The latest in our series of Premier League programme reviews is now available – as we take a look at the West Bromwich Albion issue. Read our review below and click here to see all of the 2020/21 top-flight issues.
Always one of the best reads of any season, the West Brom programme returns for 2020/21 with a retro design, using the same styling as the team’s current home shirt both on the cover and in places throughout the issue.
In line with what we have come to expect from a Baggies programme, there is plenty of fascinating historical content. This season, many of those relate to the club celebrating 120 years at The Hawthorns. ‘Programmes of the Past’ for example, looks at a selection of programmes from past meetings with the day’s opponents, with notes on the content and pictures of various pages from the respective issues. ‘Hawthorns History’ is another such feature, telling in detail the history of the club, while ‘The Hawthorns’ Greatest Games’ recalls notable matches played at the stadium. As with the other features, this is beautifully written and makes good use of historical images, as well as a cover of the programme from the match.
Perhaps the pick of the historical features though is ‘The Impossible Dream’, a four-page article that goes back 90 years to tell the story of the 1930/31 season, when the club won promotion and the FA Cup – the only time this particular ‘double’ has been achieved in English football. The level of detail about matches from the time provides a fascinating and valuable insight into this unique achievement.
The programme also offers a feature looking back to the 1992/93 season, when West Brom achieved promotion to the second tier, while ‘Memory Match’ reports on a notable game against the day’s opposition. There is also a four-page junior supporters’ section and an interview with one current player.
Given the high quality of the original content included, it is somewhat disappointing that much of the rest of the programme feels rather more perfunctory. The opposition coverage for example is limited to seven pages, with something of a statistical focus. Only ‘Opposition Lowdown’ provides any kind of reading about the visiting club, being written by a reporter associated with the team. Similarly, club information is a touch patchy. There are several pages of stats about the first team, including detailed reports of previous matches, and a couple of pages on the club’s community foundation, while Albion Supporters Club Chairman, John Homer contributes a column. Information on the club’s other teams is more limited. There is an article on one of the club’s younger players who is currently out on loan, but it seems no dedicated sections with information on the form of the development squad or women’s teams.
Whilst this programme lacks the consistency of the league’s best issues, ‘Albion News’ is arguably the pick of the bunch in terms of the quality of its original content. Impressively written, and offering fascinating insights into the club’s past, the West Brom programme provides some of the best reading of the season.