Clubs printing programmes in 2022

[Hopping Mad]

York City Knights tell me they're returning to a printed programme for 2022:

"We didn't do them in 2021 to minimise cash handling and contact in line with Covid-19 precautions, but we are happy to be bringing them back next season."

[perhaps a mod could pin this thread, in place of the 2021 version?]

 

Edited December 10, 2021 by Hopping Mad

[marklaspalmas]

Duly pinned HM

Let's hope more clubs follow York's example in getting back to printed matchday programmes.

Fev have made noises about this. Cross fingers it happens.

[Hopping Mad]

Hoping rugby league will follow the football trend - and start ditching digital programmes in favour of reverting to print.

Manchester City, for example, have gone back to hard copy programmes this season.

Last week, tier six Maidstone United announced, after taking account of fan feedback, they are dumping digital and returning to print.

A number of 'cottage industry' firms, specialising in providing printed programmes for non-league football clubs, report they are having to turn away potential customers - because they're now so busy.

Edited December 14, 2021 by Hopping Mad

[marklaspalmas]

On 14/12/2021 at 08:29, Hopping Mad said:

Hoping rugby league will follow the football trend - and start ditching digital programmes in favour of reverting to print.

Manchester City, for example, have gone back to hard copy programmes this season.

Last week, tier six Maidstone United announced, after taking account of fan feedback, they are dumping digital and returning to print.

A number of 'cottage industry' firms, specialising in providing printed programmes for non-league football clubs, report they are having to turn away potential customers - because they're now so busy.

Why not both?

TBH I fail to understand the logic behind ditching traditional progs in favour of a PDF.

I accept that for many (especially youngsters) buying a prog is a waste of time and money. The line up is on twitter, and all the gossip, info and stats are somewhere in cyberspace.

But if you go to the trouble of designing and writing an e-programme, then nowadys printing off copies is relatively cheap and much more flexible to do in terms of print runs.

If it were simply a question of "we can't be bothered to put togther a match programme" because it's too much time and effort for not enough financial reward, I'd understand it. But going to the effort of producing a digital prog, but then not offering print copies of that to those that want to pay 2 or 3 quid for it seems illogical.

[Hopping Mad]

21 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

Why not both?

TBH I fail to understand the logic behind ditching traditional progs in favour of a PDF.

I accept that for many (especially youngsters) buying a prog is a waste of time and money. The line up is on twitter, and all the gossip, info and stats are somewhere in cyberspace.

But if you go to the trouble of designing and writing an e-programme, then nowadys printing off copies is relatively cheap and much more flexible to do in terms of print runs.

If it were simply a question of "we can't be bothered to put togther a match programme" because it's too much time and effort for not enough financial reward, I'd understand it. But going to the effort of producing a digital prog, but then not offering print copies of that to those that want to pay 2 or 3 quid for it seems illogical.

As a result of the above, several other cottage industries have sprung up, offering (with permission, of course) to create printed versions of digital programmes. Clubs (football, generally) actually charging for a digital programme generally send out a high res PDF, so it's easy enough. 

[marklaspalmas]

31 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said:

As a result of the above, several other cottage industries have sprung up, offering (with permission, of course) to create printed versions of digital programmes. Clubs (football, generally) actually charging for a digital programme generally send out a high res PDF, so it's easy enough. 

Ok, but they're quite expensive as I understand, and the use of full colour photos rather than pages of text in digital progs as opposed to physical progs also bumps up the price for collectors who are inclined to go down that route.

It all seems very unnecessary when clubs should really be printing off copies anyway

[neutralfan]

Its just a cop out coming from the RFL and NCL.If i go to a game i want to know the teams , i want a programme  as a keepsake as i have hundreds of programmes as momentos and i want to read about that game in the RL EXPRESS or League weekly on Monday morning.

[Hopping Mad]

8 hours ago, neutralfan said:

Its just a cop out coming from the RFL and NCL.If i go to a game i want to know the teams , i want a programme  as a keepsake as i have hundreds of programmes as momentos and i want to read about that game in the RL EXPRESS or League weekly on Monday morning.

If, for example, Wakefield AFC, step 11 (in their sport) tenants at Post Office Road, can produce glossy programmes (£2) for their games, attended by a couple of hundred, how come step two Featherstone Rovers, on crowds at least ten times that size, cannot? Not particularly criticising FRRLFC, whose programmes used to be very good. Simply a striking example.

[neutralfan]

It was decided at their meetings that these Bodies that run our magnificent game would stop producing programmes on admission at the gate but the admission price would not be reduced? The NCL admission price includes that a programme is part of the deal to watch the game .Has that been conveniently scrapped as well? 

[M j M]

Leeds are doing a programme for the Boxing Day friendly. £2, so will presumably be fewer pages than the regular season one which has been £3 for a few years.

[M j M]

Leeds have confirmed details -

https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2021/12/24/get-your-hands-on-blue-amber-this-boxing-day/

Quite unexpectedly they've also sent me a copy in the post which arrived today so I can report it has 32 pages, normal sort of stuff, Agar blurb, interviews with Briscoe and Fusitu'a, stuff on Sinfield etc. Well worth £2.

