West Brom committed to future of programmes

Clubs in the Football League are no longer obliged to produce programmes for every home game after voting against it this year due to declining sales and increased printing costs.

But the Baggies will continue to produce Albion News next season because it is seen as a valued tradition and continues to make money.

Editor and fount of Albion knowledge Dave Bowler writes roughly 25,000 words for each edition of the club’s programme, and he thinks there is still a healthy appetite for them, even in the age of the internet and social media.

“I don’t think many clubs will stop producing them,” said Bowler. “Maybe a Forest Green Rovers, who are, with all due respect, at the small end of the scale.

“But it’ll be a brave club that’s been around for 150 years that will stop them. I can’t see someone like Notts County or Tranmere for example doing it. They are a big part of the match day experience.

“Without wishing to be critical of the Football League, one of the great things that they’ve got going for them is tradition.

“Look at the Championship, eight out of the original 12 founding members are in that division next season. You should be celebrating that.

“I accept that a lot of people get what they want from Twitter and Facebook, but equally there’s only so much you can put into a tweet compared to a proper article.

“They are different things and they are equally valid in different ways.

“It’s a pretty poor football club that can’t make money out of a programme, we’re all breaking even, but most in the Championship are making money out of it, it’s all useful stuff.”

Some of the most illuminating articles in Albion’s programme in recent years have been the lengthy interviews with players.

In April, Ben Foster revealed that Tony Pulis ‘had to go’ after the defeat away at Huddersfield and that Alan Pardew ‘tried to change too much, too quickly’.

But those were just two titbits from a long piece that covered plenty of bases.

“There’s no way you can do that on the website,” said Bowler. “The interviews I do in the programme, they’re 2,500 words, it’s rare for people to read that online.

“I think programmes have got a part to play, but we’ve got to stop trying to compete with internet because you’ll lose.

“My stuff goes to print on Wednesday afternoon, I can’t pretend to be up to date, so it’s feature stuff, history stuff, fan stuff, culture staff. It’s becoming a magazine.

“That’s what programmes have to be, of course you have to write about the day and opposition, but it should also more considered.

“It’s important to give people value for money. £3.50 is a lot of money but we stack up pretty well to your average maagazine in WH Smith which costs £3.50 and if you love the Albion, we’ve got you covered.”

And despite the long hours that will only intensify with more games in the Championship next season, Bowler has no intentions of hanging up his pen just yet.

“It’s a major effort, roughly 60 hours a week and I also chip in with the website and commentary,” he said. “But it’s better than working for a living!”