Widnes are likely to [url=http://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/view_news.php?ID=453stop producing matchday programmes[/url after tonight's game; Alan and Dave, please reassure the masses!

How are your sales going by the way? Do you produce and sell your own and then sell the ones from the RFL as well?

I can certainly re-assure 'the masses' that we will continue to produce 'The Centurion' for each and every home match. We are currently hard at work, producing the programme for the Batley game.

I must confess to not knowing what the sales figures are, but I'll find out. I think we are hardly selling any of the 'RFL' magazines. I don't wish to knock the RFL publication, in any way, because I feel that any extra publicity, for the Championship, is a good thing. I do not think, however, that it should replace the Club magazine - despite the Halifax CEO's views - and I do think that much of the content is a re-hash of what appears in the 'trade' press.

I did get hold of the Wigan programme and thought it was an excellent read - well done. Sorry to say, but I think I share Alans sense of humour as his columns caused quite a few chuckles..



I will be across for the Sheffield home match in July and I hereby promise to buy a programme then..

First time I've been accused of having a sense of humour - other than a warped one!

Correct me if I am wrong but does the club not still have to buy the RFL ones regardless of wether you sell any or not? I think the minimum order is 250 so if you don`t sell hardly any are you not loseing money on them?

You are correct there. I 'm not sure of the exact number we have to purchase, at £1 per copy, although it turned out to be double the number we were initailly advised of!

We decided to continue with 'The Centurion' for a number of reasons:-

[uCommunication [/u- we believed our supporters wanted to read about their club, and our visitors. (we always aim to produce at least a double page spread on our visitors, plus a feature by one of their supporters. =blueActually, we haven't had a volunteer from 'Fax yet - if you are interested........?

[uRevenue -[/u the income from sponsors/advertisers, is significant. We didn't want to lose that.

[uContractual[/u - we had a contract with our excellent publishers, to produce 'The Centurion' for the 2009 season! (not that this was a major factor, in our decision!)

I can, of course, appreciate that many clubs do not feel the way we do, and respect their reasons for discontinuing the match programme.

Probably because very few clubs produce a programme of a similar standard

We thank you for that, Matt. Having experienced the work (and hassle!) first hand, (although I enjoy it tremendously) I reckon a good few clubs have jumped at the chance to stop doing a programme. I have a couple of disgruntled, former programme editors lined up to do the 'Opposing View' article!

I think the Leigh magazine is far better than the RFL one. In the boxes I always see people taking the Leigh ones home whilst the RFL ones lay abandoned on the tables.

The problem is that all the information is already a week old before you get the chance to read it - I always skim through it but I definitely wouldn't buy one.

Further backing up the theory that it's a glossy League Express.

I would echo Alan's comments but state if you get chance to buy one please do so as sell outs mean income for the club. Also we are always open to suggestions and contributors that can be worked in with Dave Bradshaw in particular mentioning that the current programme could even be expanded. So whilst other editions are slipping from their perch, thanks to the hard work and drive of Alan, plus all of our regular contributors, "The Centurion" is in rude health, although I would be interested to speak with anyone that could help with providing coverage for the reserve team as it looks like I will not be available for every game this year.