Award Winning Matchday Programme, The Game

Independent View name The Game The Pars Official Match Day Magazine best in First Division for Season 2012-2013. Read the programme review in full from Independent View Magazine.

Read the award review in full from Independent View Magazine

The Game, Official Match Day Magazine, Dunfermline Athletic FC:-
Independent View - Scottish 1^st Division Programme of the Year,
Season 2012-2013 / Duncan Simpson, Scottish Editor of the Year

The Game the Official Match Day Magazine of Dunfermline Athletic contains 48 pages and is priced at £3 which is excellent value for money. From the striking visually attractive front cover page an immediate first impression is gained. A vivid colour action shot takes up the majority of the page but is very effective. With such a dynamic front page what would I find inside? It was with a great sense of anticipation that I opened the magazine up to look inside wondering what I would find. After initially skimming through the programme I was struck by the fact that although the pages throughout had a very dark background this was contrasted by the use of some very colourfully designed features. This gave the whole format and appearance of the publication a different feel and makes it a great deal easier to read.

As you progress through the programme you can't fail to be impressed with the diversity of the many topics featured. From first to last page there is a variety of well structured and designed features which are engaging and capture the interest of the reader. Page 5 allows the Manager Jim Jeffries the opportunity to express his thoughts, reflections and aspirations in a one page commentary. The striking thing about this feature is that two colours yellow and are used for the script making it look very effective. News Desk as it says is a two page feature which provides news items about different aspects of the club. Once again the pages have been designed to use a very effective background.

The two pages dedicated to the opposing team contain a feature which deals with many facets of the club. This is a very detailed and well researched item. Pars Progress a one page report on the last game is really simple yet quite attractive and full of the essential information you need to know. Using a part of the page to include a colour action shot to combine with team details and a Match Summary make this a well structured feature. Every detail is covered including attendance and red and yellow cards issued. Once again the use of yellow and white print helps the page to standout. This item is replicated another two times later on in the magazine and features more match reports.

A fabulous two page section deals with Dunfermline's Under Twenty Team. This comprehensive item includes concise match reports with colour shots of some of the players in the team. There is a section which includes statistical information including fixtures and results along with the current Clydesdale Bank Under 20 League Table. The next two pages Facts and Figures contain a wealth of statistical information. On one colourful page there is a very record of Players Appearances and Goal Scorers along with the First Division Top Goal Scorers. This is a very impressive page. On the second page you will find a very comprehensive well tabulated list of fixtures and results. This section is very impressive and informative. The Interview allows the opportunity for a player to answer questions posed to him about his career, playing for the club, honours won and personal questions. This two page feature looks very attractive by the use of different colours for the writing and the inclusion of a number of colour action photos.

Around East End Park is a two page feature with contains news and notices about events, community activities and other club events. Using boxes of different colours to hold the details makes this a very stunning inclusion. Everyone is catered for with a page set aside for young supporters and another one for community involvement. There is an exceptional four page section devoted to historical features. On This Day features events relating to the club that have in specific years. Featured Years contains short pieces on former players with a black and white picture of each one. Past Perfect deals with a former player with details of his career and a question and answer session with him. As a great advocate of the importance of club history I found this feature to be very fascinating and probably my favourite part of the magazine.

A unique inclusion I really enjoyed reading which is unique is the feature where Senior Pastor Jimmy Dowds, a self confessed Dunfermline fan provides the fans with his thoughts and stories. What can I say in summing up this review of The Game and where do I start? The magazine itself is probably one of the best designed and structured match day publications that I have seen. There are so many positive attributes. I really appreciate the exceptional quality and design of the Game which you can't fail to be impressed with. It is a fantastic publication and a very good read. Throughout you cannot commend highly enough the creativity displayed in the design, layout and content which can only be classed as being phenomenal. Congratulations to the Editorial Team for producing the Scottish First Division Programme of the Year and also to Duncan Simpson who has been rightfully awarded the Scottish Editor of the Year.

Neil Patterson, Editor, Independent View Magazine