Following on from our recent two-part post (which you can read here and here) discussing the programmes issued for the various behind closed doors games, this post features the issues for the games held from 4th to 9th July.
The covers above are those for the games played from Saturday 4th to Monday 6th July. These include the yellow and green boots image on the Norwich City programme cover for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion. Since the return of the Premier League, the Canaries have changed their cover designs, moving away from the retro kits covers of earlier in the season. Fortunately, the new designs are equally impressive, befitting our Programme of the Season Gold Award winner. Also included in this round of games were the digital only issues from Leicester City and Newcastle United, the Burnley issue for their fixture against Sheffield United, which paid tribute to the NHS, and the Wolves and Southampton ‘joint’ programmes covering all of their lockdown games.
One of the most notable programmes of the season is surely Liverpool’s issue for the visit of Aston Villa, which marked the club’s first home game as champions, following Manchester City’s defeat at Chelsea the previous week. The programme featured manager Jürgen Klopp on the cover and a four-page column from the boss inside. The best article within the programme was a seven-page feature that looked back at each of Liverpool’s previous top-flight triumphs and the occasions on which they secured their titles. The article was beautifully presented, making use of photographs and press clippings from the time. Including all their usual features, as well as interviews with Gini Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino, and Andy Robertson, this was a fine programme with which to mark the occasion. It will be interesting to see the issue that Liverpool will produce for their final home game of the season against Chelsea.
This second collection of covers was for the games held between Tuesday 7th and Thursday 9th July. Crystal Palace’s issue for the visit of Chelsea featured a cover showing Kayla the Bald Eagle, who had recently died. Kayla was the club’s mascot over the last ten years and was a familiar sight on match-days at Selhurst Park. A couple more digital only programme were included in this round of games, including Manchester City’s web programme for their fixture against Newcastle United, and Sheffield United’s issue for the visit to Bramall Lane of Wolves. Brighton meanwhile paid tribute to visitors Liverpool on their cover, congratulating the Anfield club on their title success.