The latest in our series of summer Merit Awards is today issued to Brentford for producing the best programme in the Championship for the 2019/20 season. There were several high-quality contenders for this honour, including the terrific programmes produced by Fulham, Huddersfield Town, and Preston North End, but it is Brentford who take this season’s award.
The Bees have marked their last season playing at Griffin Park with a series of top-class programmes. Each issue has a different retro-style cover, adopting the style of an issue from the past – with the covers from the games against Charlton, Millwall, and Leeds being especially impressive. There are also several nice design touches inside each issue, with creative use of typefaces and layouts helping to create a stylish look.
In recognition of this being the Brentford’s final season at their traditional home, the programme includes several excellent articles looking back at memorable moments from the past. ‘Cover Story’ provides the context behind the retro cover design used for each issue, providing a picture of the corresponding cover from the year in question, and telling the story of the season.
‘Fixture in Focus’ then recalls the match played against the day’s opponents from that season, reproducing excerpts from the relevant programme and a match report from the local newspaper, alongside various pictures from the time. Another historical feature ‘Stat Attack’ picks up the theme, looking back to notable games and achievements from times past, while ‘In Profile’ offers a four-page look at a former Brentford player.
There is plenty of other content too. ‘My Brentford Story’ tells one supporter’s story of following the club, while ‘Park Life’ is a two-page fan column on current football issues. Each programme also offers a five-page junior supporters section, including ‘Bee The Reporter’, which sees one young fan providing a report of a recent Brentford game.
The Brentford programme is also notable for its top-quality opposition coverage. There are fully ten pages dedicated to the opposition, in addition to a two-page ‘Match Preview’, offering various readable features. As with the rest of the programme, this section is beautifully presented, with an attractively designed opening page featuring one member of the visiting squad and the club’s crest. Each page features prominent use of the visiting club’s colours, with creative layouts that impressively combine text, images, and graphics. The section includes manager and player profiles, notes on recent developments at the club, an interview with a member of the visiting team’s local media, and an ‘Away Fan Q&A’.
There are various items of club information also provided, including columns from the manager and Chief Executive. ‘Match Action’ takes the form of a key photo from the game, together with various stats. There are two pages on the club’s Community Sports Trust and three pages of club stats, including a well laid-out results and fixtures spread.
There are many fine programmes in the Championship, any number of which would not look out of place in the Premier League. However, the Brentford issue takes our Merit Award for the 2019/20 Championship, thanks to its range of readable content, its extensive opposition coverage, and classy presentation.