Our review of this season’s Chelsea programme is published today, with a full look at the Blues’ impressive issue. Read the full review below and click here to take a look at all of the Premier League issues from the current season.
Chelsea’s programme retains the look and feel of last season’s issue, as well as the extended features that made that programme such a good read. With several longer-form articles within each issue this is a programme offering plenty of content.
Perhaps the pick of these articles is ‘Brick by Brick – The Story of The Bridge’, a recurring feature that recounts the history of Chelsea’s stadium over the years, with five pages full of detail about different aspects of the ground’s history. ‘The Deep Dive’ is another quality feature that offers insights into the Blues’ past. Varying between six and nine pages each issue, the article is usually focused on a particular player, but has also covered memorable or unusual occasions.
‘What’s the Story’ meanwhile sees a former Blue recalling memorable games from their time with the club, including plenty of archive images. Also showing off various images from the past is ‘The Vault’, which offers several pages of pictures on a different theme each issue, including everything from goal celebrations to autograph hunters!
On top of these retro features, there is also a seven-page player interview, including a selection of key stats and some impressive full-page photography. ‘On This Day’ provides a two-page image from the archives, together with some associated commentary, while ‘The Last Gasp’ is a one-page feature looking back at important late goals from Chelsea’s past. The programme also contains a two-page junior section with basic features and a competition.
Club information is extensive, with the coverage of Chelsea’s ‘other’ teams being impressively handled. There is a two-page spread for each of the club’s youth, development, and women’s teams, each with words from their respective head coaches, alongside images and stats from the season. There are columns from the first team manager and captain, as well a couple of pages of news and a page on the work of the club’s community foundation. The stats section towards the back of the programme is extensive, offering five pages including the usual two-page season spread, player records, and notes on recent landmarks.
Perhaps the only aspect of the Chelsea programme that prevents it from challenging for our end of season honours is the visitors’ coverage. There are seven pages devoted to the opposition team, starting with a two-page column from former Blue Pat Nevin, who previews the day’s fixture, looking at the opponent’s squad and form, and previewing the expected tactical battle. There is also some selected information about the visiting club, a short manager profile, and pics of squad members with basic biographical detail only. Separately, ‘Rewind’ looks at a past meeting of the two clubs, with a match report, stats, and pictures.
Very well presented, with some high-quality design and layout, the Chelsea programme has much to offer. The longer-form articles provide far better reading than is common in many modern issues, and the coverage of the club at all levels is impressively detailed. A more in-depth visitors’ section would place this programme among the best in the league.