, and a couple of pages on Burnley FC in the Community. Match reports are handled well in Last Time Out, offering a detailed write-up of each game, as well as full line-ups for both sides and key match facts. Each issue also includes a four-page statistics section and a look ahead to Burnley’s next home fixture.

For a club with such a storied history, it feels as if Burnley’s programme is missing an opportunity in its lack of historical features – the kind of more in-depth articles that elevate the better programmes in the league. In the absence of such content, the Burnley issue feels rather perfunctory.

 

Chelsea (v Brighton & Hove Albion 27/09/25)

£4.00 (52 pp / 39 net / S)

Chelsea’s programme continues in the same format as recent seasons, offering just 52 pages (of which 39 are editorial content) for a £4 price tag – giving it the lowest ‘value score’ in the league. Nevertheless, it is well laid out and still provides a respectable amount of reading.

There are a number of key features in each issue. Over Land and Sea is a four-page article exploring the stories of former Blues from around the world, including interviews with the players themselves. Legacy, also running to four pages, examines various aspects of Chelsea’s history, often with a link to the day’s opponents. Each issue also includes an interview with a current first-team player, while In Focus offers a shorter profile of a Blues player in the headlines. Another regular feature, Through the Sun and Rain, presents the recollections of long-standing Chelsea supporters.

The opposition section is among the most limited in the league. The main two-page spread provides only basic biographical details for the visiting squad, alongside a form guide and a formation graphic based on their most recent league line-up. Additional content includes a couple of pages outlining Chelsea’s head-to-head record against their opponents, supported by statistics such as milestone matches and recent meetings.

In terms of club content, each issue includes columns from the manager and captain, a page dedicated to the Chelsea Foundation, and two pages each covering the women’s team, under-21s and under-18s. A detailed statistical section is also included towards the back of the programme.

The programme is cleanly designed, with simple, well-structured page layouts. Most of the content is presented as black text on white backgrounds in a straightforward two-column format, and the overall flow is logical, with related features grouped together. However, it is ultimately held back by its relatively low page count compared to other programmes in the league.

 

Crystal Palace (v Bournemouth 18/10/25)

£3.50 (80 pp / 68 net / P)

The Palace programme benefits from high-quality design work, with consistent layouts and good use of the club’s familiar red and blue colours, giving each issue a bright and engaging feel. Content is well-organised, with related features grouped into clearly defined sections.

The standout material can be found in the Down the Decades section. To mark the club’s historic FA Cup win in the 2024/25 season, FA Cup Archives explores Palace’s history through the lens of a series of classic cup ties. Each match is revisited in the main narrative, with Player in Focus offering a biography of one member of the Palace team involved in the game. Campaign Capsule broadens the scope to tell the story of some memorable seasons for the club, examining the club’s fortunes and the players who shaped them.

Each programme also offers an in-depth interview with a first-team player, alongside the thoughts of former Palace striker Kevin Phillips on the latest developments at Selhurst Park. International Eagles ties in with the 2026 World Cup – identifying Palace connections with the nations taking part in the tournament. Behind the Lens showcases images captured by the club’s official photographer, while Commentator’s Corner recalls how various key moments from the past were covered on television.

Each issue features extensive opposition coverage, opening with a feature reviewing the team’s season so far alongside a closer look at their most recent match. A Season to Remember highlights a memorable campaign for the visitors, before the current first-team squad is profiled across four pages, with key players given short individual pen-pics. Talking Tactics is a welcome inclusion, offering analysis of the team’s style of play, a formation graphic showing the team’s shape, and details of one Player to Watch. Both Sides of the Fence recounts the story of one player to have appeared for both Palace and their opponents, while When We Last Met looks back at what happened when the two teams last faced off.

Inside Palace brings together information from around the club, including news, results, fixtures and league tables for the club’s academy and women’s teams, alongside player interviews. The club’s charitable work is covered with a look at the Palace for Life Foundation, while there is coverage too of Palace for All – the club’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion initiative. In addition, each issue offers two-page columns from the manager, captain, and chairman, and a statistics section at the back of the programme.

