Bits & Bobs

On The Ball
On 2nd January 1965, a new 4&1/2 hour programme called World Of Sport was introduced to ITV's Saturday afternoon schedule to rival Grandstand on BBC1, it was produced for the network by ABC and was originally hosted by Eamonn Andrews. Following ABC's demise, London Weekend Television took over production in the summer of 1968 and Andrews was replaced by Richard Davies, who had previously been employed on the programme as a reporter and commentator, he soon became a household name and as 'Dickie Davies' one of the most recognisable faces on British TV throughout the 1970's and '80's*.

On 7th September 1968, World Of Sport included a "Soccer Round Up" at 2:15-2:25pm, two months later this billing had mutated into "Soccer Preview" and finally, on 9th November 1968, "On The Ball". By the end of the 1968/69 season On The Ball had expanded to fill a 25/30 minute slot as well as being the first item scheduled. Brian Moore soon became synonymous with ITV's lunchtime football preview sequence, initially presenting it from whichever ground he had been assigned to commentate for The Big Match (The ground had to be obscured from view to prevent potential punters from staying at home and watching the match on TV the following afternoon instead). In August 1978 On The Ball was replaced by "Headline" presented by Dickie Davies with ex-Liverpool player Ian St. John, this allowed Moore to concentrate on his Big Match duties and gave ITV scope for addressing potentially more pressing sporting issues at the top of the programme, but on 27th October 1979 (following a three month strike that took ITV off the air) On The Ball was restored - albeit now presented by Ian St. John.

In the early 1980's, 'Saint' in London would link up with the ATV studio's in Birmingham for a chat with the 1960's Chelsea, Tottenham & England legend Jimmy Greaves (already a regular face on Midlands ITV as a summariser for Star Soccer and the sports section of ATV Today/Central News), the pairing proved successful enough to warrant Greaves eventually travelling down to the London studio and assuming equal air-time in what had essentially become a comedy double act (with Saint playing straight man to Greaves' off the wall observations). After a run of almost 21 years, World Of Sport came to an end on 28th September 1985, the final show was hosted by Dickie Davies with On The Ball following the wrestling and news at 12:50-1:40pm. There was however a reprieve for the Saturday afternoon ITV football preview - On 5th October 1985 the newly titled Saint & Greavsie show debuted at 12:05-1:20pm and it ran for seven season's.**

*Dickie Davies delivered the all time classic TV clanger when, during a World of Sport broadcast, he mis-pronounced "Cup soccer " as (what sounded like) "Cock sucker".

**Saint & Greavsie was axed after Euro '92 when ITV faced the prospect of a new season bereft of any rights to show action from the newly formed Premier League. "On The Ball" was then partially resurrected for sporadic previews of the European champions league and later enjoyed a full blown renaissance when ITV wrestled Premier League highlights from the BBC in 2001, but it was dropped once again after they lost Premiership rights in 2004.

World Of Sport Results Service
The closing sequence of World of Sport, which traditionally followed the Wrestling, was the 'Results Service' presented by Dickie Davies with the actual results read by Bob Colston. At the start of 1968/69 season this section began around 5pm, by the mid-70's it had been moved forward to just after 4:45pm to catch the results as they came in (The half-time scores would usually appear around 3:55pm). Some of the regional commentators would make an appearance by giving a report direct to camera from the gantry and they'd also do their own plug for the following afternoon's local highlights show which would be shown in their respective region's after World Of Sport had finished. Davies would also go through all of the regional matches to be shown the next day with the aid of a caption. The results service continued after the demise of World Of Sport in 1985, initially as a programme in its' own right (4:45-5pm) before eventually being absorbed into the Saturday tea-time ITN News bulletin. For mid-week games News At Ten could usually be relied upon to come up with the goods, best delivered by Alastair Burnett.

List of ITV regional football programmes and commentators 1968-1983
From the start of the 1968/69 season, most ITV regional stations produced their own hour long Sunday afternoon football highlights show featuring a match with a local team playing at home. Those that didn't, either relayed a neighbouring station's programme or The Big Match from LWT. This arrangement lasted for 15 season's (with ITV taking the Saturday night slot for 1980/81 and 1982/83). From the 1969/70 season, some of the regional programmes began to include highlights a 2nd match taken from another region and goal clips from a 3rd. No league matches were shown live during this period, the only live football to be seen on television before October 1983 was the FA Cup final, some European finals, selected England matches and World Cup/Euro tournaments.
Click on the underlined links for lists of the games covered.

