Matchday programmes appeared as soon as the Football League was founded in 1888. Originally used as scorecards for supporters, they soon became big business for collectors. Football programmes have always been the perfect accompaniment for fans as they head into a ground on matchday. In fact, along with a pie and a pint, it's part of the ritual of attending a game in this country.

But they're now under threat with sales dwindling and supporters preferring to follow their teams' developments online and digital programmes becoming the norm at several non-league clubs. Museums have started to prepare for the day that programmes - and other memorabilia - move away from hard copies and become computer-based. In June 2018, clubs in the English Football League voted to end the requirement for programmes to be produced for every game. It is time to ensure that Football Programmes survive. Fans love the feel of a physical programme. It will be a sad day if they were to cease to exist.

In 1888, with the formation of the Football League, matchday programmes became the norm for clubs, although the FA Cup Final produced the first in 1882. Meant to be used as scorecards, they consisted of a single sheet with the date on it, team names and player positions. Everton were the first club to introduce regular match day programmes for their fans. Another of the Football League's founders, Aston Villa had the 'Villa News and Record'. Prior to the first World War, some clubs were producing matchday programmes that were eight pages long. But then it all came crashing down. Right before World War II, many clubs stopped producing matchday programmes. Recycling for paper shortages as part of the war effort and times of post-war austerity meant some clubs struggled to get them made.

The size of the programme has increased over the decades from the convenient pocket size to A4 but many clubs in the early 21st century have reverted to a more convenient size. Modern programmes have far more pages than their earlier 4 or 8-page predecessors and are generally full colour and glossy.

The 1882 FA Cup Final was contested by Old Etonians and Blackburn Rovers, and it produced the most valued programme of all time. At an auction in 2013, it fetched an astonishing £35,250 - a world record that's yet to be broken.

But you won’t have to pay that amount for one of Herne Bay FC’s programmes; they are available on matchdays for just £2. Please buy one when you visit Winch’s Field and stop football programmes from becoming extinct.

And don’t forget to pay a visit to the Club Shop which has thousands of programmes on offer at ridiculously cheap prices. This includes not only Herne Bay home and away, but also from the Premier League, Football League and other non-league clubs as well as some Internationals and Cup Finals.