EFL are to vote on ending of automatic programme publication. Apparently some EFL clubs want to stop printing match programmes for every game.

Now this would be an end of an era, they’ll be stopping football rattles next.

Cirrus_Minor wrote:EFL are to vote on ending of automatic programme publication. Apparently some EFL clubs want to stop printing match programmes for every game.

Now this would be an end of an era, they’ll be stopping football rattles next.

And booing...

Who buys them though? Can’t remember last time I did so imagine some clubs are losing money producing these.

Foulthrow wrote:Who buys them though? Can’t remember last time I did so imagine some clubs are losing money producing these.

I do.

£3 is decent value imo.

They're OK as a keepsake to remind of which matches you went to but anything factual is available elsewhere and the interviews are just cut and paste non-answers that could come from any member of the team. Their time may well have passed.

If it happens it will put a few people out of Saturday jobs!

PaintYorkClaretnBlue wrote:If it happens it will put a few people out of Saturday jobs!

More than a few in the grand scheme of things, loss of revenue at printers may lead to reduction is staff as well as the sellers at every club. Conservatively I would think it will be over 200 people losing part time jobs. Damn you Internet, damn you!

Oh hang on a minute...

Burnley's match programme is superb. I read it from cover to cover!

Burnley should get rid of all printed match-day programmes.

They should focus more on digital content - get rid of the stupid paywall on Clarets Player, which generates miniscule revenue for them, plus the 3rd party that powers it causes them nothing but issues.

Seems absurb they put 30 second interviews with players behind a paywall.

I hadn’t bought one for years but I do now occasionally coz my lad likes them. Have to say I was surprised by how good ours are.

I stopped buying home ones years ago, as the cupboard was getting rammed but still buy all the away ones. Love to collect them and match tickets too.

I still enjoy reading them as does my eldest who’s now nearly 11 and gets most of his Clarets info from them.

A big part of the matchday experience, ours is very good and has been for years (i'm not biased). would be a sad day if you couldn't buy a programme.

JohnMac wrote:More than a few in the grand scheme of things, loss of revenue at printers may lead to reduction is staff as well as the sellers at every club. Conservatively I would think it will be over 200 people losing part time jobs. Damn you Internet, damn you!

Oh hang on a minute...

As a 13 year old, I used to sell programmes on the long side in the early 1980’s. Got paid half pence for each of the first 100 programmes sold and then a penny each after that. Used to make about £2.50 but did get any left over pies and watch the match for free

Part of the experience, and like said previously very good value at £3.00. Wouldn't be the same not making sure I had my change for a programme.

1968claret wrote:As a 13 year old, I used to sell programmes on the long side in the early 1980’s. Got paid half pence for each of the first 100 programmes sold and then a penny each after that. Used to make about £2.50 but did get any left over pies and watch the match for free

Eating leftover pies and watching Burnley in the 80's sounds more of a punishment than a perk

TheFamilyCat wrote:Eating leftover pies and watching Burnley in the 80's sounds more of a punishment than a perk

Things always seem better when you look back though. Remember the pies being quite runny. Some high moments with the football also. I sold hundreds of programmes for the milk cup semi against Liverpool:)
Also got to chat to the likes of Brian Flynn, Billy Hamilton and Trevor Steven before the games. Good days!

It will be a sad day when clubs stop producing a match programme.

Cirrus_Minor wrote:EFL are to vote on ending of automatic programme publication. Apparently some EFL clubs want to stop printing match programmes for every game.

Now this would be an end of an era, they’ll be stopping football rattles next.

This OP is misleading

If the motion is passed, then it's simply a case that an individual club can choose not to produce a programme for certain games, such as a Checkatrade game where they're only expecting a few hundred fans. It's not a blanket ban, and 99% of programmes will still be produced.

UpTheBeehole wrote:This OP is misleading

If the motion is passed, then it's simply a case that an individual club can choose not to produce a programme for certain games, such as a Checkatrade game where they're only expecting a few hundred fans. It's not a blanket ban, and 99% of programmes will still be produced.

It is to give each individual club the option but if any take up the option it will be a sad day for us old folk who still collect them. Have to say, we've helped lead the way by replacing programmes with those daft fold out sheets for pre-season games and even League Cup ties.

I was astonished recently when I went to the Argentina v Italy game at the Etihad - no match programme for that game.

Having been involved at a Football League club, and editor of the programme at one point, and a collector of Burnley progammes, amongst other programmes. It would be a sad day if clubs stopped producing . It wont be an issue for Premier/Championship clubs but the cost for small production runs and low purchasing ratios, it is proving to be not cost effective for smaller clubs. I would guess that any production run under 500, would be at a cost for a 68 page programme would be circa £2.25. The buying ration is usually about 1in 5, if you take of the "free" programmes (changing rooms, boardroom, press etc etc, its a loss maker. Big clubs produce 5,00 copies at maybe a cost of 1.00 maximum. maybe 1 programme for 2 home games?

It would be a loss to the fans if the club decided to drop programmes. The club has won awards in recent years for its match day programme. Jobs in the clubs publicity department could be at risk. Programmes are a useful means of sponsorship, advertising and revenue for the club and news and information for its fans. Digital programmes for me, No thanks, I would rather have something I can pick up and put down.

Remember the days when a matchday programme was more like a newspaper?

I think Blackpool produced one, as did a few other clubs (Notts County?).

In reply to MikeS poster 22 , this isn't about Burnley or Premier league clubs, this is being put forward to EFL clubs for their AGM to vote on having e a choice or not. Its about maybe Checkatrade games, also they may have a Saturday /Tuesday game, two close together at Xmas, its about giving them the choice, at the moment EFL rules are that they have to produce a match programme for each individual game. It does not apply to the premier league

As much as the Burnley one is excellent I do wish they were just a few pieces of paper. I'd be a regular buyer but the space they take up and the amount they now eat into matchday budgets is all too much.

But the Burnley one IS brilliant and has been consistently for a number of years now.

Maybe if they stop, my collection will become extremely rare, and worth millions! In 2 hundred years time!

My 6 year old always buys one on way to ground as above actually a good read and well put together the Burnley programme.

I buy a prog every 3rd game I do think they are good value. In the past I bought one every single game, couldn't go away and not buy one it was your memento of the day and as an avid programme collector it made sense. I expect some of you remember Malcolm Moss, he was once in a Sunday paper ' I'm backing Burnley' he was a programme collector and dealer it was once big business I sold my collection in 3 lots years ago I had some very special ones, every cup final from 1946 to 1985 and various others of interest one in particular was a Crystal Palace ( 4th Division) against Real Madrid to celebrate their new floodlights. They can't end programmes if they do how safe are pies?