Match - Day Programme

[Cookie]

Cant remember who printed them last season but does anyone know if they are doing so again this year. I felt that last years programme was dire. I dont know what others thought. Whether its the content given to the printers or just the printers that lack imagination,I dont know, but I believe we really must up-grade that particular item this year.I have seen some cracking progs at other clubs,some clubs in lower leagues than us so all in all I hope we DO get a much better programme this year. If others can do it then we should be able to. I suppose that when we eventually get a coomercial manager things will then be taken in hand. I hope so. I would like to hear others views on this.

[MargateFan]

My thoughts are that the programme suffered as much from the lack of revenue as every other aspect of the club. We had no advertisements from sponsors except for Jacketts, and the whole thing must have been put together on a shoestring, and the sales must hardly have covered the printing costs. We also lacked rather a lot of positive news, we had no youth, ladies or reserve teams to write about, and the club officials, squad management and players probably felt too much under the cosh to even want to write any programme notes, even if they had anything less than gloomy to report.

This takes nothing away from the MISA pieces which went in, as I always thought that they made a sterling effort to put something interesting in each week, and I did look forward to reading their notes.

But I can see the fortunes of the programme shadowing the fortunes of our club now, getting better is the only way it can go!

[Guest]

And I guess we need to be patient about what is spent where in the club. Yes it would be great to have the best programme in the league. The points on costs and sales are very valid. Let's hope that this year sales increase with attendance and new advertsing. It all goes together. But we must also remember that other clubs charge the same as we do for programmes but charge higher ticket prices. Our club has for years had one of the lowest gate prices in the league (whichever league). And whilst I would agree that there have been better programmes around, I have seen just as many where the only real difference is more adverts! I'm sure it will come right in the end, it just needs a little time.

[MargateFan]

And you know, I forgot to mention that there were always stats and match reports in the programme, which used to keep my dear husband occupied in much analysis and speculation on some of the longer journeys home after some of the more trying wet and cold match days.

I rarely turf anything out of my car so there are always a few bits and pieces of interest to read in there somewhere.

[Cookie]

June. I hear what you and others say concerning this but the attraction of the programme,to me,was nil. Whilst I wanted to purchase a programme every week it just seemed to be the same items and details in there week on end. I have seen and bought other programmes elsewhere that were more than worth the money and that gave you a good read that could last you the whole of the half-time period. Even driving home from away games I tended to read through the programme again,due to the vast content inside. I am afraid that with our programme I didnt both feel it was worth the money and secondly that the content was very poor. Surely to publish a more in depth programme for a few pennies more,which would give people like me more interest, then surely the club would,in the end make more money by both the price increases and the increased sales that would come from it.I brought this up because it might make a difference somewhere high above and I felt it would be another talking point too.My father,who never misses a programme purchase suddenly stopped buying one because of thereasons I mention above.If people like him stop buying one then there really must be a problem. I do think that despite the reasons you and others give,we can and should be doing a lot lot better with this.

[michael]

In the circumstances last year, as Margate fan suggests, i think the club did well to get something printed at all.

 

Lets be honest, the money ran out, and this was the least of the problems.

 

Like all maybe it can slowly be improved during course of season ,especially if as suggested, sponsers /advertisers are lining up.

Indeed, they will probably 'demand' a decent advertising media in return for their support of the club.

 

Also ,its the hard work and skill of one or two individuals who volunteer to do the programe that is required-have we got those indiduals before we criticise too much.

 

Team is priority for me,but nice if accompanied with a decent programme i agree.

I'm sure it will slowly work its way up the priority list for MFC

[michael]

The existing programme editor is probably a wizzard at it but has been hampered by lack of funding.

 

If he/she is not a whizzo at it, maybe someone else is and could volunteer their services,but its a job week in week out-not so easy

 

Don't i recall the infamous 'Porka' doing exactly that about 18 months ago.

[MargateFan]

The programmes for the previous seasons were better, ther is no disputing that, but we were then in a better position in the pyramid, and had bigger support.