London Weekend Television
The Big Match
Commentator: Brian Moore
ATV (based in Birmingham, serving the Midlands) *Replaced by Central in January 1982
Star Soccer
Commentators: Hugh Johns (until May 1982), Peter Brackley (from Aug 1982)
Granada (based in Manchester, serving the North West)
Football / The Kick Off Match / Match Night / Match Time
Commentators: Barry Davies (1968/69), Gerald Sinstadt (Aug 1969-May 1981), Martin Tyler (from Aug 1981)
Yorkshire Television (based in Leeds, also served Lincolnshire from 1974)
Yorksport / Soccer / Football Special / The Big Game
Commentators: Danny Blanchflower (1968/69), Keith Macklin (1969-Oct 1976), Martin Tyler (Oct 1976-May 1981), John Helm (from Aug 1981)
Anglia (based in Norwich)
Match of the Week (This show precedes Aug/1968 having first aired in Oct/1962)
Commentators: John Camkin (1962-early 1967), Gerald Sinstadt (Dec 1966 - May 1969), Gerry Harrison (from Aug 1969)
Tyne Tees (based in Newcastle, serving the North East)
Shoot! (Tyne Tees coverage precedes Aug/1968 having first shown highlights in Sep/1962)
Commentators: George Taylor (early-mid 1960's), George Bayley (mid-late 1960's), Jeff Thomas (1969-1973), David Taylor (1973/74), Kenneth Wolstenholme (Aug 1974-May 1979), Roger Tames (from Mar 1979)
Southern (based in Southampton) *Replaced by TVS in January 1982
Southern Soccer (Southern coverage began in Nov/1966) / Sunday Sportshow (TVS) / The Saturday Match (TVS)
Commentators: Maurice Edelston (1966-1968), Simon Smith (late 1960's), Gerald Williams (???-1978ish), Martin Tyler (Dec 1974-late 1976), Dave Lanning (mid 1970's), Nigel King (mid-late 1970's), David Bobin (1978ish-until Dec 1981), Gerald Sinstadt (from when TVS replaced Southern in Jan 1982)
HTV (based in Bristol and Cardiff, serving Wales and West)
Soccer Special
Commentators: Roger Malone, Bob Symonds (for Wales based matches from around 73/74) and occasionally Graham Miller (late 70's/early '80s), Hugh Johns (from Aug 1982)
Westward (based in Plymouth, serving the South West) *Replaced by TSW in January 1982
Title not known (Despite only having three lower league clubs, Westward did cover their own matches occasionally)
Commentator: original unknown, Chris Fear (1976/77-1984)
Border Television (based in Carlisle, serving the English/Scottish border areas)
Showed other region's programmes (usually Granada's)
Scottish Television (based in Glasgow)
Scotsport (This show was first aired in 1957 and continued after May 1983)
Commentators Arthur Montford (1957-1980), Bob Crampsey (1960's), Alex Cameron (60's into '70s), Jock Brown (1980-1990), Gerry McNee (1990-1998), Archie McPherson (1998-).
Grampian Television (based in Aberdeen, serving Northern Scotland)
Showed Scotsport
Ulster Television (based in Belfast)
Showed other region's programmes
Channel Television (serving the Channel Islands)
Showed other region's programmes

*Additional commentator notes: Barry Davies and Hugh Johns had a trial with ITV together at a Fulham match in 1965/66. Scottish TV commentator Alex Cameron is apparently best remembered for being assaulted by a horse's backside outside Hampden. Studio personalities Elton Welsby (Granada) and Nick Owen (Central) had a go or two with the mic in the gantry as did Krypton Factor presenter Gordon Burns who covered a number of games for Granada including the Sunderland v Man City clash on 18/Sep/1976.  Bill Grundy (famed for the Sex Pistols 'interview') did some mid-week commentaries in the mid-1960's (presumably for Rediffusion). TSW's Chris Fear joined Screensport in 1984, TSW then used Pete Barraclough, Mark Tyler, Peter Brackley and Gary Bloom.

Leeds Utd - United, United / United They Conquered
"United United" was shown in the Yorkshire region only around August 1968 in black & white.
This was a behind the scenes look at Leeds United, broadcast in a 30 minute slot. Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner and Don Revie talk about their hopes for the coming season (1968/69) and their experiences of the previous year when they helped the club win their first ever trophies, the League Cup and the UEFA Cup. Includes footage of both of those finals as well as a rare glimpse of the team training. Narrated by Keith Macklin.

At the end of the 1968/69 season, Yorkshire showed another Leeds United programme exclusive to that region only on Thursday 1st May 1969 (11:00-11:30pm) black & white.
This 'Yorksport Special' looked at the Leeds United team of the 1960's as they had just become League Champions after a 49 year wait.

Charlton Boys / The Charlton Brothers
"Charlton Boys" was shown in some ITV regions* on Saturday 2nd November 1968 (9:55-10:55pm) black & white
This was a London Weekend Television production for the "Saturday Special" slot that profiled brothers Bobby and Jackie Charlton with a commentary by Michael Parkinson.
*Surprisingly not shown in the Yorkshire or Tyne Tees regions.