[Manxmanc]

On 14/12/2021 at 08:29, Hopping Mad said:

Hoping rugby league will follow the football trend - and start ditching digital programmes in favour of reverting to print.

Manchester City, for example, have gone back to hard copy programmes this season.

Last week, tier six Maidstone United announced, after taking account of fan feedback, they are dumping digital and returning to print.

A number of 'cottage industry' firms, specialising in providing printed programmes for non-league football clubs, report they are having to turn away potential customers - because they're now so busy.

Maybe there is a trend.

Last year, FC Isle of Man was launched and, whilst a programme was issued for the inaugural match against Guernsey FC, it was revealed that programmes would be digital for enviromental reasons. Unfortunately, the season never started because Covid-19 regulations effectively created a border between the IOM and the UK.

This season, life has commenced for FC Isle of Man in the North West Counties League Division One, with programmes issued for each fixture at a reasonable £1.50. With crowds ranging from 1166 to 2112 so far, I am sure the economics stack up well.

I didn't know ptogrammes were being issued until I saw a pubgoer browsing through a programme with an after-the-match pint. Very heartening, and one of the reasons a printed programme rules.

[Hopping Mad]

York aren't bothering with a programme for tomorrow's pre-season friendly against Midlands Hurricanes.

First issue of the 2022 season - the club's first programme since 2020 - will be for the Featherstone Championship opener on January 31.

Edited January 6, 2022 by Hopping Mad

[jamescolin]

Hope that is true. I miss them. Lets hope Fev reintroduce them. Programmes p;lease

[Hopping Mad]

According to Twitter, Leigh Miners Rangers are issuing a programme (£3, included with admission) for Saturday's Challenge Cup tie against fellow NCL side Milford Marlins.

I can't find any other club flagging up, on Twitter, a programme for this weekend's first round games.

[Hopping Mad]

Seems Orrell St James hope to have a printed programme for Saturday's Challenge Cup tie with British Army. I was told, via Twitter, the club's "IT team are working on it to make the print deadline".

Edited January 11, 2022 by Hopping Mad

[Hopping Mad]

On 06/01/2022 at 17:18, jamescolin said:

Hope that is true. I miss them. Lets hope Fev reintroduce them. Programmes p;lease

York have confirmed there won't be a programme for their pre-season friendly against Castleford. But they add: A new matchday programme will be available for competitive matches throughout 2022, starting at our Betfred Championship opener against Featherstone Rovers on Monday 31^st January.

[Hopping Mad]

Bentley tweet there'll be a programme at this afternoon's Challenge Cup tie with Stanningley.

[Hopping Mad]

At the Bentley-Stanningley game today, I had a brief chat with a lad from Burton-on-Trent. He'd watched the Thornhill-RAF Challenge Cup tie the previous afternoon. Said Trojans had done a programme - a "very good one".

Bentley's was a glossy eight-pager for a quid.

Edited January 16, 2022 by Hopping Mad

[Hopping Mad]

20 hours ago, Stephen Andrews said:

So can we confirm which pro teams are intending to do a printed programme this season? Barrow are issuing their usual programme, roughly 44 pages, priced £2.

Not that easy. For example, I emailed Sheffield Eagles recently. They couldn't even be bothered to reply. Not unusual, according to a couple of longstanding Eagles fans I chatted to before the recent Bentley-Stanningley Challenge Cup tie.

My stance is 'no programme, no custom'. Happy to stick with that again this season.

I'll get over to Barrow, for sure. And I'll be at next Monday's York-Fev game.

Edited January 24, 2022 by Hopping Mad

[Hopping Mad]

Programme (£5, w/a) confirmed for Saturday's Leigh MR v North Wales Crusaders Challenge Cup tie at Twist Lane.

[Hopping Mad]

Oldham are issuing a digital programme for their Sunday cup tie with Lock Lane. It's £3. Presumably what they plan for the rest of the season. Meh.

https://roughyeds.co.uk/2022/01/digital-programme-out-soon/

[clifford]

15 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said:

Oldham are issuing a digital programme for their Sunday cup tie with Lock Lane. It's £3. Presumably what they plan for the rest of the season. Meh.

https://roughyeds.co.uk/2022/01/digital-programme-out-soon/

Really disappointed with this news

[marklaspalmas]

1 hour ago, Hopping Mad said:

Oldham are issuing a digital programme for their Sunday cup tie with Lock Lane. It's £3. Presumably what they plan for the rest of the season. Meh.

https://roughyeds.co.uk/2022/01/digital-programme-out-soon/

That's goofy. They've gone to the time and effort to put it together, which is the hard part.

Then they want folk to buy a PDF file for 3 quid?

Small print runs are cheap nowadays. Run off 100 a match. They'll go

[Dave Naylor]

12 minutes ago, marklaspalmas said:

Then they want folk to buy a PDF file for 3 quid?

Small print runs are cheap nowadays. Run off 100 a match. They'll go

I have some inside knowledge here re the Oldham programme.  In all honesty, I don't think 100 print copies would sell although I do accept your wider point.