Today we publish the first of our reviews of the 2020/21 programmes, with a look at Manchester City’s digital issue. The full review is available below, whilst you can take a look at information about the other top-flight issue here. More reviews to follow shortly!
Of the three clubs to produce a digital only programme for 2020/21, Manchester City’s is by far the poorest – existing only as a page on the club’s website, rather than a downloadable PDF, and therefore offering no real value to collectors. Even the club’s somewhat mediocre programmes of the last few years provided some features of interest and impressive design work, whereas this season’s effort cannot in any sense be recognised as a programme at all.
The webpage includes various ‘panels’ that each contain scrollable content. Some brief opening words are followed by notes from the manager, and a ‘Buzzword’ column from club ambassador Mike Summerbee. Photographer Kevin Cummins has a column that is complemented by various of his images. A couple of recurring features are also included – ‘Dream Team’, which sees a former player selecting their best-ever City eleven, and a column from BBC 6 Music DJ Marc Riley.
The section on the visiting club includes notes on the team’s form during the season so far, and an article looking back at previous meetings between the two sides. There is also a player spotlight that offers key stats for one member of the opposition team, and a link to City’s YouTube page for highlights of a previous meeting between the two teams.
Given the heights that City’s programmes have reached in seasons gone by (with various high-class issues throughout the 2000s, for example) it is especially disappointing that the club have opted to offer so little this year. It is only to be hoped that City’s approach is temporary and that a return to printed programmes will coincide with the regular return of supporters through the turnstiles at the Etihad.