Palace’s programme has been one of the most improved Premier League issues in recent times, successfully blending some quality original content with attractive page designs. This season’s programme continues that trend, with a polished and enjoyable read that reflects the club’s on-pitch successes.

 

Everton (v Aston Villa 13/09/25)

£4.00 (84 pp / 62 net / P)

Everton’s traditionally strong programme has been a consistent performer in recent years, without ever quite challenging for our end of season honours. This season’s programme continues in that vein, combining good-quality content with attractive presentation.

Among the original content are various historical pieces, including a contribution from the Everton Heritage Society. A five-page interview with a former player reflects on both their time at the club and their career after football, while On This Day revisits notable events that took place on the same date in years gone by.

A number of features focus on the current squad. The Big Interview provides a detailed conversation with a first-team player, combining substantial written content with a generous selection of photographs. Take Your Pick sees another player discuss the figures who inspired them during their career, while My Everton offers a supporter’s perspective on their association with the club and their favourite memories following the Toffees.

The visitors’ section runs to eight pages. The opening spread presents key facts and honours alongside The Legend, a short profile of a notable figure from the opposition’s history. The Lowdown gathers information on members of the current squad, including the club captain, while also featuring a graphic showing the visitors’ shape in their most recent fixture. A squad list is provided, together with profiles of three key players and the manager. Classic Encounter rounds off the section with a look back to a memorable meeting between Everton and their opponents. Rather than relying on retrospective analysis, the feature reproduces a contemporary newspaper report from the time, providing an interesting period perspective on the match.

Club coverage is another area of strength. Alongside columns from the manager and captain, there are news updates and dedicated sections covering the women’s team, under-21s, and academy squads. Coverage of recent matches focuses primarily on photography, supported by some key match facts. The statistics section is particularly comprehensive, featuring a well-presented first-team results and fixtures spread, together with the results, fixtures and league tables of the club’s other sides. The section also includes short articles highlighting connections between the two clubs, as well as Stats Corner, which sets out Everton’s head-to-head record against the visitors to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The programme also benefits from attractive design work. The club’s colours are used effectively throughout, while a complementary palette helps distinguish the various sections of the issue. Given the volume of text on many pages, the designers have sensibly opted for high-contrast backgrounds that aid readability.

Another impressive programme from Everton, this season’s edition continues the club’s track-record of providing a consistently high-quality matchday publication.

 

Fulham (v Leeds United 13/09/25)

£4.00 (104 pp / 82 net / P)

Fulham’s programme has been one of the strongest in recent seasons – twice featuring in our end-of-season awards and taking top spot in 2018/19. This season’s edition is hugely impressive once again, offering a significant volume of high-quality original content.

Each issue contains more than a dozen features, including several strong historical pieces. Among the highlights is Fulham’s Best Cup Runs, a four-page feature recounting the club’s near misses in major cup competitions, supported by a wealth of photographs from the time. Cult Heroes is another standout, running to six pages and featuring interviews with fan favourites from the past, conducted by Andy Greeves. At the opposite end of the spectrum, One and Only sees Cathryn Greeves profile players who made just a single appearance for the club, reflecting on both their time at Fulham and their wider careers.

Campaigns Past revisits previous seasons in English football, focusing on Fulham’s fortunes alongside key developments across the division. Golden Goal recalls memorable strikes from down the years, while Life Through a Lens showcases lesser-seen images from club photographer Ken Coton. Forever Fulham takes a hall-of-fame approach, featuring interviews with former players reflecting on their time at the club.

Supporter-focused content is equally strong. Through Fulham Eyes offers the personal recollections of long-time fan Roger Smith, while A Love Supreme gives another supporter the opportunity to share their story. Tales from the Terrace, written by regular contributor John Shirley, explores supporter culture through his experiences following the club. There are also columns from former midfielder Robert Wilson and FourFourTwo editor – and Fulham supporter – James Andrew, alongside an extended nine-page interview with a current first-team player.

