Our latest programme review from the 2025/26 Premier League issues features Aston Villa’s edition.
Read our review below and check out all of the season’s issues here.
Last season’s Bronze Award winners return with another impressive programme. Villa have moved to a larger page format for the 25/26 season, while once again offering 84 pages and minimal advertising content.
The design work on show is worthy of note. Each issue has an illustrated front cover – generally featuring players and supporters in and around Villa Park. Inside, the pages are well-presented, with clear, unfussy layouts, good use of the club’s colours, and easily readable text.
One of the strengths of Villa’s programme in recent times has been the historical content and this year’s issue once again includes a ten-page section titled ‘Vintage Villa’. The opening feature is ‘Glory Days’ which this season turns the clock back to 1995/96, when the club won the League Cup as well as finishing 4th in the league under the management of Brian Little. Another article looks at Villa’s best goalkeepers from down the years, while ‘B6 Bookshelf’ highlights books that have appeared about the club, and ‘Memorabilia Memories’ showcases souvenirs from various era’s of the club’s history. ‘Player by Numbers’ looks back at the career of a former Villa player, while ‘Cover Story’ reproduces a programme cover from a past match against the day’s opponents.
Other content includes ‘My Villa Dream Team’ – a two-page feature offering the thoughts of one Villa player from the past, and ‘AVFC – The Obsession’ – where Villa supporters reminisce on their favourite players and matches from their time following the club. Former Villa striker and radio commentator Garry Thompson offers up his thoughts in ‘View From the Press Box’, while club ambassador Ian Taylor does likewise in ‘Tayls Talking’. Each issue also includes a dedicated six-page section for younger supporters.
The visitors’ section of the programme runs to eight pages, including brief notes on the club’s form, while a list of honours and ‘Major Moments’ reference the club’s history. There are profiles of the club’s manager and three key players, as well as pictures of the rest of the squad in football-sticker style. The best feature in this section is a two-page ‘Tactical Breakdown’ – including notes on the team’s setup, key battles, and areas to expose.
The programme is also strong on club information – with news pages, a detailed look back at recent matches, updates on the work of the club’s Foundation, reports from the club’s academy and women’s teams, and the usual two-page season results and fixtures pages.
All in all, another strong programme from Villa – with the depth and range of features being a real highlight.