Colchester United will be giving fans the chance to read all about it in 2018/19, with the exciting news that every fan coming to home matches will be given a complimentary programme with their ticket.
At a time where the future of match programmes is being debated by clubs up and down the country, the U’s have cemented the programme as a key part of their matchday experience by ensuring everyone who buys a ticket (including Season Tickets and Annual Subscriptions) gets their hands on a copy.
Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling said: "Matchday programmes are part of the experience of football. They are cherished by fans, coveted by collectors and read cover to cover by our junior supporters.
"We typically embrace technology as a football club, but we still feel that the programme is too important a piece of matchday tradition to let slide away.
"Over the years, our match programme has been well regarded in footballing circles and, whatever the outcome of the current debate at other clubs, we want our programme to remain a key part of our matchday experience."
Each match programme in 2018/19 will include unique and exclusive content, along with a number of vouchers and special offers with a range of businesses and leisure options around the town, giving fans of all ages even more opportunities to benefit from their support of the club.
These are expected to include some family friendly options for the club’s younger supporters and their families.
Since the move to the new stadium in 2008, the club have welcomed thousands of young supporters to watch their local team in action, down in no small part to the U11s for free offer of the last four seasons.
With that fantastic offer set to continue next season, U11s and their families can now enjoy a memorable day out including a programme and the offers contained inside, as the U’s look to continue to build a fanbase for the future.
Industry leader Mark Bradley of the Fan Experience Company, who has worked across the EFL to transform the matchday experience and was full of praise for the U’s initiative for the new season.
He said: "I think the U’s are taking a really positive step here. For some time they have been recognised as a leading ‘family’ club. As anyone who has attended a game there will confirm, there is much more to the matchday than 90 minutes of football.
"We know that for kids, for example, the matchday programme is a really important part of the experience, so to make it a part of the ticket purchase will only strengthen relationships, at a time when the club’s 'fans of the future' are becoming fully formed."