The visitors’ section is among the most impressive in the league, running to ten pages and combining analysis of the current side with historical content. The Introduction reviews recent form, followed by pen pictures of four Ones to Watch and the manager, accompanied by key statistics. Across the Divide provides insight from an opposition supporter, while Managing to Succeed profiles notable managers from the club’s past. In the Spotlight rounds off the section with a collection of facts about the visitors.

Club coverage is comprehensive. The programme includes columns from the manager and captain, while White Bites rounds up the latest club news. Four pages are dedicated to the club’s Foundation, and coverage beyond the men’s first team is particularly strong, with ten pages devoted to the women’s and academy sides, including match reports, interviews, results and fixtures. A further three pages are given over to first-team statistics.

From a design perspective, the programme keeps things pleasingly simple. Each double-page spread features black edging, with dark text set predominantly against white backgrounds and sparing use of red in headings and page numbers. The restrained use of photography helps maintain a clean and uncluttered feel.

This is another excellent programme from Fulham, with the sheer breadth and quality of original content placing it among the very best in the league.

 

Leeds United (v Tottenham Hotspur 04/10/25)

£4.00 (100 pp / 71 net / P)

Leeds mark their return to the Premier League with an impressive programme that excels in both presentation and the breadth of its club coverage.

The programme is among the most visually attractive in the league, benefiting from a consistent approach to page design, including recurring motifs on the page edgings. Intelligent use of the club’s colours—particularly white and yellow—helps create a bright, clean aesthetic that is maintained across the issue.

In terms of editorial content, the Leeds issue offers several original features. Dream Team sees a former player who turned out for both Leeds and the day’s visitors to Elland Road selecting their best eleven from former teammates. They Also Served profiles players who made fewer than ten appearances for the club, examining the circumstances behind their brief spells and what became of them after leaving Elland Road.

The United Nations of Leeds ties in with the upcoming World Cup, recalling previous meetings with the visitors through the lens of the international players involved. Famous Fans features an interview with a well-known supporter, while club legend Eddie Gray contributes a regular column. There is also an extensive eight-page interview with a current first-team player, accompanied by a page summarising key career milestones and statistics.

The visitors’ section extends to nine pages. An opening feature sets the scene for the match by examining recent developments, transfer activity, and current form, while also analysing the opposition’s most recent line-up and tactical shape. This is followed by profiles of the first eleven, notes on the other squad members, and a look at the club’s manager. A page of head-to-head information includes the last meeting between the teams, as well as overall statistics, and notable match-ups. Ask Away adds further insight through the perspective of a supporter from the visiting club.

Club information is particularly comprehensive. Alongside the familiar manager and captain columns, there are several pages of news from around the club. Recent matches are documented through photography, full line-ups, and match statistics. The Leeds United Supporters Club has a dedicated page showcasing its various branches, while updates are also provided on the work of the Leeds United Foundation. Each issue offers impressively detailed coverage of the club’s women’s team, under-21s, and under-18s, with updates, match reports, and statistics, while a further four-pages are given over to first-team statistics.

This is a strong programme from Leeds, with few notable weaknesses. While additional historical features would help elevate the editorial content further, the combination of attractive design, extensive club coverage, and solid original features places it among the league’s better offerings.

 

Liverpool (v Sunderland 03/12/25)

£4.50 (84 pp / 60.5 net / P)

Liverpool’s programme returns with a similar look and feel to last season’s edition, once again featuring 84 pages – albeit at an increased price of £4.50, making it the first standard Premier League programme to exceed the £4 mark.

From a design perspective, the issue is something of a mixed bag. Many page layouts are well handled, with clean columns of text and effective use of the club’s colours, while others feel cluttered and overly busy. There is also an overreliance on white – and occasionally yellow – text on red backgrounds, which, particularly at smaller sizes, lacks the contrast required for comfortable reading.

