football programmes

I started collecting in the 1980's, buying a few programmes from a dealer on the way to watch Nottingham Forest. We all start somewhere and I began by collecting programmes from the 1965/66 as this was the season that saw Englands finest footballing moment, I am not talking about Northampton Town's only season in the top flight, I am of course referring to the 1966 world cup final.

Once I had got the bug I started collecting programmes from Nottingham Forest's FA Cup winning season (1958/59) and by that time I was well and truly hooked.

It is difficult to name my most prized programme, its a bit like choosing which of your children you love the most. It is probably the Tooting and Mitcham v Forest FA Cup 3rd round game from 1959, it is not the most valuable but it set Forest on the way to the cup final.

There are many and varied colloctions out there. Personally I go for Nottingham Forest homes post 1950 and England homes but I know of people who collect the following.

All programmes from the career of a favourite player
All programmes from the year or date of their birth
One programme from each club
European competition programmes
Reserve games
Testimonials
Local 'derbies'
Non league in the FA Cup
Friendlies

The list is endless and people go to great lengths to obtain that elusive 3rd Division North game to complete their season.

There are many sources for buying football programmes, the obvious one is Ebay Where there is usually over 100,000 lots to bid on.

A very good reference website which includes a collectors forum and shop is The Football Programme Centre The posters on the forum are extremely knowledgeable and friendly.

There are a number of online dealers which can be found using your search engine. Some of my favorates are
Football Programmes.com
Brentside
Dick Rattray
RJ Programmes

There are a number of specialst auctions held throughout the year many of which have a mixture of lots from ultra rare programmes to bulk buys. If you are planning to bid it is always advisable to view the lots where able to ensure you know what you are bidding on. Many of the auction houses offer internet and phone bidding.

Car Boot sales. It is getting harder to find bargain football programmes at car boot sales nowadays as stall holders incorrectly believe their run-of-the-mill 1970's programmes are worth a fiver each. However there is still the odd gem to be found such as the 1973 FA Cup 3rd round game between Notts County and Sunderland that I picked up in a job lot for a tenner, I sold that single programme for £80.

Football programme fairs are good places to meet real people with the same obsession they are full of people with a wealth of knowledge and provide excellent networking opportunities. You can also see and feel what you are buying and the smell of the old programmes that fill the air is enough reason to pop along. Up coming fairs are as follows:
Sunday 7th November 2010 - West London Fair, St Stephens Church Hall, Emperors Gate, Kensington, London SW7 4HJ 10.30am - 2pm
Sunday 14th November 2010 Folkstone Invicta Fair, Stripes Bar, Cheriton Road, Folkstone, Kent. 11am - 2pm (in Aid of the Bobby Robson Foundation)
Sunday 21st November 2010 - Norwich City Fair, Russell Allison Lounge, Carrow Road, Norwich. 10.30am - 2pm.
Sunday 28th November 2010- Wolverhampton Fair, Terrace Bar, Stan Cullis Stand, Molineux, 10.30am to 1.30pm
Sunday 19th December 2010 - Leeds Programme fair, Soccer City, 1 Benyon Park Way, Leeds, LS12 6DP
Wednesday 29th December 2010 - Sheffield Fair, Holiday Inn, Victoria Station Road, Sheffield, 11am to 2pm
Thursday 30th December 2010 - Greater Manchester Fair, Cresta Court Hotel, Church Street, Altrincham, 11am to 3pm

It is a common question and one that is difficult / impossible to answer. A programme is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. If two people want a specific programme to complete their collection the price can sky-rocket beyond all expectation.

Here is a general price guide for run of the mill programmes by season:
Pre War programmes are quite rare and often sell for a minimum of £100.00
1946/47 - 1949/50 - £15.00
1950/51 - 1954/55 - £10.00
1955/56 - 1957/58 - £7.00
1958/59 - 1963/64 - £5.00
1964/65 - 1966/67 - £3.00
1967/68 - 1969/70 - £2.00
1970/71 onwards - £1.00 unless face value is higher

Condition is also key to the value of a programme, collectors generally want programmes in good condition which means no writing on the front or inside, no team changes or folds.

Big game football programmes often atrract a premium. Dealers websites, sold items on ebay and auction sales are often good places to start when valuing these issues.

You would be hard pushed to buy a pre war FA Cup final programme for less than £500.
Rough prices for other FA Cup Finals are as follows;
1946 Derby v Charlton,1947 Charlton v Burnley, 1948 Man Utd v Blackpool £150 each
1949 Wolves v Leicester, 1950 Arsenal v Liverpool, 1951 Newcastle v Blackpool, 1952 Newcastle v Arsenal, 1953 Blackpool v Bolton £100 each
1954 West Brom v Preston, 1955 Newcastle v Man City, 1956 Man City v Birmingham, 1957 A.Villa v Man Utd, 1958 Bolton v Man Utd £40 each
1959 Forest v Luton, 1960 Wolves v Blackburn, 1961 Spurs v Leicester, 1962 Spurs v Burnley, 1963 Man Utd v Leicester, 1964 West Ham v Preston, 1965 Liverpool v Leeds £15-£20 each
The rest of the FA Cup final programmes can be picked up for less than a tenner (less than £2 for most of the 1980's games) with the exception of the following
1970 Chelsea v Leeds Replay at Old Trafford £30
1991 Spurs v N.Forest £25
1992 Liverpool v Sunderland £25
1993 Arsenal v Sheff Wed Replay £100
1996 Man Utd v Liverpool £100
1999 Man Utd v Newcastle £30
2006 Liverpool v West Ham £35

As mentioned, some programmes are sold for big money. Here are some recent examples from Auctions that should have you going through your loft or your Dads, or Grandads loft;:

1904 FA Cup final programme sold for £18,000
1915 FA Cup Final Chelsea v Sheffield United £9,000
1902 FA Cup Final Southampton v Sheffield United £8,000
1956 European Cup Final Real Madrid v Reims £6,600
1926/27 Milwall home programmes (Complete set) £6,500
1912 FA Cup Final replay Barnsley v West Bromwich Albion £5,600
1920 F.A. Cup Final Aston Villa v Huddersfield Town £4,000
1920 England v Scotland £3,880
1922 FA Cup Final Huddersfield Town v Preston North End £3,800
1927 Charity Shield Cardiff v Corinthians £3,000
1919 England v Scotland £3200
1923 England v Belguim £2600
1948 Italy v England £1900
1936 grimsby v Chelsea £1,400
1953 Middlesboro v Manchester United £340