Usually I post photos of each page to then review, but for this one I've decided instead to still review each page as normal but only include photographs of certain pages of specific types just to serve as examples.
First of all, I really love these Testimonial programmes, A4 size, packed with some really good content! Normally you get A5 or so sized programmes for £3.50 in the Premier League, so considering this is a mammoth 68 page special and A4 sized I think the £5 price is justified!
The front cover I really like, with the graphic that has been used to promote this match on social media at the top and clear to see really standing out well on a nice black background which works well, with the date, kick off time etc just below it with a line separating that and the photo really well! Underneath which is a picture of Carrick as United won the 2008 Champions League, the United side eho were of course in action in that game!
Below the photo you then find the team's involved in this match and the team badges, again nicely laid out!
Turning the page to page 3 for those who are not used to testimonial programmes, here is the introduction from the player the night is all about, as Carrick talks a bit about the game at hand, with a small contents list in the corner detailing the notable pages to look at.
Onto pages 4 and 5 there's a really nice piece from both managers involved in the game who both played a major part in Carrick's career with Sir Alex Ferguson returning to the dugout once more, up against the man who signed Carrick for West Ham in Harry Redknapp. I absolutely love these pieces in programmes, really nice to hear from the manager(s) on their thoughts on the game ahead and obviously Carrick himself!
Pages 8-12 features a really good interview with Carrick himself, about his career and joining United and more - as a fellow interviewer myself it's a really insightful piece (I'm sure there will be programmes available on eBay if you weren't there yourself should you want a copy!) that is really well laid out with photos of notable times of Carrick's career at United breaking up the text nicely. I absolutely love United programmes, they always smash it! The interview goes really in depth and one will refer to myself for ideas going forward, in my opinion the best way to improve yourself is to look at what others have done and pick up ideas to use yourself BUT TRY NOT TO COPY!
Pages 14-21 profiles the United squad that was involved in the game, including Sir Alex Ferguson and of course Michael Carrick with most of the the player photos fittingly being from United's 2008 Champions League campaign (all except Berbatov who wasn't part of the 08 side but definitely deserves to be involved after his 4 years at United, which began just after the 08 double winning season), another really fantastic feature I love in these testimonials, as they profile both teams, not just the opposition like you normally find in normal match programmes.
I also love the fact that each player gets a quite decent spread to themselves, to spread it about neatly and not cramp it into one or two pages for the whole squad.
Similarly, pages 22-29 feature the same but for the Michael Carrick All-Stars team, which again are nicely presented and just as insightful (sums up the entire programme to be honest).
Pages 30-36 look back at Carrick's career more in depth, from start to finish with the first double page spread looking back st his spell at Wallsend Boys Club, whilst the following double page looks at his spell in London with his time at both West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur both getting a page each featuring a couple of photos of him at both clubs and the overall season stats neatly situated in the corner.
Pages 36-39 (the first of which and page 38 being both titled under Carrick's Career still, whilst 37 and 39 are titled under "United Story") then look back at Carrick's United career, featuring quotes from him here and there which really works incredibly well.
On pages 40-43 there is a really nice touch with ex professionals pay tribute to Carrick with a small message from each one, neatly presented in small boxes alternating between red and plain white backgrounds which is a really nice feature.
Following on from that page 44 features some fan tributes that were posted on Twitter and Instagram of fans pictured with Michael, making for another really nice feature.
Pages 46-51 then recap United's successful 2007/08 season, which was being remembered on the day, looking back at the double winning season, whilst pages 52-53 focus more on the 2008 Champions League triumph - which are a both really good reads!
Pages 54-59 then pays tribute to some memorable photos from Carrick's career, some on and off the pitch, mixed around to spread it around nicely focusing on different moments from his career which is anotjer good feature.
I really like the way text and photos have been incorporated in this along with the content itself, it works really well and has been really clever thought out, it's a fantastic piece overall!
As we get towards the end we reach page 61 which has a really good quiz on Carrick, a brilliant idea to test fans' knowledge of the former United no.16 which is really cool!
Page 65 then focuses on Michael Carrick's Foundation, showcasing the important work that they do written by Carrick's family and the Testimonial committee, another really good piece!
Page 66 then features a really nice tribute from Paul Scholes for Carrick, as his midfield partner has the "final word" in the programme - fitting too having played onside him for a fair amount of his United career.
Page 68 (the back cover) then lists the squads involved in the game again nicely presented on a dark blue background with the squads sorted into positions, capping an overall really good programme!
Normally I don't rank programmes individually, and try to avoid it regardless, but this is definitely a 10/10 in my opinion! Link to my "On This Day" groundhop archive can be found HERE.
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