Moving Forward: A New Era for Our Matchday Programme
Tynedale RFC is excited to confirm that our matchday programme will move permanently to a digital format for the new season, powered by Zee-On.

We see this a positive and forward-thinking step for the club. It gives us a modern, dynamic platform through which we can share team news, match previews, historical features, club stories and partner content with more people than ever before.

Strong Opinions Acknowledged
We understand that a change of this nature will generate strong opinions among supporters. Those opinions are acknowledged and respected.

The printed programme has been part of matchday at Tynedale Park for more than 75 years. It has recorded important moments in our history, shared the stories of our people and provided a lasting reminder of many memorable afternoons.

A dated but appropriate article covering the history of our printed match day programme can be viewed here.

We know that some supporters will be disappointed to see it come to an end.
However, the responsibility of stewardship is not simply to protect the club’s past—it is to secure its future.

Following a successful trial during the second half of last season and careful consideration by the Management Committee, we believe the time is right to move forward with one digital programme.

Greater Reach. More Possibilities.
Running the printed and digital editions alongside one another allowed us to properly test the new format and understand how supporters engaged with it.

Each digital programme attracted between 800 and 1,300 readers—more than three times the number of physical copies printed for an average home fixture.

The programme is no longer available only to those entering Tynedale Park on a Saturday afternoon. It can now reach former players, distant members and supporters living across the country and overseas.

This is not simply about replacing print with a screen. It is an opportunity to expand the reach, relevance and potential of the matchday programme.

Powered by Zee-On
Our new home for matchday content is Zee-On, a market-leading digital publishing platform also used by professional clubs including Northampton Saints and Gloucester Rugby.

All Tynedale matchday programmes—both those published during the coming season and the digital editions from last season—will be available together through the link below:
https://www.zee-on.com/club/tynedale-rfc-2

Supporters will be able to access the latest edition and revisit previous programmes throughout the season.

The Content Remains at Its Heart
The qualities which made the traditional Tynedale programme one of the most highly regarded in our league will remain at the heart of its digital successor.

Programme notes, team selections, opposition features, historical pieces and match reports will all continue. The platform is changing, but the quality and importance of that content are not.

Our contributors have recorded the people, personalities and stories of Tynedale rugby for many years. Their work remains pivotal and can now be shared with a considerably larger audience.
The new platform also opens the door to richer content, more timely updates, photography, video and greater coverage from across the whole club.

A Stronger Platform for Our Partners
Programme sponsorship and advertising have long provided valuable income for Tynedale RFC. Zee-On offers our partners greater visibility, increased flexibility and measurable impact.

Sponsors can update their content throughout the season, share it within their own organisations and receive meaningful statistics showing how supporters are engaging with their businesses.
With printing now costing almost five times as much as producing the digital edition, this move also allows more of the commercial income generated by the programme to support rugby and club development directly.

Straightforward to Access
With one version now in place, we will ensure the programme is straightforward for supporters to access.
Clear signposting and instructions will be available throughout Tynedale Park ahead of the first game of the new league season. The programme will also be shared through our pre-match communications, website and social-media channels, with QR codes positioned around the ground.

The human welcome at Tynedale Park will not disappear. The conversations at the gate, familiar faces around the clubhouse and warmth of a family rugby club are not things any digital platform could—or should—replace.
Our decision to freeze matchday admission at £12, rather than increase it in line with comparable clubs, was also made with this transition in mind.

Proud of the Past. Focused on the Future.
As Tynedale celebrates its 150th year, we remain immensely proud of the people, traditions and stories which have shaped our club.

Moving forward does not mean forgetting any of them. It means carrying their strongest qualities into the future and finding new ways to share Tynedale’s story with a wider audience.
The greatest threat to our proud club is not evolution. It is standing still while the world changes around it.
We are proud of our past, excited by what comes next and committed to making the new digital matchday programme something the whole club can enjoy.

R. Gledson

Our Management Committee always welcome feedback – if anyone wishes to communicate views, opinions etc please email richie.gledson@tynedalerfc.co.uk