Brickies hit the programme jackpot

Sittingbourne still sell large amounts of their traditional paper programme, as well as digitising them for those who can't get to the match- and now they've digitised many more of their historical programme collection, some of them dating back as far as 1960.

Programme Editor Peter Pitts explained:

'One of the best ways of looking back is through match day programmes of yesteryear, and as programme editor going back some ten years, with my brother John in the role before that, between us we have lots of copies of programmes in a format that is ideal for putting on the internet. So that’s what I decided to do back in early March when I created a website that is solely an archive for match day programmes.

I started with the last three seasons because those programmes were in a format that I could easily transfer to the web, however my collection goes back to the 1950’s and earlier, and also includes match day programmes of Lloyds and Sheppey so I hope to add those sometime.

That’s not such an easy task as each page has to be scanned, so its just as well that I am (supposed to be) retired!

Some of the programmes that I hope to add include the souvenir programme in celebration of the completion of purchase of the Bull Ground, Sittingbourne. Sittingbourne FC v Polish National X! Saturday January 30th 1954. Also included is the programme from our first ever game at Central Park, 1st September 1990. Friendlies against League clubs also feature including v West Ham Utd, 10th August 1993, Tottenham, and Arsenal. The latter programme was the first season that Arsene Wegner joined Arsenal. The game was played on the 2nd August 1997 and one of the Arsenal scorers in the game was Nicolas Anelka with his first goal for the Gunners. The Tottenham friendly of 26th January 1993 was a record crowd for Sittingbourne of 5951.'

The website is a work in progress, but it is rather fascinating. If you're a Programme bibliophile and you'd like to take a look and have a read, then you need to head here.

We hope you enjoy it. We did!

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