Each issue contains a solid amount of content, with several notable historical features. The standout is At the Double, which turns back the clock 40 years to tell the story of Liverpool’s 1985/86 double-winning season. The narrative charts how the Reds secured both league and cup under player-manager Kenny Dalglish, supported by player profiles, photographs, and programme covers from the time.

Back Issues continues the retro theme, with Andy Marsden – compiler of Liverpool Football Programmes: A Collector’s Guide – spotlighting a programme from the past against the day’s opponents. Where Once We Watched is another strong feature, revisiting matches played at grounds no longer in use and reflecting on Liverpool’s record at those venues, while Museum highlights items of interest from the club’s archives.

Additional content includes player interviews, a column from former defender Gary Gillespie, Planet Football, which brings together stories from around the footballing world, and a moving tribute recalling Diogo Jota and his appearances against Liverpool’s opponents.

Club coverage is suitably detailed, with contributions from the manager and captain, alongside news updates, comprehensive match reports, and coverage of the academy and women’s teams. A five-page statistics section towards the back provides extensive records covering both individual player careers and the current season.

The programme is less strong in its coverage of the opposition, with just four pages dedicated to the visiting side. These include an introductory article outlining recent form, a collection of facts and figures, a squad list with brief profiles of the manager and selected players, and a quiz exploring connections between the two clubs.

There is plenty to admire in Liverpool’s programme, with this season’s historical features a particular highlight. However, it lacks the consistency and depth of the league’s strongest offerings, with limited opposition coverage and some uneven design work.

 

Manchester City (v Burnley 27/09/25)

£4.00 (84 pp / 62 net / P)

Manchester City’s programme benefits from high-quality design work and polished presentation, although it lacks the depth of content found in the league’s strongest offerings.

The best original feature within the programme is Five, Fifteen, Fifty, in which historian Gary James turns back the clock to look at the 2020/21, 2010/11, and 1975/76 seasons. James recounts City’s progress throughout those seasons, as well as selecting a Memory Match from one of those years. The piece includes several pictures from the time and also references the fortunes of City’s matchday opponents.

Another new feature this season is The Hundred from photographer Kevin Cummins, who selects his favourite 100 music related pictures from his archives, telling the story of how the picture came about. There are columns from former City favourite Mike Summerbee and City’s Club Commentator Alistair Mann, who pens Last Mann Standing. Each issue also features a six-page interview with a first-team player.

Opposition coverage is relatively limited. An opening feature introduces the visitors, supported by a club fact file and list of honours. Profiles of the manager and three key players are also included. Heroes Down the Decades has the potential to be a valuable addition, highlighting fan favourites from the 1960s through to the 2000s, but the feature is restricted to only brief summaries of each player. The section concludes with Back Beat, which reproduces an archive photograph linked to the day’s fixture.

Club coverage is handled well throughout. Alongside the manager’s column, In the City rounds up the latest news from around the club. Reports from recent matches combine written analysis with photography and full line-up details. The women’s team, under-21s, and under-18s are each given double-page spreads featuring interviews, results, fixtures, and match updates, while a three-page statistics section is devoted to the first team. There is also a page highlighting the work of City in the Community, the club’s charitable arm.

Presentation is one of the programme’s greatest strengths. Clean layouts, strong photography, and effective use of the club’s colours help create a polished and professional feel throughout. Although white text occasionally appears on coloured backgrounds, sufficient contrast is generally maintained to ensure good readability.

This is a solid rather than exceptional programme. Attractive design and comprehensive club coverage provide a strong foundation, but a limited range of original features and relatively shallow opposition coverage prevent it from challenging the Premier League’s leading publications.

 

Manchester United (v West Ham United 04/12/25)

£4.00 (84 pp / 63 net / S)

The format of United Review remains largely unchanged this season. Once again, it stands among the best-designed programmes in the league, making excellent use of its wide page format. The club’s colours complement a clean, simple design, while strong photography and effective use of white space create an uncluttered, polished look.

