I read a very interesting article on Substack this week about the the printed programme by Trevor Knell, a professional writer and someone whose opinion I value. Now, I have been collecting programmes since 1964 and although I am now looking to sell my entire collection of some 20,000 programmes, programmes and shirts (obviously!) are close to my heart. More about my sale below.

With Trevor’s kind permission, he has allowed me to reproduce part of the article. Because of the T&Cs of Substack, you will need to read the rest here You are also able to access Trevor’s entire Substack library. You are welcome to contact Trevor via Substack or if you prefer here.

The Printed Matchday Programme.

The printed matchday programme. A staple of the game for so long, a
legacy part maybe but every season it’s under threat. That is despite
clubs actually moving back to a printed copy and more so since 2020.
It’s something that divides opinion throughout the game and more so
now than ever before. As a kid I was I guess an avid collector, more from
the point of view that it contained information and tons of it.

I do have a vested interest in the printed copy; I run a little sideline
business that offers a column to clubs on a home game basis for a full
season. It’s been running since 2020 and currently sits at 11 clubs in
total.

There are columns out there to use that can be downloaded, but I don’t
even find these in some of the publications I’ve picked up. That is the
minimal work you can do to add something to a programme.

The cost as well considering clubs have been paid by their sponsors for
their adverts is pretty high in some cases with no real reading material.
Some do make a great effort, some produce some stunning work to pick
up and muse through.

Continue reading here

I would also think this is an appropriate place to remind people of O-M Matihalti’s incredible programme quest. Think of it as a massive treasure hunt! See here It is a great way to build your programme collection fast and at no cost. Shout me or O-M for more details

…. and, sadly, I also need to make an announcement.

Some of you know that I have not enjoyed the best of health for several years. A Cardiac Arrest, 16 months in hospital and most recently a stroke. The doctors have been very honest this month and say I have had more lives than Top Cat and I am very much on borrowed time. So, it is with great dismay that I announce that l am looking to sell my entire programme collection.

The entire collection is for sale as one single sale. It is 20,000 plus or minus.

A quick overview – ca 20,000 programmes including hundreds and hundreds of big game (Cup Finals/Internationals) and probably 500+each from Spurs, West Ham, QPR, Chelsea, Palace and Brentford.

There are 3500 (counted) non league programmes going back to the 1970s.

I also have almost 900 books about football and another 100 on different sports (primarily Cricket but many others) I have 250+ Cricket magazines (Wisden etc including 20+ complete years in binders) There are probably 100+ DVDs and a similar number of annuals going back to the 1950s.

I need to be realistic on price and will be. They are available for collection from a storage unit near Heathrow. I also have 18,000 non-football books and 500+ DVDs/Blu-rays available either as a separate one off sale or at an absolute give away price with the programmes. That is almost exactly 600 cubic feet of collections.

I repeat, l am not going to sell anything individually. I am not scouring 40, 000 items for Hilton United v Liverpool Rangers Reserves re-arranged game single sheet from 1987. No, this is a one-off sale at a bargain price. It has been a great hobby over 60 years but realistically now is the time to say goodbye.

Please contact me if interested. HERE or steve (@)theshirt2010 co uk

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