Matchday programmes

Anyone else struggling to get hold of a matchday programme recently? Turned up 20 mins before kickoff the last 2 games and been told they have sold out already.

Has there been a sudden spike in popularity or has the club just stopped ordering enough programmes? Only seems to have been an issue this season.

 

My parents couldn't get one before the match on Saturday, the person selling them said they weren't printing as many due to reduced demand.

Though I passed a chap selling them at the bottom of Belgrave Road at about quarter to 3 and he seemed to have a few left.

 

Club must be loaded because I have noticed too they run out of programmes and then you have to pay a ridiculous postage amount on the Ignition website.

 

Yep, happened to me a few times in the past year, and for silly matches too. You could understand if it was a big game with a large away following, but it’s been games against smaller opposition. I’ve then had to pay double to get a copy on eBay. I have every home programme since 1955, so it really annoys me when I end up giving double the money to a dealer online.

Personally, I would love it if we stopped printing programmes, like several other clubs have done. They’re expensive (particularly when they’ve sold out at the ground), they take more room up now than they used to and I’m running out of space, but more importantly, they’re a bit rubbish and not worth reading. They were great a few years ago, when Dave Wood wrote the historical pieces, or when Dave Copping did similar some time ago, but now they are just full of fluff and adverts…and fluff…and adverts.

Interviews with current players are rarely worth reading, as they have to watch what they say, so just come out with the same old cliches. It would be way more interesting reading interviews with retired professionals, who can be a bit more candid. Or if they are going to interview current players, instead of asking them how they work hard in training, take each game as it comes, are really pleased with their first goal and want to score more, or how the club’s massive and…you get the picture, interview them about their passions. If they are into music, speak to them about that, or whatever else is their passion. Get a fan to speak about their all time Reds XI or their favourite ever match or something. There’s so much that can be done to make them worth reading. But if they don’t have the manpower to do that, or have no inclination to improve them, then chalk **** on it and stop making them.

 

They should be looking at their content if it's reduced demand and try and improve it.

 

Agree with every word except if having no manpower or inclination to improve it is reason to chalk **** on it then the club's media department in general should go because in my opinion our website, twitter and Facebook content have all gone massively downhill to the point that they're not really worth bothering with. I don't know if that's due to staff cutbacks or if someone new is in charge lately but standards have slipped massively and it isn't as though they are focusing on important updates to supporters because communication in that way is at an all time low with the club even shunning the supporters trust which is something I have never known before.

What the hell is happening at Oakwell I've no idea but it isn't good and if the rate at which our owners are having to pump cash into the club to keep us going is anything to go by then I'm very much worried we could be the next club to enter administration unless someone is willing to take ownership of the issues and address the massive failures in communication and connection with supporters that have been happening lately.

 

£4 is it now? I stopped buying them years ago

 

Even I’ve stopped buying it for all those reasons. and you know what a junkie I was.

Its the one area they should put on line only and get fans to publish it so sorta a fortnightly fanzine but with teamsheets

 

Hasn't been the same since Andy Clarke left and Whitey's duties changed.

 

Is that what's happened?

 

Yeah and shrunk in size.

 

Andy Clarke moved to Hull City in the summer and I'm sure I read or heard somewhere that Whitey now had other duties outside of media. People in senior positions used to be named in the Who's Who section of the website, but now all we get is an email address for each administrative department.
Yet another example of the increasing disconnect between club and supporters - or customers as they would probably have it.

 

So many clubs are going down the digital route. Or not producing anything. I'll stand corrected but didn't the Club outsource programme sales years ago. To ignition sports media. And there was a % taking of those sold. Thus the distributors took sole responsibility for any unsold.
If figures are to be believed below. Then at 10% sales. It's not a good source of income re printed editions. And better financially in Digital format. Not summat I like btw. As a former programme collector.

Report from 2022
While special editions such as Arsenal's farewell to Arsene Wenger sold 100,000 copies, many fans are turning their backs on printed editions, with most clubs reporting that just 10-20% of their attendance now buy them on a matchday.

A talkSPORT investigation has revealed that 21% of Championship clubs no longer produce printed matchday programmes.

Blackburn Rovers, Millwall and Reading have stopped altogether, while Bristol City and Swansea City offer digital only versions.

 

That’s the good news!! The bad is that the reduction in quality over recent seasons has continued. It is a truly dreadful effort. Keith Lodge will be turning in his grave.

If the Club are serious about having a decent match day read, just get hold of Orient’s programme. One of the better ones.

 

None available outside the Ponty End by about 2:30.

Get it sorted. Selling out at the stadium is becoming a regular issue and 5.50 to have one posted out is a rip off.

 

£8.50ff eBay again today, because they’d sold out by 2:30. Had you not sold out I could have bought two, chucked one in the bin and still saved on what I’ve paid today to some bloke on eBay who always manages to get a supply. The seller outside the club shop said they ask for more to be printed but it falls on deaf ears.

If you are reading this BFC, either print more or stop printing them at all. They are not worth reading any more anyway, but if you are going to be half-arsed about it you might as well not bother. I’m too far in to stop buying them now, but it feels like being a loyal fan of a band who haven’t made a decent record for donkeys years. You keep buying their new album out of hope, whilst really wishing they’d call it a day.

Ironically, I went into the ticket office before the game to pick up the programme from the Wycombe match that they’d kindly saved for me, as I’d missed the game to go and see The Charlatans, what with watching the Reds getting to be like watching paint dry* and The Charlatans not being a band I want to call it a day. So I got the programme from the match where I wasn’t here, but didn’t get one when I turned up.


*not in the second half today though. I think it’s the first time this season I’ve enjoyed watching us since the Port Vale game. There is hope!

 

Why pay 8.50? Order one online - had to do that first game when seller no longer had a card machine and didn't sell them in club shop. Think it's 1.50 to get ut posted

 

Your particular situation (and anyone else like you) should really be highlighted to the club as an example where a really simple solution could create them some goodwill.

Setup a list of supporters who want a copy of *every* programme, and set that number aside in the club shop for you to collect. Ask folk to email in to be added to the list. Easy.

 

That's too simple a solution they always find the difficult way to do things

 

You can order them online?