Editorially, the programme adopts a largely news-based approach, rather than focusing on recurring historical features. Some regular items are included, such as Classic Picture, which revisits moments from the club’s archives; features highlighting items from the club museum; and Story Behind the Shot, which explores a recent image captured by the club photographer. These sit alongside the expected player interviews, a Junior Reds section, and supporter-focused content including United Voices, an interview with a notable fan.

Five pages are dedicated to the opposition. Talking Points outlines their current form and league position, while Tactics Board provides an overview of their setup and approach. This section also includes a squad list, profiles of the manager and three key players, and a retrospective on notable previous meetings.

Club content is generally well handled, with news updates, match reports – presented impressively across a two-page spread – and coverage of the Manchester United Foundation. The four-page statistics section towards the back is comprehensive in its focus on the first team, making particularly effective use of the large format, especially in the season results and fixtures chart. However, the particular issue reviewed here is notable for its limited coverage of the club’s academy and women’s teams, which are only briefly mentioned in the news section.

Consistently one of the most visually impressive programmes in the league, United Review offers plenty for supporters. However, the lack of historical features feels like a missed opportunity given the club’s rich heritage. The programme might also benefit from a more coherent sense of structure, as the current organisation can feel somewhat haphazard.

 

Newcastle United (v Arsenal 28/09/25)

£3.50 (84 pp / 64 net / P)

Last season’s Gold Award winners – and one of the most consistently impressive programmes in recent years – return with a familiar format for the 2025/26 season. The team behind the Newcastle issue have continued with the approach that has seen the club recognised in these awards for the past three seasons.

The sheer volume of content in each edition is a key reason the programme stands out. At its heart is a 13-page block of features – uninterrupted by advertising – bringing together a range of regular sections.

An extended feature from Stan Gate, Programme Spotlight, explores Newcastle’s connections with their matchday opponents, combining recollections of past meetings with images of programmes from those fixtures. In Black and White reproduces archive photographs, again with a link to the day’s visitors, while club historian Paul Joannou contributes All Things Black ‘N’ White, highlighting key statistics and milestones past and present.

Supporter Gavin Haigh showcases highlights from his extensive collection of more than 1,000 Newcastle shirts, often recalling lesser-known designs worn by the team. Around the World in 19 Programmes takes inspiration from the upcoming World Cup, spotlighting players from across the globe who have represented the Magpies. Meanwhile, Simon Rushworth – former chief sports writer for the Journal – writes Deadline Days, reflecting on his coverage of the club over the years, accompanied by archive press clippings.

Other regular features include Mags Around the World, which profiles supporters’ clubs across the globe through interviews with key figures, and One of a Kind, focusing on players who spent just a single season at Newcastle. Nick Graves also contributes a column, while each issue includes a five-page player interview and a dedicated section for junior supporters.

The visitors’ section is also among the strongest in the league. Running to 12 pages, it includes an introductory article assessing the opposition’s season to date and recent transfer activity, followed by a form guide and details of their most recent line-up. Graduate profiles a player who has progressed through the club’s youth system, while pen pictures of the first-team squad and manager are also included. Landmarks looks back at notable moments in the club’s history, rounding off a comprehensive section.

Club coverage is also strong, with columns from the manager and captain, reports from recent matches, and detailed updates on the academy and women’s teams, including player interviews. All of the club’s sides are also represented within a six-page statistics section, while the work of the Newcastle United Foundation is highlighted across a couple of additional pages.

The design is generally clean and unfussy, with a mix of black and white backgrounds complemented by sparing use of blue and gold. At times, however, the volume of content results in smaller text sizes, which can affect readability – an understandable compromise perhaps, given the constraints of the A5 format.

Once again, this is an impressive programme from Newcastle, maintaining the high standards established in recent seasons. The club also deserve credit for holding the price at £3.50 – one of only a handful of such programmes in the Premier League – further enhancing its overall value.

