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Pensioner needs missing match day programme to complete his £20,000 collection

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A football fan who has collected almost every match day programme for Swindon Town FC since 1947 says he needs just one to complete his collection.

Ken Bridgeman, 81, has more than 3,000 of the magazines – worth over £20,000 – and has carefully recorded every last one in a handwritten logbook.

Which is how he knows he has just one programme missing, for the away tie against Brighton on September 17, 1947.

Pensioner needs missing match day programme to complete his £20,000 collection

Ken Bridgeman, 81, has been collecting football programmes from Swindon Town matches since 1947 (Picture: SWNS)

He started collecting in April that same year, aged just 10.

Ken says he has attended countless programme fairs, scoured catalogues and quizzed fellow collectors, but the elusive magazine has never been found.

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Now hes offering a £100 reward to anyone who can help him find the missing puzzle piece.

Ive tried everything but no-one has the last one Im looking for, he said.

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Everyone says Im mad, but altogether the programmes are worth more than £20,000.

The grandfather-of-two, who lives in Rodbourne in Swindon, Wiltshire, has been hooked on the club since he was a boy.

Ken Bridgeman, 81, has been collecting football programmes from the matches of his local team Swindon since the 1950s. See SWNS copy SWFOOTY: A football fan who has collected every Swindon Town programme since 1947 has made a desperate appeal to find the ONE missing magazine to complete his collection. Ken Bridgeman, 81, began hoarding the matchday journals shortly after attending his first game at the age of 10 in April 1947. He now has more than 3,000 worth over ??20,000 and has them all carefully recorded in a handwritten logbook.

Ken has had to dedicate an entire room of his home to his extensive collection (Picture: SWNS)

I went to my first game on April 26, 1947, when Swindon played at home against Queens Park Rangers, he said.

I still remember that match as if it was yesterday. Swindon were defeated 3-2, and that was the day Queens Park Rangers got promoted.

He has dedicated an entire room of his home to his massive collection and says he spends hours reminiscing about the games.

I cheer when they win and get disappointed when they lose – its been a rollercoaster over the last few years, he said.

Ken Bridgeman, 81, has been collecting football programmes from the matches of his local team Swindon since the 1950s. See SWNS copy SWFOOTY: A football fan who has collected every Swindon Town programme since 1947 has made a desperate appeal to find the ONE missing magazine to complete his collection. Ken Bridgeman, 81, began hoarding the matchday journals shortly after attending his first game at the age of 10 in April 1947. He now has more than 3,000 worth over ??20,000 and has them all carefully recorded in a handwritten logbook.

Ken has carefully recorded every single issue of his collection (Picture: SWNS)

Ken even sold the clubs programme for a number of years alongside his wife Jenny, but now only sees a match once every couple of years.

But I always listen to matches on the radio, he said.

Going to matches is a special occasion for me now. Ill pay £50 or £60 to sit in the executive suite so I can watch them in comfort and get to the bathroom easily.

He added: Ill be amazed if anyone does have one, but it would be nice to get it.

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