Back Copy: Programme Shops
Andy Greeves
As an avid collector of football programmes, a trip to Yeovil Town's Huish Park last season provided me with unexpected bonus when I came across the club's programme shop.
Situated in a hut between the Augusta Westland and Thatchers Gold Stands, the shop was packed with a mixture of Glovers' home and aways, various league and non-league copies from throughout the decades, as well as 'specials' from cup finals to internationals. After ferreting through boxes for the best part of half an hour, I left with two considerable sized carrier bags, spending more on programmes and binders to store them in than my match ticket that evening.
Much like their contents, programme shops at football grounds these days can be considered something of a relic. The vast majority of old programme sales are done through online trading sites such as eBay, private auctions or programme fairs, while the closest many club shops get to offering something with nostalgic appeal are retro shirt remakes from a bygone age.
Those programme shops that still exist at grounds in the Football League - at Peterborough United, Walsall, Dagenham and Redbridge, Crewe Alexandra and Crawley Town amongst others - are often run as a labour of love by supporters. Nigel Cowling, for example, drives from Sheffield to Peterborough's London Road ground every matchday to man Posh's Programme Shop alongside fellow lifelong fan and season ticket holder Mick Sexton.
Walsall
At Walsall meanwhile, Programme Shop Manager Andrew Poole happens to hold another important role at the Bescot Stadium, where he has also been Programme Editor since 1998! Like at the other grounds, the Walsall Programme Shop is only open on matchdays but if you happened to visit the Bescot when there isn't a Saddlers' game on, it's not uncommon for Andrew to open the shop on request during the week.
Walsall have had a programme shop for over 30 years going back to their Fellows Park days. It started life at the old ground as a tiny Portakabin in the car park, which collectors would have to point out what they wanted through a window. On moving to the Bescot in 1990, the Portakabin was finally large enough for people to go inside and choose their purchases. "Better still, the shop was moved to an office outside the away end which was very plush," says Poole.
The Programme Shop was removed by a previous regime at the Bescot some 15 years ago, with fixtures, fittings and even the carpet taken away. Andrew sold a limited selection of old programmes in the shell of the shop until his late father Pete and Uncle Keith came along, redecorating, refitting and restocking it. The shop has from strength to strength ever since.
Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge's Programme Shop has also flourished through adversity. On November 11 last year, the club suffered a break in, with parts of the ground vandalised and the shop set on fire. Some 10,000 programmes were destroyed in the blaze together with a wall display of club history and memorabilia. Daggers fans rallied around magnificently though, donating their collections and spare programmes. Football clubs, collectors and programme dealers across the country were also quick in helping them replenish their stocks.
The programme shop, which can be found under the Carling Stand at Victoria Road was reopened this year and Shop Manager John Chapman comments that its resurrection is in no small part "thanks to the kind and generous people involved in football".
At non-league level, programme shops can be found far more frequently than in the Premier League and Football League, with www.nonleaguematters.co.uk reporting the existence of at 77 programme shops at non-league grounds a few seasons ago. The likes of Aberystwyth Town, Bishop's Stortford, Bradford Park Avenue, Forest Green Rovers, Gateshead, Oxford City and Winchester City are amongst those clubs listed as having a programme shop. With the collecting of programmes as popular as ever - proven by thousands of members that are part of the free-to-join UK Programme Collectors Club (www.pmfc.co.uk/ukpc.html) - programme shops provide a form of revenue clubs throughout the football pyramid can tap into.
In the Premier League and Football League though, there are far greater commercial targets for clubs. The shops that still exist however will continued to be loved by collectors such as Paul Matz, Editor of Programme Monthly. "Sadly programme shops are no longer seen at many clubs, but those that continue offer an excellent service to fans and collectors," he said.
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