Exeter City programme editor Mike Blackstone tells us how he became the editor of our multiple award-winning matchday magazine, as well as revealing a bit about the secret behind producing a great programme.

Taking over as editor of the programme at Exeter City in 1993 was a dream come true. Having already contributed to the programme for a number of years stretching back to the 1969-70 season, my first experience as programme editor as actually at Exmouth Town FC. I was asked to take the job after moaning about the poor issue they had!!

Exmouth proved to be a good grounding for me, as I also became involved in a lot of administrative tasks, as well as watering the pitch occasionally! I am pleased to say that the programme won Best in the Western League for four consecutive seasons.

After a short break from editing programmes, I returned to edit the Grecians' issue after being asked to do so by then Comemrcial Manager, Steve Birley. I had helped to edit the Elmore programme when Steve was there a few years earlier, as well as producing issues for, Plymouth Argyle (as well as their club magazine); Ottery St Mary to mark the opening of their floodlights with matches against QPR and Nottingham Forest; Topsham Town; Exmouth Amateurs; the local Morrison Bell Cup competition; and Stoke Gabriel.

Having taken over the City programme midway through the 1992-93 season, there was little I could do at that stage, although I did make various changes. It was the 1994-95 season that The Grecian (then known as The Grecian Gazette) evolved.

With further awards, the programme also expanded in number of pages, with 48 being the normal version, although we did increase to 56 for a while as well.

Amazingly, the programme, which has never had a production budget prior to the 2003-04 season and had to stand or fall on revenue generated by sales, was the worst in the Football League for many years as regards colour content. So when at last the Club dragged itself into the world of modern printing techniques and went full colour, this was not only an ambition fulfilled, but a major step forward.

Since then, and indeed ever since I have been editor, the programme has been printed by Kingfisher Print and Design in Totnes. It is a relationship that has thrived over ten years, despite a few setbacks (mainly Club finances!) along the way. Without their design and print expertise, The Grecian would not be what it is today.

I should also add that the team of contributors, some of whom who have written articles for several seasons, play an important part in the overall production, as well as the backing recieved by certain members, past and present, of the City FC management and admin staff.

As for the future? The aim is to continue to produce a good read - get away from all the pics and gloss image that so many programmes have - and offer value for money. It is nice to win awards for our efforts, but it is important that the supporters are happy with what they buy and have plenty to read during and after a game.

The programme should form a vital public relations and information tool for the Club, as well as making a contribuition to commercial revenue in terms of advertising and sales.

AWARDS FOR THE GRECIAN - SEASON BY SEASON

1993-94

Best in Division Two (Football Programme Directory)

1994-95

Best in Division Three (Wirral Programme Club)

Runner up in Division Three (Football Programme Directory)

1995-96

Best programme in the Football League (Wirral Programme Club)

Best in Division Three (Wirral Programme Club)

1996-97

Best in Division Three (Wirral Programme Club)

1997-98

Best in Division Three (Programme Monthly Magazine)

Best in Division Three (Football Programme Directory)

Best in Division Three (Wirral programme Club)

1998-99

Best in Division Three (Programme Monthly Magazine)

Best in Division Three (Football Programme Directory)

Best in Division Three (Wirral Programme Club)

Best in Division Three (Plymouth Argyle Programme Collectors Club)

1999-2000

Best in Division Three (Programme Monthly Magazine)

Best in Division Three (Wirral Programme Club)

2000-01

Best in Division Three (Programme Monthly Magazine)

Best in Division Three (Wirral Programme Club)

2001-02

Runner up Division Three (Programme Monthly)

Runner up in Football League (Wirral Programme Club)

Best in Division Three (Wirral Programme Club)

2002-03

Runner up in Football League (Wirral Programme Club)

Best in Division Three (Commercial & Marketing Managers' Association)

Best in Division Three (Wirral Programme Club)

2003-04

Best non-league programme in the country (Wirral Programme Club)

2004-05

Best non-league programme in the country (Wirral Programme Club)
Best in Conference (Wirral programme Club)

Best in Conference (Programme Monthly Magazine)