 

Nottingham Forest (v Chelsea 18/10/25)

£4.00 (76 pp / 55 net / P)

Forest’s programme for the 2025/26 season sees an increase in page count, rising from 68 to 76 pages. However, the price has also gone up for the second successive year, with issues now costing £4 – up from £3 just two seasons ago.

This season’s covers revisit designs from years past, tying in with the programme’s standout feature, Forest Reviewed. Written by Richard Harrison, this column provides an impressively in-depth look at a programme from a past fixture against the day’s opponents. Alongside reproductions of the original cover and selected internal pages, it reflects on the content and features of the issue, as well as recalling how Forest fared in the match itself. Beyond this, however, there is little in the way of high-quality original content. Aside from a handful of features with current players, the programme offers only a trivia quiz and a small section for junior supporters.

In terms of club coverage, there are notes from the manager, a couple of pages each dedicated to the academy and women’s teams, and a four-page statistics section. Community Matters highlights the work of the club’s Community Trust.

Coverage of the visitors runs to six pages and includes brief introductory notes, key facts, and a list of honours. This is followed by profiles of the manager and several key players. The most valuable feature is Opposition Insider, which offers the perspective of a writer from the visiting club.

Beyond the retro-style covers, the design is solid if unspectacular. Text size in several sections is on the small side, and the overall presentation would benefit from better use of space, particularly through a more balanced distribution of text and imagery.

As with last season, Forest’s programme remains one of the more limited offerings in the Premier League. Whilst the price has risen in recent years, the overall quality has unfortunately declined.

 

Sunderland (v Brentford 30/08/25)

£4.00 (84 pp / 68 net / P)

For their first Premier League season since 2016/17, Sunderland have produced an 84-page programme, costing £4, and titled Red & White. The programme is well presented, with tidy page layouts throughout each issue, consistent use of the club’s red, white and black colours, with the only minor drawback being occasional overuse of white text on red backgrounds.

The programme is notable for its highly impressive visitors’ section, which offers a series of high-quality articles, all penned by Sunderland club historian, Rob Mason. Their Best Season spotlights the most memorable campaign in the history of the visiting club, offering detailed commentary on what made it special, alongside notes on the club’s manager and star player from the time. Famous Five is another well-written piece, which sees Mason profile five of the greatest players in the visitors’ history.

Culture Club takes as its inspiration Sunderland being named as the UK’s second music city. It highlights various cultural figures, drawn from worlds such as music, acting, and art, associated with the visiting club’s locality. Win Lose or Draw recounts three past meetings of Sunderland and their matchday opponents. Together, these pieces feature some of the most original and engaging visitors’ content in the league, offering far more than the standard fare commonly adopted elsewhere. The in-depth section, which runs to eleven pages in total, also includes key facts, recent results, a manager profile, and notes on eight Ones to Watch.

Each issue also includes a range of original features, with several once again coming from the pen of Mason. Among Our Souvenirs highlights items on display at the Stadium of Light, while Looking for the Lads comprises an interview with a former Black Cats player. This Week meanwhile collects snippets of noteworthy happenings from around the same date in previous years.

A Way of Life gives one Sunderland supporter the opportunity to explain why the club is special to them. Local radio commentator Nick Barnes pens a column giving his thoughts, while Classic Match does what it says on the tin, recalling a memorable clash from the past. Another feature looks forward to the 2026 World Cup, asking current Sunderland players to share their World Cup Memories and predictions on who will lift the trophy. Each issue also includes an interview with a first-team player and a six-page junior section for younger Sunderland supporters.

In terms of club coverage, the programme carries columns from the manager and a member of the first-team squad in From the Dressing Room. Recent matches are covered with basic statistics, photography, and reflections from those involved. There is also a two-page article on the club’s Foundation, as well as dedicated sections covering the fortunes of Sunderland’s academy and women’s teams, and a seven-page statistics section.

This is a strong programme from Sunderland, with impressive design work complementing a substantial among of reading. The contribution of Rob Mason is especially noteworthy, with his writing forming the backbone of each issue.

