Programmes

& fanzines

Pile them up in the spare bedroom

Season 2001-2002 (so far)

Reading by David Jennings

• Front cover? Black plus title: 'Heading for the Top'. Player photo as well.

• Value for money? £2.50 for 64 pages with glossy cover. Poor value.

• Decent content? 'Kingsley's Madejski Stadium Tour' - the lion-type mascot has his photo taken in the stadium gym with attempted humorous captions. Plus some decent match reports.

• Attractive design? Very modern and good layout.

• Best article? 'Former Royals' traces the careers of former loan signings.

• Overall? Average.

Bournemouth by David Jennings

• Front cover? Special 'Fitness First Stadium' over-cover.

• Value for money? An unbelievable £3 for 68 pages.

• Decent content? Wrexham's squad details are the sort you'd find in Rothmans. Eight pages of Dean Court photos - past and present. And a buy-a-brick scheme mentioned with a photo of the PGS!

• Attractive design? Nothing special - simple.

• Best article? Nice piece about the Avenue Ground, Dorchester, their temporary ground for three months.

• Overall? Very good - but not worth £3.

Hereford by Peter Davies

• Front cover? Two anonymous Conference players run towards the ball.

• Value for money? £2 for 32 pages - POOR!

• Decent content? Decidedly below average. Basic and rudimentary. Odd publicity poster enclosed as well.

• Attractive design? Basic and rudimentary.

• Best article? 'Hereford-Wrexham Connections' (p.11). Slightly provocative.

• Overall? Not fantastic.

Cambridge by Peter Davies

• Front cover? Strange, surreal pic of Perez, the home keeper.

• Value for money? £2 for 54 pages - fine.

• Decent content? Lively, varied, lots of different features.

• Attractive design? Nice amber-and-black feel to everything - but not sure about the over-large page number 'markers'.

• Best article? Internet round-up, 'web.wise'.

• Overall? Satisfactory.

Swindon by David Jennings

• Front cover? Photo of Matthew Hewlett.

• Value for money? £2.50 for 56 pages.

• Decent content? 'Behind the Scenes', 'STFC Diary', 'From the Airways', 'Division 2 News' - hard to find anything below average.

• Attractive design? Very good.

• Best article? Review of recent six-a-side tournament at the County Ground between local businesses.

• Overall? This will compete for programme of the year come April, but the price is its only downfall as their programme last season was slightly better and only £2 in price.

Brentford by David Jennings

• Front cover? In big bold letters: 'TW8'. Says underneath: 'The Home of Real Football'.

• Value for money? £2 for 48 pages.

• Decent content? A wide variety of columns; 'Match to Remember', 'Interview' and 'Action replay' with three match reports. Also a good quiz page.

• Attractive design? Very plain.

• Best article? 'Bee-hind the Lines' - a page about soccer in general, but mostly with Brentford connections.

• Overall? Very good.

Bristol City by David Jennings

• Front cover? It declared: 'Well Red: Happy Christmas to all our Readers!'

• Value for money? £2 for 52 pages. Average.

• Decent content? 'Over the Gate' - news in brief. Interview with Steve Phillips. 'Rewind' - past meetings between the sides.

• Attractive design? Good.

• Best article? 'What's Next' - ticket news and ground maps for forthcoming games.

• Overall? Very good.