FOOTBALL programmes are very much part and parcel of the matchday experience, just as much as a pie and a pint.
Stalybridge Celtic’s decision to move away from print to a digital only programme has proved controversial.
You only have to look at the demographics of non-league fans to realise that some are not into the hi-tec age.
It is an ageing following at many clubs and, by not having a printed programme, Celtic have excluded a section of their following from keeping abreast with happenings at Bower Fold.
Chairman and majority shareholder Rob Gorski apologised to the “traditionalists” – I include myself – but explained it was forced upon them as sales of the programme were dwindling and it was losing money.
They are reasons which are acceptable as the club couldn’t justify producing a programme at a loss, but did Celtic seriously explore alternatives?
Their programme, which was outsourced, was printed on high quality gloss paper which was expensive whereas a more basic and less expensive paper would have done the job.
By contrast, I stumbled on the operation at Hyde United which is surely a template for other clubs to follow.
Hyde print their own programme at the club, and I got to witness the operation for the recent match against FC United.
With a bumper crowd of 962, the club had underestimated the demand for programmes and by 7pm they were running low.
They simply went back to the office and started printing them, one 36-page programme every 40 seconds.
Programme editor Andy McAnulty explained if clubs have a printer, it is easy to produce.
What is more, he added Hyde’s programme is profitable so might that be something for Celtic to look at?
• Mossley’s programme has also been forced to go digital, but it nothing to do with the reasons Celtic have cited and it is only a temporary measure.
The sudden death of long-standing programme editor John Cawthorne has left huge void at Seel Park.
Mossley are looking for a new programme editor so they can resume a printed programme in the not-too-distant future.
I heard it through the grapevine that Stalybridge Celtic are setting a precedent in reducing the clubs CO2 emissions, starting with abolishing the printed programme.
The CO2 produced by all the individual elements of producing a paper programme is huge! From making the new paper (because I can assure you Hyde DO NOT print on recycled paper), transporting it to print, producing the ink which in most cases makes the new paper unrecyclable, and the huge amount of electricity needed to print the programmes.
Lets do some quick maths:
40 seconds to print 1 programme
X
800 programmes sold
=
8.8 HOURS OF PRINTING TIME!
That’s almost 9 hours of a printer printing non stop!
With the average printer producing 5-6g of CO2 per page lets do some more quick maths:
36 pages X 800 Programmes = 28,800 pages (yes wow!)
Lets average CO2e per page at 5.5g
5.5g X 28,800 pages = 158KG of CO2e
That’s equal in weight to 158 Bags of Sugar!
This is appauling!
Well done Stalybridge Celtic on leading the way on a cleaner, greener, carbon free future!