Talk Of The Town second in Programme Monthly’s design category
The Hatters’ matchday programme Talk Of The Town has been named runner-up in the design category of Programme Monthly’s Sky Bet League Two Programme of the Year awards.
Designed by Heather Ellis at Relish Design with input from Hatters’ marketing and communications manager Ed Smith, TOTT is a 76-page programme with a number of different contributors in each edition, as well as a range of interviews, information on the day’s visitors and yesteryear.
The £3 publication was beaten to top spot by Wycombe Wanderers’ Parklife, whilst TOTT – printed by Luton-based Bartham Press – also received one of the highest scores for overall production.
Programme Monthly wrote about the design of the Town’s programme – edited by the Hatters’ press and communications manager Stuart Hammonds with sizeable contributions from press and marketing executive Charlie Hanson and club historian Roger Wash – which received a score of 9/10: ‘Similar to the winner in terms of its design style, although ‘Talk Of The Town’ uses a Mexico ‘70 style font for the titles. A nice easy read thanks to the clean and clear visual presentation, bringing the best out of the content. The use of only matt paper also makes it stand apart from most other clubs and it’s all the better for it.’
With all of League Two’s programmes receiving an overall review, the general production of TOTT received a lot plaudits from Programme Monthly, in which it was awarded 8.5/10. Plymouth were winners with 9.5/10 and Hartlepool and Mansfield joint runners-up with 9/10.
The magazine wrote: ‘Talk Of The Town uses a template design style throughout, and it’s a very good one, with a Mexico ‘70 style font for the titles and clean layouts that never feel too busy.
‘Up Next’ is a good page on the opponents for the next fixture, followed by the visitors section - six pages long with player profiles and an excellent two page interview with one of their supporters.
‘Picture the Past’ follows, a photo from a past match against the opposition across a double page spread. ‘Hatters Hotel Room-Mates’ sees two players that room together on away trips spill the dirt on each other, whilst recent match coverage is really well presented with a good balance of interesting reading and photos.
‘There are different feature articles and interviews with first team players throughout, and ‘Travellers Tales’ is an entertaining account by a supporter of a recent away trip. ‘The Camera Never Lies’ provides more photographic nostalgia with a fascinating vintage shot spread over two pages, whilst ‘Trick or Treatment’ is an entertaining column by the club physio.
‘Hold the Back Page’, a column by a supporter concludes a high standard issue. B5, £3, standout article/feature – ‘As Others Saw Us’ – A look at a game from the past through the eyes of a local paper covering the opposition and the national press.’
Back issues of Talk Of The Town can be purchased online from Hatters World by clickinghere