As we build back to that position and support, there is no reason to doubt that the programme will also improve.

[Guest]

It's years since we had a decent programme, certainly all the Conference years ones, including last year, were poor.Don't think you can totally blame lack of resources or sales for the lack of quality, plenty of Kent League clubs have much better programmes.

[MargateFan]

That's not actually true, I have a pile of programmes at home from previous years, which hold up very well against the away ones from the same time period.

[Guest]

The thing about programmes is that it's not really about resources but time. Most progs at non-league level are put together by a volunteer/s. If people want to see a better prog they should offer their help.

[Guest]

Margate Fan you must be easily pleased! During the first two Conference seasons our programme was an embarrassment - Worchester City, Dag & Red and masses of spelling mistakes coupled with out of date league tables and stuff lifted straight from the internet, mostly out of date. Then things went downhill. The away programmes you're favourably comparing ours to must be a big stack of something like Chester away from the first Conference season, that was terrible and the only one I saw that you could reasonably say Margate's was an improvement on. There definitely wasn't a worse programme in the Conf South last year. As far as I'm aware the programme is 'edited' by somebody who doesn't even go to games!

[Guest]

To other anon – at the time we played at Chester during that first Conference season the club was in meltdown and there was an open revolt against the chairman, which I guess would have had an impact on things like the programme.

In the 'Steve Parmenter era' the programme was pretty terrible and, I think, that showed a contemptuous attitude to the supporters. There was no excuse for the poor spelling, especially in these days of spellcheck.

Remember the lad Oldfield who wrote a mildly critical match report? Whatever happened to him?

[Paul H]

I agree with ya. Knowing the editor personally and being his neighbour for years, knowone should underestimate his ability. Ive seen him at work. I believe he does it as a hobby although dont quote me on that. He took the programme over from the old days when it was white with the old badge on it. Much improved since then. Have faith in him. Next season with the youth and developments goining on im sure it will be worth the money.

Up the gate! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bounce.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

The programme was at its recent best around 2000. Why can't we go back to that standard again at the very least. After all, it couldn't have cost a bomb to make them. The most important thing here is content. A couple of original articles, preferably something not even from the internet, hence there is a reason to buy the programme. I'm not condemning last season's idea to put the articles on Tales from the Coffin End, but I just think if the MISA thing was exclusive to the programme there could be greater uptake.

[Guest]

A couple of thoughts. The overhead of getting original content is in actual fact quite high, so some stuff that is also produced for the web is sesnsible given volunteer's time constratints. Also, I'd guess that 50% of those that attend Margate home games - particulalry now we are back at Harstdown would not have access to the internet. So for them, it will all be "new" content. So there is an inherant tension. I know we do have some people that are willing to provide original content, but even then, another volunteer has to format the material etc. As most of you know, I do provide content for botht he programme and web-site, so there goes my hand up at the "non-unique" content on previews and match reports. What I will do, is think about some unique content and make some suggestions, but feel free to do so too.

[Margate Don]

Steve,

What I'd really like to see in the programme is a profile each match of one of the players. Photo, football statistics and then a set of personal questions like where born, where did you go to school, favourite food, music, book, film, holiday - those sort of things. Chances are there would be enough players through the books in a season for one a match but could always include the non-playing staff as well. Should be fairly easy to get the players to contribute if they are given a proforma sheet to fill in and would certainly help the fans get to know the players.

[Guest]

Good idea. Although I will not be editing the programme, I am happy to collate ideas on behalf of you guys and gals and put them to whoever is appointed to do the programme. It would be helpful if you could e.mail them to me. At least then I won't miss any in my trawl through the forum. But please don't stop discussing the ideas here too!

 

My e.mail address is steve.wells@margate-fc.com

[michael]

I agree with Margate Don,

 

We recognise the players by their on pitch performances, but like all of us, they have other lives and families ,and to share a bit of the human interest side that would create a warmer bond and lead to fans being more supportive and less critical when someone has an off day.

 

A bit like the bit about Trego where he went to his cricketing contacts to raise support for Paul Sykes family-