Our latest programme review looks at Burnley’s digital issue for the 2020/21 season. Read our review below and click here to see all of the current season issues from the Premier League.
It is something of a disappointment to see Burnley opt for a digital only programme this season, becoming one of three top-flight clubs to do so. This is particularly so given the consistently excellent ‘Turf’ issue that the club has produced over several seasons, including winning our first ‘Programme of the Year’ award for the 2017/18 season. At least each issue is presented in a downloadable format for fans to be able to keep, although accessing the programme does require a subscription to the club’s in-house media channel, at a cost of £4.99 a month.
At least the club has retained the essential ‘feel’ of past season’s programmes, offering a well put together issue. The issue is well designed, with a consistent feel, including recurring motifs like page edging, (which are often absent from digital programmes), although the attempt to use outline fonts against pictorial backgrounds is less successful.
The amount of original content may have dropped in comparison with previous seasons, but there are still some impressive features that provide worthwhile reading. The pick of the articles this season is ‘From the Archives’, a two-page retro feature that looks back 100 years to Burnley’s 1920-21 title winning season. Each issue tells the stories behind the season, including some terrific archive images and press clippings.
Other content includes ‘Squad Numbers’ – a recurring feature that looks back at various players associated with a given squad number – telling the story of their time with the club and notes on what they have done since leaving Burnley. The main player feature covers six pages, while ‘Kit Cup’ gives fans the opportunity to vote on the club’s best kits down the years, and ‘Bird Box’ sees Phil Bird offering his thoughts on current footballing matters.
Opposition coverage amounts to eight pages, starting with an introductory article on the visiting club’s form and transfer activity. There is a tactical line-up graphic from the team’s last match and a manager profile, followed by four well laid-out pages of pen-pics and a two-page article called ‘In Numbers’, which gathers notable stats from the visitors’ history.
Each issue provides a thorough look at all aspects of the club. Alongside the usual manager and captain columns, there is a two-page update from the boardroom, with Chairman and CEO contributing their thoughts during the season. Previous matches are covered over two pages, with a backdrop of an action picture from the game, a report, line-up details, and match stats. Each issue also provides updates on the club’s community work, as well as coverage of Burnley’s women’s team, and the club’s under-18s and under-23s, with recent match news, player profiles, and squad stats. The first team stats section is well laid-out, with a nicely designed season spread, as well as the league table and a couple of ‘stat pack’ pages.
Whilst we hope that Burnley, like the other Premier League clubs currently providing digital-only issues, will return to printed programmes when fans return to stadiums, the Clarets deserve credit for at least providing a worthwhile digital issue. This is a generally well-designed programme, containing some interesting features and extensive club information.