Matchday Programme Design & Production

Supporting Football & Rugby Clubs with Scalable Programme Design & Delivery

The Challenge

Matchday programmes are more than just print materials - they are part of the fan experience, a reflection of the club’s identity, and a key commercial asset.

Clubs need to balance:

fast turnaround production
consistent brand presentation
engaging content for supporters
effective sponsor integration

All while working within tight weekly deadlines.

Our Approach

At The DM Lab, we approach programme design from a unique position - we’re sports fans as well as designers.

We understand what supporters expect because we engage with programmes ourselves, while also recognising their importance as a revenue-generating and brand-building tool.

Our focus is on creating programmes that deliver:

strong visual identity
clear and engaging content structure
effective sponsor visibility
consistency across the season

Our Experience

We have worked with a range of football and rugby clubs, including:

Hereford United Football Club
Westfields FC
Hereford RFC
Liversedge FC

Through this experience, we have developed a streamlined and reliable workflow, ensuring programmes are delivered accurately and on time - even under tight matchday schedules.

Matchday Programme Design

Our in-house design team produces professionally structured, print-ready programmes tailored to each club.

We support both:

consistent templates across the season
bespoke editions for key fixtures

Key features include:

clean, engaging layouts
strong brand consistency
clear editorial hierarchy
optimised advertising placement
high-quality print-ready artwork

Print & Delivery Options

We offer flexible options depending on how clubs prefer to work.

Design Only

We provide fully print-ready files, including:

CMYK colour setup
correct bleed and trim
high-resolution output

Delivered digitally and ready for print.

Design & Print Management

We can manage the full print process through our trusted partners, including:

file delivery
print coordination
delivery to the club

All print costs are transparent, with no added margin - this service is designed purely to simplify the process.

Process & Workflow

We understand the pace of matchday production.

Using a centralised project management system, we create a clear and collaborative workflow.

Typical Weekly Timeline

Post-Match (Weekend)
Content preparation begins

Monday – Friday
Design and layout development

Following Monday
Final revisions and approval

Tuesday / Wednesday
Sent to print for matchday

This structure ensures consistency across the season, while allowing flexibility for late updates.

Additional Sports Design Work

Alongside matchday programmes, we support clubs with wider communications and publications.

For example, we’ve worked with Luctonians Sports Club on long-form content including:

seasonal newsletters
club communications
extended editorial publications

Impact

Delivered consistent, high-quality programmes across multiple clubs
Established a reliable workflow for weekly production
Improved brand consistency and visual presentation
Enhanced sponsor visibility and commercial value
Provided flexible support tailored to each club

What This Demonstrates

This work highlights our ability to:

Deliver under tight deadlines
Maintain consistency across a full season
Balance fan engagement with commercial requirements
Provide flexible design and print solutions
Support sports organisations with ongoing creative work

Some more examples of our matchday programme design work

We were privileged to be contacted by Liversedge FC to produce the first edition of their new programme for their new season in the The Pitching In Northern Premier League. An intense 3 day turnaround but between ourselves & our point of contact Louise at the club we did it! Had some excellent feedback which we're really pleased with. We love doing these & we hope our enthusiasm & eye for design shone through.