Our ‘On This Day’ article for 8th September features the Wimbledon programme from the 1990/91 season. Read our notes on the Wimbledon issue below and click here to see the other 1990/91 Division One issues.
As with their centenary season programmes of the previous year, Wimbledon’s issue for 1990/91 was a 24-page A4 issue.
The main reading within the programme comes in the form of profiles of two Dons first-teamers. The first covers right-back Warren Barton, who had moved from Maidstone United in the summer for a then fourth-tier record fee of £300,000, and immediately established himself in the Wimbledon first-team. The second is a two-page profile of left-sided player Terry Phelan, which notes his recent move from full-back to midfield, and his hopes of winning a place in the Republic of Ireland international setup.
In other club coverage, there is a column from manager Ray Harford, together with ‘Home Front’, which covers news from around the club. ‘The Other View’ is an alternative look at the Dons, here noting their fortunes for the season to date and, in line with other features in the programme, referring to the negative press coverage of the Dons’ style of play. Recent matches are well covered, with team line-ups, commentary, and quotes from key participants. In addition, there are two pages of photos from recent games. As well as the usual first-team stats page, there are also notes on the club’s reserve and youth teams matches.
Coverage of visitors Liverpool is impressively presented, with two-pages of content that includes profiles of the club’s squad together with a colour team group picture and photos of Peter Beardsley, Ronnie Rosenthal, and Gary Gillespie. Also within the section is a feature that notes Liverpool’s prowess in front of goal when playing away from home, as well as recalling previous meetings of the two clubs.
Despite the extra space afforded by the page size, this Wimbledon issue lacks much in the way of readable content. Other than the two player interviews the programme is largely made up of standard club material, though the opposition coverage is well handled.