Who would have thought that a no-nonsense side led by the even-less-nonsense Tony Pulis would have such fun with their pre-match programmes?
Most of the pre-game chatter about Chelsea’s trip to the Hawthorns on Friday night surrounded the fact that the Blues could lift the Premier League trophy with a victory over West Brom.
But amid the pundit predictions and analysis of clashing styles, there was a simply incredible match programme to be applauded.
With a nod to one of the regular tunes heard around Stamford Bridge, One Step Beyond, West Brom have thrown together this humdinger ahead of Friday’s game.
@MadnessNews The West Brom programme for Friday nights game. pic.twitter.com/7F0CVu5fhm
— Neil Edmunds (@tronifer) May 9, 2017
But this is not some fluke or one last programme hoorah to signal the impending end of the season.
It would seem like the Baggies have been pulling off tributes to classic albums throughout the campaign.
When Stoke City travelled to West Brom, fans were treated to this effort.Â
https://twitter.com/WBAFCProgramme/status/827085992167370752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.birminghammail.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Ffootball-news%2Fwest-brom-programme-cover-could-12545240
When they hosted Southampton, the designers came up with this brilliant tribute to The Beatles’ opus Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
https://twitter.com/WBAFCProgramme/status/851010788278099969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fsport%2Frow-zed%2Fwest-brom-chelsea-programme-covers-10220503
A bit of Genesis before the Gunners arrived.
https://twitter.com/WBAFCProgramme/status/842298141852368896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fsport%2Frow-zed%2Fwest-brom-chelsea-programme-covers-10220503
Who could forget James McClean paying homage to The Smiths?
https://twitter.com/TheRebelDelgado/status/842741794861469696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fsport%2Frow-zed%2Fwest-brom-chelsea-programme-covers-10220503
And there was surely no coincidence that the visit of Manchester United was honoured by a tribute to this famous album by Oasis, the band comprised of two of the most hardcore Manchester City fans you could imagine.
Interesting programme cover at West Brom… #mufc #mutv @manutd pic.twitter.com/djpyMfAaxC
— Stewart Gardner (@stewartgardner) December 17, 2016