PROGRAMMES are set to be included in the price of tickets at Colchester United home games next season.

The U’s have announced the new policy ahead of a crunch Football League meeting next month where clubs are set to vote on whether publishing one for each match should remain compulsory.

Each programme will include vouchers for offers at a range of businesses across Colchester to try to give fans the chance to benefit from their loyal support of the club.

Typically, 30 per cent of people attending games at the Weston Homes Community Stadium bought programmes last season.

Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling said programmes were too important to ignore and the club was committed to continuing to produce them.

He said: “Matchday programmes are part of the experience of football.

“They are cherished by fans, coveted by collectors and read cover to cover by our junior supporters.

“We typically embrace technology as a football club, but we still feel that the programme is too important a piece of matchday tradition to let slide away.”

Mr Cowling added: “Over the years, our match programme has been well regarded in footballing circles and, whatever the outcome of the current debate at other clubs, we want our programme to remain a key part of our matchday experience.”

United have not revealed whether season ticket prices will be affected by the new programme policy.

Details about the pricing are expected to be released in the next few days.

Vice chairman of the Colchester United Supporters Association Malcolm Cole has a collection of more than 60,000 programmes.

He said: “On the face of it sounds like a really good idea but the slight concern is the cost will have to be borne from somewhere.

“The last few years it has been £3 and been 68 pages.

“Whether it is the same size next season we will have to see - I know Fleetwood Town produce one which is just 16 pages for £1.

“But in recent years the product has stood up well against others - I go to all the away games and it definitely more than holds its own.

“We were told the club was committed to keep producing a programme but we never expected an announcement like this.”

Mark Bradley of the Fan Experience Company has worked with clubs across the country on supporter experience issues.

He praised the U’s initiative for the forthcoming season and the impact it will have on young fans.

He said: “I think the U’s are taking a really positive step here.

“For some time they have been recognised as a leading family club.

“As anyone who has attended a game there will confirm, there is much more to the matchday than 90 minutes of football.

“We know that for kids, for example, the matchday programme is a really important part of the experience, so to make it a part of the ticket purchase will only strengthen relationships, at a time when the club’s ‘fans of the future’ are becoming fully formed.”