Hammond & Silke’s
Time Machine for True Fans
In "Fully Programmed: The Lost World of Football Programmes," Derek Hammond and Gary Silke bring a collector’s eye and a fan’s nostalgia to the humble matchday programme. Few writers are as qualified to guide readers through this lost world—Hammond’s sharp prose, honed in FourFourTwo and the NME, blends seamlessly with Silke’s encyclopaedic fanzine knowledge. Together, they breathe new life into the forgotten pages that once shaped the matchgoing experience for generations of fans.
Hammond and Silke capture the eccentric beauty and wild variety of pre-corporate programmes, before every club’s output became a standardised sheet of glossy sameness. They commemorate the era when each cover held a surprise, each manager's message was intimate, and the A-Z scoresheet immersed you in the national narrative. The authors spotlight features like the Football League Review centerspread and the charming "At Home With..." interviews, all wrapped in designs that mirrored changing graphic trends.
What makes this book sing is its sense of reverence for the material. Hammond and Silke recognise programmes as more than paper—they are living history, lovingly preserved in the folds and creases of old issues. Packed with vivid reproductions and insightful commentary, "Fully Programmed" becomes both a visual feast and a cultural archive, thanks to the authors’ meticulous research and infectious enthusiasm.
Anyone who recalls the excitement of holding a new programme before kickoff will find this book a nostalgic journey. Hammond and Silke's storytelling, which elevates pocket-sized ephemera to the status of cherished artefacts, will also captivate new fans. With "Fully Programmed", these authors have given football’s printed past the tribute it truly deserves.
Why Soccer Programmes Are a Good Investment
Soccer programmes have become a smart investment for collectors and fans alike. Unlike mass-produced memorabilia, each programme is a unique time capsule—capturing the teams, players, and cultural quirks of a specific match day. As football’s popularity has soared, rare programmes from historic games or milestone events have only grown in value, often fetching impressive sums at auction. Beyond the financial rewards, they offer something priceless: a tangible link to the past, filled with stories, adverts, and line-ups you won’t find anywhere else. Collectors know that as clubs evolve and digital replaces print, these physical programmes will become even scarcer. Whether you’re after the thrill of the hunt, the joy of nostalgia, or the hope of future profit, investing in soccer programmes is a way to own a piece of the game’s living history—a small, paper window into football’s soul. ~ The Soccerbooks Team
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48
Published: September 16, 2015
Price: £16.99
ISBN-10: 1785310763
ISBN-13: 978-1785310768
Hardback: 160 pages
Dimensions: 174 x 246 mm
Lavishly illustrated
