Seems a shame to let a chance pass.
I know that tech savvy people can find out what the squad is on their phone, but if the programme is to succeed it has to be bang up to date.
Otherwise it will fail.

I would buy it, even though I can use my phone.

I bought one and thought I had got from a butcher as it so full of tripe.

I used to enjoy reading the programme when Jemmo used to write articles but I stopped getting them some time ago for the same reasons S/O mentioned.

I thought the new 50p sheet was going to be on the same lines as the old team sheet Ray used to produce but with the sponsors names added.

I like to know the names of the opposition and the ref's name but yesterday's offering wasn't very helpful. I won't be buying one in the future. It's a step back from what Ray used to do before.

i bought one but i was disappointed it didn't even list the D/R players we had either.
Simple information which would help, which is what you buy it for essentially.

on match days I always manage to obtain a team sheet with a full list of both teams I would gladly pay 50p just for that. Im sure they could have a set document with sponsers ect already on it then just add a few words from RH or CH then just add the teams print off 200/300 copies on Sunday morning.

Well I said the same ...
In a world where operations can be done at any time, in a remote way if needed, and editing is a doddle, there is little excuse for a programme as minimalistic and not glossy as ours to not be bang up to date.

I can't believe that the club thinks this programme fits the bill, because it clearly doesn't.

in the good old days we had a TEAM of players who played week in week out and most of them for more than a couple of seasons, so recognising players was not an issue, Now because we have near enough a new team every season then all the D/R farce by the time you can put a name to a face the season is about over, or is it me thats just getting old ???

I'm as disappointed as you with the programme as it fails to give us what we need - a list of players who are playing with their shirt numbers included.

From what Ray Green has said in the past, the selected players are not usually known until 2pm so they couldn't get them ready on Sunday morning.

I think the players should be banned from changing their hair styles as that throws me at the start of each season with many of them!

What?
The squad with numbers will do and the opposition squad with numbers will do.
That is known well in advance.
And the players that are injured can be omitted.
How is that hard?

I think it is understood that slight variations might happen on the day but that is no reason to not do the rest.
The team on the day will come from that listed and numbered squad and everyone with a programme can tell who is who on the field.
The D/R players are know well in advance and ought to have a numbered shirt.

I don't want a list of squad numbers. I want a list of the 1 to 17 for both teams showing who is actually playing - like Ray used to do on his team sheets in previous seasons.

Paying 50p for the same list of squad numbers each time doesn't have much appeal.

In its present form the club will be lucky to sell any.

And I meant the 19 on both sides with numbers ... so we agree.
I am saying that claiming we don't know the playing players until 2pm on the Sunday is rot, apart from last minute pull-outs.

I'm glad we agree.



I'm only passing on what Ray Green said with regards to actual teams not being confirmed until 2pm.

I couldn't believe that Brad Fash was allowed to play in a shirt with no number last week. The RFL admin of the game seems non-existent. Teams announced by 1.30 at the latest - with all players allocated a shirt number doesn't seem too much to ask, does it?

And another thing...

The RFL ought to insist that all teams in our league submit a 19 man squad by 5pm on Friday for Sunday games with them showing the squads on their website. At the moment their website says, "Squad details to be announced shortly", giving no indication when shortly is.

Part of the build up to the weekend action, for me, is getting to know the squads on Friday. I really don't know how the RFL think the game will attract more fans when they don't get the basics right to keep current fans happy.

The squad is/was announced on Friday and if someone wanted to couple that with the squad numbers which are out there and on here too, then they would have all the info ... that's what people with a smart phone do/ can do.
However you shouldn't have to or have to do the same for the opposition.
So this programme could be handy for people without a smartphone like your good self.
lol

Nice try S/O. You're not going to persuade me that I need smartphone!



I need an RFL that know what they're doing!

The squad announcements at ou level are just a curesy, not all clubs do it and non e are obliged. Neither are the y onlibged to name a true squad, they could name 19 players and pick a completely diffeent one

In fact Workington this week named a player in their 17 who wasn't in their 19

That's true but the lack of information for the fans does nothing to improve the image of the game. In fact, it makes it look quite amateurish... but sadly that maybe where League One will be when the Sky deal ends.

Be intereting to see what he other clubs doing similar are offering

Just seen this on another website, a list of how other clubs do their programmes/matchday information:

Still in print (programme for individual matches): Barrow (£2.50), Coventry (£2), Dewsbury (£2.50, 24pp), Huddersfield (£3), Keighley (£3, 56pp), Leeds (£3, pp nk) London Broncos (£3, 40pp), London Skolars (£2.50), North Wales (£2, pp nk), Oldham (£3, 24pp), St Helens (£3), Salford (£3), Sheffield (£3, 40pp), Swinton (£3, 36pp), Toulouse (price/pp nk), Warrington (£3), West Wales (price/pp nk), Whitehaven (£2.50), Wigan (price/pp nk), Workington (price/pp nk), York (£3, 26pp)

Still in print (monthly magazine): Castleford (Roar, £1), Hull (The 18th Man, £1), Hunslet (South of the River, price n/k)

Still in print (matchday information sheet): Doncaster (two sides of A4, 50p)

Still in print (local newspaper insert): Bradford, Halifax, Wakefield

Digital only: Batley (free to download), Hull KR (register for free download), Leigh (free to download)

No programme of any description: Featherstone, Newcastle (though Thunder issued what appears to be a one-off 'physical' programme for the 25/3 Toronto double-header), Rochdale, Widnes

Interesting that only about half now produce a programme for each game, with many having digital only, or nothing at all

Part of a club's marketing strategy ought to be to get fans excited about the weekend match ahead. By announcing squads, preferably at a fixed time each week, say 5pm for Sunday games, it helps build some enthusiasm for the game.

Not doing so seems like a missed opportunity to me, and I'm sure it frustrates the die-hard fans as this is the most important announcement of the week.

Thanks for the info on how other teams deal with the 'match day programme', Jemmo.

Featherstone produce a Team Sheet available in Club Shop Free or make a Donation if you feel like.

What I would do is, print off the one side with RH's comments etc on the Friday, only need a hundred or so I'd guess.

Have them laoded in the photocopier so when you have the team you can print off the line ups onto the blank side just as quiickly as they used to last season.

Sell them for 50p

Which is what we are saying ... use your influence Jemmo to make it so.
lol