Mariners programme scoops award

South Shields’ matchday programme – The Mariner – has come out on top in the annual Soccer Club Swap Shop Programme Awards.

The Mariner was named as the top programme for 2021-22 in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division, and joint-10th for all programmes in English non-league football.

The 2021-22 season was a record campaign for programme sales at 1st Cloud Arena, with supporters able to read regular manager and captain columns, long-form interviews, insightful features and key focuses on the club’s Academy, Ladies and Foundation teams.

The programme was edited by the club’s head of media and communications, Daniel Prince, with key contributions during the season from Adam Sproates, Kieran Regan, Dan O’Neill and Rebecca Johnson on a range of topics. Each issue was illuminated with tremendous images from Kev Wilson. It was designed and printed by Aztec Colour Print.

Prince said: “This has been another year of record sales for The Mariner, and it is the backing of supporters which makes all of the hard work involved so rewarding.

“I was helped tremendously all season by a small but dedicated team, and would like to thank them all for their efforts, particularly Aztec Colour Print’s Geoff Smith, whose tireless work on it was simply invaluable.

“Kev Wilson’s incredible imagery has also brought the programme to life, and it simply would not be an attractive product without his outstanding work.

“Volunteers including Adam Sproates, Kieran Regan, Dan O’Neill, Ciaran Lines and Rebecca Johnson provided superbly-written articles on a range of topics.

“We are also indebted to Steve Camm, Kevin Phillips, Graham Fenton, Blair Adams, Andy Inness, Jon Shaw and Wess Brown for the time they spent helping us put the programme together, as well as players, management staff, opposition media teams, former players, supporters, our secretary Philip Reay, photographers Kev Wilson Craig McNair and team analyst Ryan Chipperfield for their contributions and assistance.

“This award is one deserved by all of them and we thank Soccer Club Swap Shop for their recognition.”

Phil Watkins, from Soccer Club Swap Shop, said: “Congratulations on winning this award, as the programme editor is often the forgotten vital link within the club, but not by Soccer Club Swap Shop, who have done these awards for 30 years now.”

If anyone has a feature idea or would like to get involved in The Mariner next season, please contact the club via email at daniel.prince@southshieldsfc.co.uk.