When Saturday Comes (WSC) Is Accepting Pitches/ Submission Guidelines (Pay: £75-£125)
When Saturday Comes (WSC) is Britain’s leading football magazine, focusing on stories from various levels of the game.
Its readers are passionate football fans who attend matches and engage with football beyond the elite clubs and leagues.
WSC embraces a grassroots approach, covering stories from the Northern Premier League to the FA Trophy, alongside occasional insights into larger football clubs and events. If you are not an experienced writer, please read this article: 10 Creative Writing Tips For Beginners.
Submission Guidelines For When Saturday Comes (WSC)
- Pitches should be brief, about 100-150 words, outlining the topic and why it deserves coverage.
- Writers should also review the magazine’s past content to avoid pitching topics already covered in recent issues.
- Writers need not have prior publishing experience, but if a writer is new, they may be asked to submit a couple of paragraphs from the article for editorial guidance.
- Articles are generally around 750 words, but features such as Match of the Month are longer (1,500-1,800 words).
- You might want to read this article on Tips For Making Your Writing Perfect.
- Submissions should be sent via email to the editor, Andy Lyons, at editorial@wsc.co.uk.
What WSC Doesn’t Want
- When Saturday Comes avoids content that would be overtaken by news cycles, such as transfer rumors or match previews.
- They also tend to avoid stories focused only on elite clubs unless approached from a unique angle.
- The magazine focuses on a monthly publication schedule, so time-sensitive topics are less suited for their content.
- Writers are advised to ensure their pitch does not overlap with recent coverage, particularly on individual clubs.
Eligibility Criteria For When Saturday Comes
- WSC welcomes pitches from both seasoned writers and amateur enthusiasts, including student journalists and football fans with a passion for the sport.
- There are no entry or reading fees.
Author Rights
Once an article is accepted and submitted, it goes through a standard editorial process. Writers are welcome to provide feedback on edits, but the final decision lies with the editorial team. Once published, the magazine retains the right to edit and republish the article online.
Does WSC Compensate Writers?
Yes. When Saturday Comes pays a flat fee of £75 for a 750-word article, £50 for book reviews, and up to £125 for longer pieces like Match of the Month.
Payment is made upon publication, and the magazine does not offer a “kill fee” for unpublished work. WSC does not pay for web-only articles.
Additional Features
WSC features various recurring columns such as:
- Season in Brief: Looks at significant football seasons.
- Object Lessons: Focuses on football memorabilia.
- Shirt Stories: Covers memorable football shirts.
- Non-League Regions: Focuses on non-league clubs in different regions.
- Football Cities: Explores lesser-known clubs in major football cities.
Writers can pitch ideas for these sections as a way to get started with the magazine. For more information, refer to this page.
