Game On.. : Tue Oct 19, 2010 5:26 pm  

Heard on the grapevine today that the multi-club match programme Game On has been given the boot for 2011 , with Clubs returning to their own in-house publications.

Just interested to know how many people actually bought it and how many more might buy a programme that was specifically devoted to the Cougars ?

Re: Game On.. : Tue Oct 19, 2010 7:43 pm  

I've looked at Game On a few times and it wasn't my cup of tea to be honest.

Generally i've always found programmes to be a little on the bland side.

A review of the last game/ reserve matches.

A few diplomatic words from a coach/director welcoming the opposition over and kissing the backsides of the sponsors.

Maybe an interview with a player or two.

Upcoming events and a squad list on the back.

It would need a bit more than that for me to buy one on a regular basis.

Maybe a fan's perspective on things in an article,

Or have a Q&A section where fans can e-mail their questions (however silly or serious) to a different player, coach or board member for each game.

Re: Game On.. : Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:09 pm  

It all depends on cost Rach - both the cost of production and the cost of the programme on sale.

Please don't take this the wrong way but I can remember when the programme was 6d and adult admission was 2/6d. I suppose that defeats my response - as the programme cost/admission was in a ratio of 1:5 and it is less now!

I can acept that programmes need to be professionally produced but, in times like this, when every penny counts, wouldn't it be worthwhile working on the production of a programme at minimal cost to the club using PC-based technology and simply producing sufficient for the game instead of jobbing it out to a third-party printer who needs a minimum volume and the club incurrs a loss on each programme produced?

The vast majority of pages (i.e.adverts) are the same week-in, week-out so templates for these could be produced and printed in one 'job-lot' with the infill pages containing up-to-date news and the selected players added by the week - in fact, if planned correctly, the standard pages (containing the adverts) and covers (with the date and k.o. time of the game and opponents name being left blank) could be printed in a single run before the start of the season. There's also no need to have the selected teams on the back page - they always used to appear in the centre pages - so why not again?

The 'infill' pages could then be produced on Thursday evening/Friday morning at the latest (assuming a Sunday game) and added to the pre-prepared pages before the next home game. An interview with the Coach could be completed earlier and still contain up-to-date news on the condition of palyers, injuries etc..

The higher the cost of a programme, the fewer are sold - basic economics. I only bought one this season because there was little of interest to me when the majority of the news related to the other teams and I could see no reason why I should pay £2 to read news that did not relate to the Cougars.

I believe that if you work on around 200 to 250 programmes being sold at every home game as a true 'Cougar Programme' then you could be somewhere near. Then work backwards to see how much it would cost to create - given that written articles would be free and, with a bit of luck and a stapler, the assembly (by volunteers) of the finished version would be free of cost.

Just a thought.

Re: Game On.. : Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:18 am  

Years ago at Bradford City I remember people buying the fanzine rather than the programme - more humourous, irreverent, and not afraid to speak it's mind. Anyone ever thought of doing a Cougar one? Mind you, think we'd need a bigger fan base first.

Re: Game On.. : Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:50 am  

Mick W. wrote:

Years ago at Bradford City I remember people buying the fanzine rather than the programme - more humourous, irreverent, and not afraid to speak it's mind. Anyone ever thought of doing a Cougar one? Mind you, think we'd need a bigger fan base first.

Would that be the City Gent one?
If it was then i also used to get mine. It was a great read whilst having a drink in the Fighting Cock........................oh happy days.

Re: Game On.. : Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:37 am  

Did suggest a Fanzine that could be an insert into the programme, however if that is going........ I would like photos of Cougar fans and thier stories and more updates on how well we are doing in the classrooms. Events listings etc as not everyone uses a computer. Possible photos from the junior clubs/reserves/womens team etc with a small write up. It could be done on a small scale at first and just photocopied with the team sheet added each home game. Small charge which cover costs and when it takes off try to get sponsorship for it.

Re: Game On.. : Wed Oct 20, 2010 1:39 pm  

Aye, t'waas the City Gent, which I believe is the oldest footy fanzine still going. I used to get mine rolling out of the Belle Vue, which isn't even there now!

Re: Game On.. : Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:09 am  

guess who wrote:

Would that be the City Gent one?
If it was then i also used to get mine. It was a great read whilst having a drink in the Fighting Cock........................oh happy days.

Best pub in Bradford.

Re: Game On.. : Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:21 pm  

Mick W. wrote:

Aye, t'waas the City Gent, which I believe is the oldest footy fanzine still going. I used to get mine rolling out of the Belle Vue, which isn't even there now!

I wasn't a city supporter but remember getting dragged along by a mate. I recall the Belle Vue as packed and smokey with scantily dressed ladies cavorting on tables. Are you sure you just went for the footy Mick

Re: Game On.. : Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:23 pm  

Dreamer wrote:

I wasn't a city supporter but remember getting dragged along by a mate. I recall the Belle Vue as packed and smokey with scantily dressed ladies cavorting on tables. Are you sure you just went for the footy Mick

It must have been for Lumb Lane's finest dancing girls. He's used to watching 5th rate "football" at Pompey!