5 Comments
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EMS's avatar

Brilliant! I honestly hate the digitalisation of these things (along with concert tickets which is a whole other issue)

James Callan's avatar

Don’t start me on Ticketmaster

Jack Mckeever's avatar

Lovely piece, James. I completely agree - especially as a fan of PL club - that digitisation means something of the wholesome art of programmes has been lost. On my travels around non-league teams in the last year or so it's been lovely to discover that programmes are still a huge part of the match-going experience at that level.

My first programme is a bit of doozy; a totem from my beloved Arsenal's 7-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Invincibles season. Couldn't have asked for a better first game, and the programme now has pride of place, framed at my mother's house.

James Callan's avatar

Thanks Jack, really appreciate that. There’s something so grounding about still seeing a stack of programmes at a non-league ground, isn’t there? They feel like proof that football can still belong to its communities. That Arsenal one is a beauty, a 7-0 in the Invincibles season is some way to start a lifetime of collecting!

Jack Mckeever's avatar

Yeah, and as you said, that stack of programmes is increasingly important in an age where it constantly feels like football is forsaking its roots/the people it's for.