The latest Premier League programme review for the 2019/20 season sees us take a look at the West Ham United issue. Read our full notes on this programme below and click here to see all of the current season Premier League issues.
West Ham have increased the size of their programme for 2019/20, with ‘Hammer’ now being a mammoth 116-page issue. Even allowing for 37 pages of advertising there are 79 pages of content – the third highest figure in the league, and up from 70 last season.
‘Hammers History’ offers eight pages of historical features, the best of which is ‘My West Ham Scrapbook’, which sees one former player reflecting on their time at the club. For the Sheffield United issue, which coincided with Black History Month, the subject was Clyde Best. The Hammers legend recounts his arrival at the club in 1968 and several highlights from his career, as well as the challenges of finding his way in the game. Each of the memories is accompanied by images of West Ham memorabilia, such as programmes and press clippings. This is a high-quality feature that allows the player the space to discuss their memories on and off the pitch, offering a valuable insight into their recollections.
‘Black Hammers’ takes up the theme of Black History Month with a look at two important figures in the club’s history – John Charles, England’s first black international – and Jack White, who never appeared for West Ham but who had emerged from the East-End football scene, making his name in the area playing for Canning Town and Barking Town. ‘Added Time Tunnel’ is the least interesting of the three features in this section, taking a sideways look at some lesser known events happening on this day in years gone by. Given the space available in the programme it is perhaps a little disappointing that there are not more pages devoted to historical features, but the ‘Scrapbook’ article is certainly a thoroughly enjoyable read.
In terms of present-day content, the main player interview in the programme takes up five pages and features some striking photography alongside the text. There are columns from former Hammers striker Tony Cottee, author and fan Steve Blowers, and head of TalkSport Lee Clayton, each covering several subjects in a more in-depth approach than many similar columns manager in other clubs’ issues. The Evening Standard’s Ken Dyer also contributes a column, while the issue includes a two-page section for junior West Ham supporters.
The visitors’ section is spread across six pages, opening with a full-page graphic that sets the club’s crest against a background of one of their colours. Opening notes discuss the team’s form and record in recent seasons, before a page of ‘Best Ever’ features look at the visiting club’s finest player, season, and result, including some contemporary images with each item. The section continues with pen-pics of the team’s manager, while ‘Three to Watch’ and ‘Meet the Visitors’ profile the squad over two pages. In related content, ‘5 Things to Look Out For’ considers some of the topics related to the day’s fixture, including key players and tactical analysis.
There is extensive club coverage within the programme, including two-page columns from the manager and captain, and a couple of pages of club news. The programme also includes several pages of supporters’ information, with updates from the ‘Official Supporters Board’ and news from the Supporter Services Manager, as well as three pages on the work of the club’s foundation. Coverage of West Ham’s junior teams is contained in ‘The Academy of Football’ – an eight-page section that takes in reports, interviews, and player profiles with a depth rarely seen in most programmes. There are also fully five pages of coverage of West Ham’s women’s team, with details of recent matches and player features. For example, the Sheffield United issue includes an extended interview with recent signing Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, who discusses here fledgling career and early months at the club. There are then two pages of stats for each of these teams, including tables, results, and fixtures. In addition, there are four pages of first team and Premier League stats.
There is much to admire in this Hammers programme. The depth of coverage of the club’s various teams is very impressive, and a couple of historical features provide some excellent reading. However, the overall feeling with the programme is of a slightly disjointed issue, which may be a consequence of the amount of advertising and the way this breaks up several of the sections and features. Much of the content stands comparison with the best issues in the league but, overall, the programme lacks the kind of consistent ‘feel’ to mark it out as an award winner.