SHANNOCKS ON THE ART ATTACK

FROM Banksy to the big screen, iconic logos and even graffiti, Sheringham FC’s unique programme covers are winning awards – and they’re selling in big numbers!

Superfan and creator Matthew Hagon is drawing plenty of attention to the Eastern Counties League Premier Shannocks with designs that prove a printed programme is still very much alive and kicking.

“We have a programme available to supporters, we could do it online but I think it’s quite a traditional thing to have,” Hagon told The NLP. “Even pro clubs aren’t doing it as much now and we wanted to keep it alive.

“The time it can take to make can really vary, sometimes it’s a couple of nights but we had an FA Cup replay and had a turnover of a days, it can be stressful but we have a really good local printer and I’m quite lucky to have good people around me to help me do it.

Proud

“I’ve pretty much learned through my own knowledge and if I can’t do something I’ll try and find something on YouTube and that’ll teach me how to do it.”

Last season, the Shannocks scooped the best programme in their league and placed 45th in the National Soccer Swap Shop’s programme awards.

The aim this year is to finish even higher but Hagon is nevertheless proud of their first attempt given how many clubs enter the competition and their Step 5 level.

“We have fans that look forward to the programme and buy one every game, we’ve had opposition fans and groundhoppers say it’s a really good programme and it’s done really well,” he added.

“The quality of the paper has been good and that counts towards it.

“The programme is sponsored so we are able to cover the costs of it through sponsorship, it’s not much the club gets from it but it’s something I’m passionate about, doing the printed version of it, so I want to try and keep that going as much as possible.

“We are trying to raise a bit of the profile of the club with some of the unusual and unique things we do.”

The unique covers started from the middle of last season and have sold out in every home match.

“It’s just something nice for the regular supporter to see but also appeal to a wider audience like the number of groundhoppers that come to see us,” Hagon added.

“Hopefully they are seeing we are doing something different every game and think, ‘That’d be a nice one to go along to’.”