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GOALMOUTH! |
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Written by Stuart Frew
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Sunday, 06 August 2006 |
 Please may I take your ear and offer some observations on the new matchday magazine, ‘Goalmouth’? I suppose I’m speaking as an average Hibs fan but also with the benefit of the majority of my working life spent as a professional proof reader and typesetter, thus handling thousands upon thousands of articles of printed matter over the years.
In the past I have been involved in the production of various sporting publications ranging from professional football clubs to boxing events and countless other amateur and semi-professional sports clubs in mainstream and minority sports.
At first sight, the magazine reminded me of a 1960’s programme in it’s slightly ‘retro’ design. That slightly interesting notion quickly died as I leafed through the edition. An early impression was that there was very little content, an obvious point perhaps in light of what others have said and the 12pp format but this impression was not just down to the lack of articles but also the content within them too.
On that note I’d like at this point to offer a personal observation to John (Campbell) here and his ‘Swinging Sixties’ article. It doesn’t need to be repeated that I have always admired the writing you beautifully craft from your distinct love of our club John but this particular abridged format and narrow word count requirement really ensured your article suffered. Several times over the precious few paragraphs you were allotted, I became interested, nostalgic and ready to read much more, only to be ultimately disappointed and frustrated by the way you had to gloss over a very interesting subject. As a small niggle (which I hope you will forgive me as he’s a personal hero!) in an official publication and in an article referring to Joe in the early 1960s’, I’d have enjoyed seeing a picture of Joe Baker actually from that era.
I hope and trust that you will not take this constructive personally as it is aimed at whoever demanded an article of that size from you as a contributor, rather than yourself. You really deserve to be given your head as always and I would add my disquiet from the Mass Hibsteria discussion forum that your work and reputation may potentially suffer due to being involved in this devolved production. Basically you were denied the opportunity to excel as you normally always would.
The above general criticism can be similarly levelled at the Kevin Thomson interview which consisted of the sum total of just four questions. I’m quite sure Kevin has a lot more to say for himself in his role as Hibs captain than that.
Speaking generally, Goalmouth has the essence of candyfloss – bite into it and there’s nothing there. Open the front cover and it’s quickly over with little in-between.
Technically speaking, much of the type matter is in too small a point size. Having, as previously stated, having experience in the print trade (twenty-seven long years!) I recognise that factor as a money-saving one. I have seen it many times when producing programmes for the likes of amateur volleyball and basketball teams and the like. Clubs with little or no revenue to spend on such publications.
Perhaps Hibernian would like to go the whole mile and imitate historic print luminary and scholar, Aldus Manutius in employing an italic font throughout the publication to save space and therefore a few more pennies? I probably shouldn’t jest about that though…
The stock that Goalmouth is printed on is wholly inadequate. This applies both to the cover section and to the text pages inside and is another obvious cost-cutting measure. The material used is inappropriate as programmes are many times purchased by customers who wish to collect them. That factor is surely much of the appeal, particularly in these days of mass web coverage. If the buyer is lucky enough to make it home on a wet December Saturday afternoon after a game with Goalmouth in one piece, it certainly won’t last the test of time for a collector and will disintegrate too quickly in my humble opinion. One doesn’t have to be a print professional to make these simple observations however.
Other points:
• I’d be slightly miffed if I were a player sponsor and my name didn’t appear in the matchday magazine
• There is no ‘hook’ for the younger Hibees in this publication. A glaring omission in my view. There has to be four-colour photographs of the players, (not just the team line-up on the inside back cover). There have to be articles that address ‘Hibs Kids’ needs and their hunger for the club they are just setting out on a hopefully long and enduring relationship with. Don’t ever underestimate the need for looking after the young ones; they are our lifeblood and our future.
• I didn’t personally enjoy the total lack of material about the opposition. Are we really that self-centred and ego-centric in football these days that we can’t even acknowledge and speak of our opponents? How many opposition fans will buy Goalmouth as a souvenir on that basis as a side issue?
In summing up I’d like to compare Goalmouth with other printed matter emanating from Easter Road. We all have or opinions about the former programme and there have been many words written about that, but in this instance I’d like to mention other printed products. I have been very impressed with the mailings I have received from the club in recent seasons. The nice quality brochures, informative newsletters, lovingly written, which keep distant people like me in the loop and season ticket promotional material are the true standard that Hibernian should be adhering to. On this basis I cannot condone what the club has decided appropriate to offer the Hibernian support in this instance.
There needs to be a u-turn in policy here. Sometimes our club get things very right and hopefully we applaud when that is the case. In this case they have in my humble opinion got it totally wrong. My wish is that they will be big enough to listen to the adverse fan reaction which is very evident and make the necessary radical changes. Over to you Hibs.
We shall be watching - as always…
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