Digital technology has already enhanced many aspects of the armchair football fan’s TV experience but now, for the first time in the 128-year history of The FA Cup, an interactive version of The Official FA Cup Final programme will be made available online in advance of Saturday’s match between Chelsea and Everton.
FA Cup Sponsor E.ON has exploited recently developed web technology so fans not lucky enough to be at Wembley this weekend won’t be denied an essential part of the match day experience – poring over a ‘magazine’ full of pictures, statistics and interviews from both managers and key players in advance of the 3 o’clock kick off.
And to help provide the complete Wembley experience – the online programme (or i-mag) comes complete with the words to the FA Cup hymn ‘Abide with Me’ – sung at every Final since 1927.
The interactive Cup Final preview also offers some significant features that the traditional paper-based memento can’t.
The i-mag is full of moving images and video footage of key FA Cup moments and the goals scored on this year’s road to Wembley.
This modern twist to football programmes does however provide something of a conundrum to the tens of thousands of fanatics in Britain who invest their money and leisure time into programme collecting.
Robert Stein (56, from London) has been collecting programmes since attending his first Chelsea match in 1965.
Formerly in the banking industry and now a private investor in the sports and entertainment business, he is also the owner of the most valuable FA Cup Final Programme of all time - the 1915 Chelsea v Sheffield United ‘khaki cup’, played at Old Trafford and so called because the majority of the spectators were wearing their army uniforms.
Robert bought his programme from another private collector in 1999. Only five programmes are thought to still exist from this match and a soiled, folded copy fetched £15,000 at auction in 2001.
Despite collecting the originals from days gone by, Robert believes digital programmes are a good thing.
He says: “Programme collecting is a wonderful way of understanding the history of the game. You can’t halt the tide of inevitability and online programmes will help promote the hobby of football memorabilia collecting to a worldwide audience.”
Phil Boas, Head of Sponsorship & Events at E.ON, adds: “The FA Cup has a rich history of creating memorable moments and, by embracing technology, we’ve found a new way to give fans another unique way to enjoy the excitement of Cup Final day for families watching the game at home.”
The digital FA Cup programme, which forms part of E.ON’s season-long Family Football initiative, aims to encourage families to come together to watch The Final on 30 May.
All season E.ON, has brought families and football together by offering a host of FA Cup benefits.
Thousands of fans have got their hands on the trophy as it has travelled the country on The FA Cup Trophy Tour, witnessed the amazing skills of football freestylers at E.ON Family Football Lounge events and scooped a number of exclusive FA Cup family ticket packages.
To download this year’s digital FA Cup programme for yourself, please visit the website www.familyfootball.co.uk from Monday 25th May 2009.