 

Tottenham Hotspur (v Wolverhampton Wanderers 27/09/25)

£4.00 (84 pp / 63 net / P)

Tottenham’s programme benefits from a range of additions for the 2025/26 season, including several historical features that bring welcome depth to each issue’s content. The programme also feels more cohesive from a design perspective, with a greater consistency to the layouts and overall presentation, resulting in an impressively rounded package.

Among the new features for the 2025/26 season is Wall to Wall, which highlights the contents of programmes whose covers adorn the Programme Walls within the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Penned by John Chambers, author and long-term Spurs supporter, each instalment examines a selection of issues, with pages from the original programmes reproduced alongside commentary on their contents.

Spurs Unseen is another welcome addition, drawing on the club’s photographic archives to showcase several images linked to the visiting side. Spread across four pages, it combines archive photography with explanatory notes. In a similar vein, That Reminds Me sees former Spurs press officer John Fennelly share his recollections of previous meetings with the day’s opponents.

Elsewhere, Once a Spur, Always a Spur offers an interview with a former player, while each issue also features a five-page conversation with a member of the current squad, and a three-page section for younger supporters. World in Motion, written by Andy Greeves, looks ahead to the 2026 World Cup, assessing each nation’s prospects and highlighting Tottenham connections within their squads. Another new addition, My Debut Kit, sees players reflect on the shirt they wore on their first appearance for the club.

Opposition coverage is spread across five pages, neatly laid-out in the visiting club’s colours. Much of the section is devoted to player images, displayed in football-sticker style, while the club crest is presented as a traditional foil sticker—a clever visual touch. Supporting content includes notes on the team’s home and away kits, the manager, recent results, and past greats.

The programme also includes a number of features linked to the day’s fixture. Matchday provides a two-page preview incorporating key facts and head-to-head statistics, while The Daly Brief offers the thoughts of club commentator Rob Daly on the main talking points ahead of the game. Heroes and Villains, also written by Chambers, revisits previous meetings between the clubs, recalling both Tottenham triumphs and opposition players who caused problems for Spurs.

Club coverage is comprehensive. Alongside the traditional manager’s column, Action Replay provides reports from recent matches, featuring photography, line-ups, and key statistics. The women’s team, under-21s, and under-18s are each given a couple of dedicated pages, with news and match updates for the respective squads, together with results, fixtures and league tables. The first-team statistics section runs to four pages.

Offering some of the strongest editorial content in the league, Tottenham’s programme is an impressive publication. The additions made for the 2025/26 season have significantly strengthened the overall package. Only the relatively limited depth of the opposition coverage prevents it from challenging the very best programmes in the Premier League.

 

West Ham United (v Crystal Palace 20/09/25)

£4.00 (132 pp / 97 net / P)

The Hammers, three times winners of our annual Gold Award, return with another mammoth issue – expanded this season to 132 pages. Even allowing for more than a quarter of the programme being given over to advertising, each issue is still offering well over a dozen pages of content more than any other Premier League issue. It is the largest standard programme a top-flight club has ever produced.

One of the hallmarks of West Ham’s programme in recent times has been the broad range of well-written content, and this season’s edition is no exception. Among the highlights is The Boys of 86 – which looks back 40 years to the West Ham team who finished third in Division One – the club’s highest-ever league finish. Written by Steve Blowers, the feature analyses the season through a series of in-depth interviews with the people involved – both on and off the field – providing a revealing insight into a memorable campaign. The use of contemporary press clippings, alongside photographs and images of memorabilia such as ticket stubs, puts the gloss on a fine feature.

In a similar vein is 20 Years On, in which Sid Lambert reviews the 2005/06 season – which saw the club return to the top-flight after a couple of seasons playing in the second-tier, and a run to the FA Cup Final. Added Time Tunnel explores notable moments from the club’s past, set alongside the wider cultural backdrop of the time, while Hammerabilia returns, with historian Steve Marsh examining connections between West Ham and their matchday opponents through the lens of various items of memorabilia, such as programmes and football cards.

