Millers mark collectors' cards

Carlton Town are hoping their inaugural programme and memorabilia fair will attract stallholders and collectors from across the country.

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Millers say enthusiasts should pencil in Sunday 17 March as a date in their diaries with free admission, ample car parking and the Bill Stokeld Stadium's bar and hospitality areas all open for business.

Stallholders attending the event are being charged £25 for the day but the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South club's Commercial Manager Tim Harris says they'll be happy to offer a special rate to the programme editors and club shop volunteers at fellow league clubs.

The event kicks off at 10am and Harris now has the job of wading through Carlton’s own collections as preparations get underway. He says the Millers are determined to see the fair go on to be the first of many and revealed how it was being planned as an enjoyable day out for all the family and serious collectors alike with a great range of stalls and hospitality.

Harris said: "As an avid collector myself these events are key in a football season. There will be lots on offer including Non-League and League alike. There will be free admission and free car parking and we will have food and drink on sale throughout the day with tea and coffee facilities, which are free to stallholders. Our licensed bar will open for customers and we’ll also be showing the Super Sunday Sky matches on our big screens during the afternoon."

Author Pete Gibson, one of Nottingham Forest's greatest collectors and sellers, is already attending. He's written two books on Forest and is promising to bring along some of his own remarkable collection which goes back before the Second World War.

Gibson said: "I'm looking forward to it already, I will bring a selection of pre-war Forest programmes plus a collection of memorabilia including some rare Forest framed prints from the 60's and 70's which will showcased for the very first time. I will also bring along rare cigarette and trade cards from Forest and other clubs. The mix of League and Non-League should make this a fascinating event."

The MSR Newsgroup have also confirmed their attendance with a remarkable collection of Nottingham Forest programmes and other football memorabilia. Shop Manager Daniel-Douglas Walster says the company are looking forward to showcasing programmes featuring some of the biggest and historic games in Forest's history.

"We have some rare, historic and vintage programmes throughout the decades, ideal for adding to or completing collections," he said.

For more information contact Tim Harris on 07848 491983.