Bassett scoop top-four finishes in programme awards

Thursday 14th May 2020

Royal Wootton Bassett Town secured fourth place in both the Non-League and Ladies categories of the 2019-20 Soccer Club Swap Shop Programme Awards.

The outcome marks the fifth consecutive year that Bassett's first team programme has been voted in the non-league top ten – and the second year in a row that it has placed fourth.

Meanwhile, entering the Ladies edition for the first time, Bassett scooped fourth place overall – beating the efforts of all Women's Super League teams bar award winners West Ham United.

These are outstanding achievements that reflect the time and effort put in to producing the publications, which are edited by club President Mark Smedley and printed by long-time club sponsor Cats Solutions.

The programmes have also benefited from the contributions of Steve Green, whose excellent photographs have adorned the cover pages, as well the teams' respective managers Sam Collier, Jonny House and James Goddard, Ladies captain Laura Jefferies and Press Officer Stuart Smedley, who have all provided regular content.

Non-League section

Demonstrating the consistently high quality of non-league programmes, the top five in 2019-20 remained the same as last year.

And the only clubs whose efforts were deemed to have bettered Bassett's all ply their trade at steps one or two of the non-league pyramid, with National League side Stockport County taking the overall crown followed by Chelmsford City (National League South) and Leamington (National League North).

Combined Counties League Division One (step six) outfit Epsom and Ewell finished a place below Bassett in fifth.

Bassett's programme has now achieved a top twenty finish in eight straight seasons.

Congratulations also go to fellow Hellenic League Premier Division side Brackley Town Saints, whose programme was ranked in the top fifty (38th).

Ladies section

Following Bassett's promotion to the South West Regional Women's Football League Premier Division, it was decided to start producing a programme for ladies' team fixtures.

The publications certainly impressed the judges, with it being beaten only by higher level sides in the form of West Ham (WSL), Wolverhampton Wanderers (FA Women's National League Division One Midlands) and Watford (FA Women's League Championship South).

The ladies' programme was even rated better than that produced by the women's teams of giants Tottenham Hotspur (5th) and Manchester United (8th), both of whom play in the WSL.

Bassett's full results:

2011-12: Joint 50th in non-league, Best Programme in Hellenic League Division One West
2012-13: 20th in non-league, Best Programme in Hellenic League Division One West
2013-14: 19th in non-league, third best in Hellenic League Premier Division
2014-15: 12th in non-league, Best Programme in Hellenic League Premier Division
2015-16: 1st in non-league, Best Programme in Hellenic League Premier Division
2016-17: 3rd in non-league, Best Programme in Hellenic League Premier Division
2017-18: 6th in non-league, Best Programme in Hellenic League Premier Division
2018-19: 4th in non-league, Best Programme in Hellenic League Premier Division
2019-20: 4th in non-league, Best Programme in Hellenic League Premier Division; 4th in Ladies

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First team programmes from the 2019-20 campaign are available to download here.

Last modified on Thursday 14th May 2020 at 16:38.