There are columns from Evening Standard columnist Ken Dyer and sportswriter and Hammers fan Duncan Wright. The central player interview is extensive, spanning nine pages, and complemented by a further two-pages of statistical analysis from Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall of Analytics United. My Top Three invites a member of the current squad to select their favourite goals, matches, and teammates. Each edition also includes a four-page interview with a celebrity supporter, and an eight-page junior pull-out section.

The visitors’ section runs to nine pages and utilises much the same format as recent seasons. Introductory notes set the scene for the day’s match, providing comment on recent developments and form, while a Depth Chart provides a simple tactical overview. Profiles of the manager and players are organised by position, offering a more meaningful assessment of the team’s strengths than the standard pen-picture format. The section is also enhanced by a two-page statistical analysis from Analytics United, using performance data to assess the strengths and potential weaknesses of the visiting club.

Each issue demonstrates a commitment to comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the club. Coverage of the club’s academy and women’s teams is covered is especially impressive, with multiple pages of match updates and statistics sitting alongside players interviews and news round-ups. A notable addition is The Academy of Internationals, which profiles players who have progressed through the club’s youth ranks to have high-profile careers, including recognition on the international stage. In total, coverage beyond the first-team extends to 14 pages, offering a level of detail few clubs come close to matching.

Alongside the usual manager and captain columns, there is information from the supporter services team, various news articles, and reports from recent matches, including line-ups and match statistics. The work of the club’s Foundation is covered across three pages, while Over Land and Sea previews upcoming away trips, with practical information for supporters on details like travel arrangements. A further four pages are given over to Premier League and club statistics.

The strength of the content is matched by the quality of the design work. The club’s colours are used to good effect throughout, while recurring visual motifs help create a strong sense of identity across the programme. This provides a consistent framework within which individual features can adopt their own stylistic touches without compromising the overall look and feel of the publication.

The high standards West Ham have set in recent times are maintained once again this season. The sheer volume of content packed into each issue, across original features, opposition coverage, and club information, is striking, with the inclusion of the statistical analyses, alongside the main player interview and visitor section, further enhancing a superb programme.

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers (v Everton 30/08/25)

£4.00 (84 pp / 62 net / S)

The Wolves programme remains one of the most attractively presented in the league, with well-laid-out pages making effective use of the club’s gold and black colours. Each issue contains a solid amount of reading, although the balance between historical content and present-day features feels slightly more weighted towards the latter than in recent seasons.

50 Years On turns back the clock to the 1975/76 season, telling the story of a campaign that – despite a run to the FA Cup quarter-finals – ultimately ended in the disappointment of relegation from Division One. The feature incorporates contemporary press clippings alongside the main narrative. Snapshot in Time reproduces a photograph from the club’s archives, while Underrated Gold sees a figure associated with the club offer their views on players, managers, matches, seasons and kits that have not received the credit they deserved. Other content focuses more on the current first team, including interviews and features with members of the Wolves squad.

The programme benefits from a strong visitors’ section, with ten pages dedicated to the opposition. The opening pages introduce the club, with notes on their stadium, colours, manager and recent form, before a Scout Report presents their most recent league line-up in a formation graphic. This is followed by profiles of four key players. Centurions highlights members of the current squad who have reached the milestone of 100 appearances or goals, while Legends and Links looks at notable former players as well as those who have represented both clubs. The section concludes with a review of recent meetings between the sides and Five of the Best, which revisits memorable past encounters.

The programme is also particularly strong in its coverage of club matters. Alongside columns from the manager and captain, there are reports on recent matches, as well as detailed coverage of the academy and women’s teams, including player interviews and match reports. A section on the Wolves Foundation highlights the club’s community work, and the usual season statistics appear towards the back of the issue.

This is another strong offering from Wolves, whose programmes have been impressively consistent since their return to the Premier League in 2018.