In our latest Premier League programme review we turn our attention to the Southampton programme for the 2020/21 season. Read our full review below and click here to take a look at all of the Premier League issues for the season.
The Saints’ issue has a reduced page-count for the 2020/21 season, down from 84 pages to 68 this term. Otherwise, the programme retains the B5-sized, perfect-bound format, with a similar look and feel to last season’s issue. Southampton were however the only club not to produce a programme for each game (assuming Manchester City’s ‘efforts’ are counted as such), opting not to issue for five games in the second half of the season – Brighton, Burnley, Leicester, Crystal Palace, and Fulham.
With the reduced page count, the amount of original content provided has decreased and the programme suffers from a lack of readable material. There is an interview with one member of the squad that runs to eight pages; a column from club historian David Bull called ‘That Reminds Me’; a two-page picture from the archives headed ‘Blast From The Past’; and a column from former player Francis Benali, in which he reflects on the Saints’ recent fortunes. The programme also offers one of the more detailed junior supporter sections of any programme in the league – including a two-page player interview as well as various quizzes and space for notes on the match.
The opposition section offers only five pages dedicated to the visiting team, opening with a fact-file that includes details such as the club’s honours. There is a manager profile and notes on four key members of the team, with a squad list for the remaining players. An excellent ‘Scouting Report’ by Sam Tighe includes the team’s likely line-up in a formation graphic, with notes on some key positions, in addition to analysis of recent games and tactical shape. In related content, there is a two-page head-to-head history feature, recalling memorable games from down the years – complete with line-ups and pictures from the matches.
The programme offers a comprehensive look at each of the club’s teams, with two pages each for the women’s team and the ‘B’ team – both featuring news, results, and fixtures. In addition to columns from manager Ralph Hasenhüttl and ‘From The Dressing Room’ with Danny Ings, each issue offers news in ‘Inside SO14’; notes on the work of the ‘Saints Foundation’, and a first-team stats section that covers five pages.
It is a shame that the Saints programme was trimmed down for the 2020/21 season, and even more so that the decision was taken not to produce an issue at all for five of the behind closed doors games, particularly given that this is a programme that had shown clear signs of improvement in recent years. The return of the programme for the final home fixture against Leeds does at least offer hope that normal service will be resumed for the 2021/22 season.