Our latest Premier League programme review takes a look at Newcastle United’s issue for the 2019/20 season. The full review is included below while you can click here to take a look at all of the current season issues. More reviews to follow over the weekend!
The Magpies’ programme is largely unchanged from last season, being a perfect-bound A5 issue with 84 total pages and 61.5 pages of content. The most impressive features are presented in an eight-page historical section in the second half of the issue, which includes several articles of interest.
‘The United History Blog’ looks at Newcastle past and present with club historian Paul Joannou. This looks at links and past meetings between Newcastle and their matchday opponents. ‘Magpies Around The World’ considers Newcastle’s meetings with foreign clubs down the years, while ‘United’s History in 100 Objects’ focuses on various items of memorabilia that are of significance to the club. ‘Window Into The Past’ is a fascinating feature that reviews lesser known moments from Newcastle’s history. The focus in this issue is on the 1948 inter-league fixture between the Football League and the Scottish League, which took place at St James’ Park in March 1948. The article reports that the official attendance was 64,938 with between 30,000 and 50,000 supporters left outside the ground and unable to gain admission!
‘Re-United’ is another well-executed feature, which looks back at past issues of Newcastle’s programme to delve into aspects of the club’s history. With 2019/20 being United’s 25th Premier League campaign, there is a two-page article on some standout moments from those years, while a separate piece looks at United programme covers from the past and the stories of the respective seasons from which they are drawn. ‘The Graduates’ then looks at those players who first made their names plying their trade at St. James Park.
In terms of other content, there is a seven-page interview with the programme’s cover star, which includes some eye-catching artwork to accompany the standard text and photographs. For the Manchester United issue, the subject was goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who reflected on his career to date with Newcastle, as well as the club’s prospects. ‘Flying Visit’ is a new five-page feature for the 2019/20 season, which turns the spotlight on those players who spent only a brief time with Newcastle. The Manchester United issue featured ex-Swedish international Andreas Andersson, who made 32 appearances for the Magpies after joining from Milan in 1998.
In terms of club information, there are columns from head coach Steve Bruce and captain Jamaal Lascelles, and two pages of club news. ‘Match Action’ is spread over three pages, with stats and line-up details, brief notes, and a two-page spread of pictures from the game. The issue includes a couple of pages on the work of the Newcastle Foundation and there is a three-page junior fans section. ‘Academy Roundup’ runs to four pages, with commentary on recent matches, alongside results, fixtures, and tables, and an interview with one member of the academy teams. The first-team stats section includes a page of ‘squad statistics’, the Premier League table, and a two-page results and fixtures spread.
The visitors to St James’ Park are covered over six pages, which kick off with an opening article that examines the team’s form, nicely headed by the club’s crest and sitting alongside a full-page picture from a recent match. The section continues with notes on the team’s last give matches, followed by pen-pics of the opposition squad and manager. These are nicely colour-coded to denote each player’s position and features their respective national flags. Unfortunately, the programme misses the kind of content that can raise such sections above the ordinary, such as tactical analysis, historical notes, interviews, and fan pieces.
The historical features are the real highlight of a programme that otherwise feels a touch light on content. The opposition section is also somewhat limited, although what is there is certainly well handled. Whilst these points mean that the Newcastle programme is perhaps not among the strongest in the division, it is nevertheless a nicely designed issue that is well worth reading.