Passionate about programmes

AVID football fan Jonathan Fowle is just as passionate about another aspect of the sport – matchday programmes and other memorabilia.

Jonathan, a lifelong supporter of Kent side Gillingham, has amassed some 8,000 programmes and other items of football interest at his Mendip home but is always on the lookout to add to his private collection.

The sale can be viewed on Monday, April 3rd and Tuesday, April 4th, both days 9am-5pm.

The salerooms have free valuation days at their Standerwick office every Monday and Thursday 10am to 4pm, and no booking is required. Dates for upcoming sales are as follows: 26th April Antique, Collectable & Interiors Sale, 17th May Antique, Collectable & Interiors Sale, 24th Specialist Jewellery, Silver & Gold Sale, 21st June Antique, Collectable & Interiors Sale.

He believes programmes, in particular, shed much light on our social history from players’ hairstyles – programmes from the 1940s and 1950s tend to contain photos of players sporting a great deal of Brylcreem – to fashion trends and fluctuating economic times.

Jonathan scours auction sites and dedicated programme websites as well as looking for items in charity shops and other outlets. He is particularly interested in pre-1980 material. He said: “It’s a hobby for me, but a full-time job for some. I just find programmes fascinating.

“The sad thing is that many are simply kept in boxes in the attic and people either don’t think they’re of interest or don’t appreciate they may have some value.”

He added: “Sometimes, the most valuable programmes are those from matches which have some unexpected significance –perhaps something unusual happened which caused the match to be abandoned. Others – such as World Cup final programmes –are clearly important and some are simply very rare.”