MINEHEAD Town's programme, "The Matchday Chronicle", this week won a first prize in the long-established Wirral Programme Club's placings - which attracted entries from more 1,000 other clubs.

Produced by local company Soccastats, the programme was chosen not only as the best in the Premier Division but also in all of the Screwfix Direct Leagues.

Screwfix Direct themselves ranked the programme in third position after those of Taunton and Chippenham.

"It was really nice to be told the news, and it reflects the amount of time and effort that has been put into the project, which has been run on a shoestring budget," said a club spokesman.

"Though Screwfix chose Taunton and Chippenham's programmes above ours, you need to bear in mind that far bigger crowds attend those club's matches, and when you can sell in excess of 300 copies at £1 each then you can afford to spend more on the glossy covers.

"We were on occasions lucky to sell 20 copies at 50p each, so for the Matchday Chronicle to be picked above these clubs in a national competition is particularly gratifying, and shows that the content must have been thought of very highly."

The publication is full of photos, facts and figures, reports from around the region, stories from previous seasons, and features on Minehead's opponents.

l Minehead Town have also been placed fifth in the Screwfix Fair Play League.

l The Blues will start both their FA Cup and FA Vase campaigns with home matches.

On Saturday September 1, they will entertain Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.

Then on Saturday September 22, they meet Christchurch in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the Vase.

Minehead have also arranged a first pre-season friendly at home to Alvechurch on Saturday August 4.

All three games kick off at 3pm.