"The Charlton Brothers" was broadcast by all ITV regions on Tuesday 1st May 1973 (10:30-11:15pm)
A Yorkshire Television production in which Jack and Bobby talked about their relationship as brothers off the pitch and as players on it.

George Best - For The Record / Weekend World
"For The Record" shown in the London region only, Friday 31st January 1969 (11:30pm-12am) black & white
London Weekend Television produced this documentary on George Best as part of the "For The Record" series, Best was shown playing football with children, talking about his ability and when he realised he could become a professional footballer, how training & playing come easy to him and his awareness that he won't be able to burn the candle at both ends forever. His parents are also interviewed and talk about George when he was at school - always playing football.

George Best also appeared on the Sunday 18th February 1973 edition of "Weekend World" (made by LWT and shown in all regions at 11:30am-1:00pm), Hunter Davies interviewed Best who stated that he would never change his mind about giving up football and also discussed his past, present, and future.

Lorimer's Leeds
Shown in the Yorkshire region only, Monday 24th April 1972 (?6:25-6:45pm?)
A 24 year-old Peter Lorimer talks about his life on and off the pitch at Leeds United.

The Don Of Elland Road / Remember Leeds United
"The Don Of Elland Road" was shown in the Yorkshire region only, Thursday 18th April 1974 (probably in the Yorksport slot - 10:30-11:00pm)
A nostalgic look back at Don Revie's glorious career as Leeds United manager as he departs to take on the England job.

"Remember Leeds United" was shown in the Yorkshire region only, Thursday 19th May 1977 (10:30-11:00pm)
"Richard Whitely and Martin Tyler host a reunion of the greatest Leeds United team of all time in this Calendar Sport Special. Norman Hunter, Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton and Peter Lorimer are among the players who reminisce with their manager Don Revie about the good times and the bad times under his management between 1961-1974 when the team won 6 trophies. Includes footage of some of the highlights on the pitch during the period."

Charlton's Champions
Shown in the Tyne Tees region only, Wednesday 1st May 1974 (Time unknown)
40 minute special celebrating Middlesbrough's promotion to the top flight, managed by Jack Charlton. The footage was all shot at Ayresome Park on 6th April 1974 when Middlesbrough beat Notts County, the programme begins with the groundsman marking the pitch in the morning and ends with him forking the pitch in the evening after everybody has gone home. As well as action from the game, there are various behind the scenes sequences including the players watching "On The Ball" after their pre-match meal and a dressing room argument between the manager and his captain.

Calendar Specials - Clough Comes To Leeds / Goodbye Mr. Clough
"Clough Comes To Leeds" was shown in the Yorkshire region only on Friday 2nd August 1974 (Time unknown), it was a documentary about the appointment of the new Leeds United Manager, Brian Clough.

"Goodbye Mr. Clough" was another programme exclusive to the Yorkshire region on Thursday 12th September 1974 (Time unknown - it was a late programme change). This was a 30 minute live studio discussion between Brian Clough & Don Revie chaired by Austin Mitchell, examining the reasons why Brian had been sacked from his position as manager of Leeds United after only seven weeks in the job.
 
 

World In Action "Trouble Afoot"
Networked on Monday 2nd December 1974 (8:30-9pm), Granada
"Professional footballers - as part of one of the biggest businesses in the world - are the only group of workers bought, sold, lent and exchanged on an open market - the transfer system. World In Action investigates the rows brewing between professional footballers and the Football Association about players' contracts and the rules restricting the clubs' rights to sign foreign players."

All In The Game
First series broadcast on ITV from 21st July - 1st September 1976 (networked in a Friday evening slot at 7:30-8pm)
Second series broadcast on ITV from September - October 1977 (Day/Times varied by region)
This was an HTV produced series featuring eight clubs taking part in a knock-out fitness/skills contest, it was presented by Dickie Davies with Brian Moore commentating, Norwich City and Derby County reached the final of the first series.
The eight clubs who took part in the 2nd series were Bristol City, Ipswich Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Leicester City, Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers and St Mirren, the final was contested by Leicester City and Manchester City.

Play Soccer Jack Charlton's Way / Skilful Soccer
First broadcast on ITV, September-October 1976 & October-December 1977
Tyne Tees produced two football education series of seven half hour programmes in which Jack Charlton coached a group of 12-14 year olds, mostly from Framwellgate Moor School in Durham plus a selection of Middlesbrough trainees including future 'Boro star Stan Cummins. It was probably best remembered for an outtake included on "It'll Be Alright On The Night" in which one of the schoolboys booted the ball into Charlton's groin. The first series, filmed in June/July 1976, was called "Play Soccer - Jack Charlton's Way" and debuted in the Tyne Tees region on Saturday 4th September 1976 at 11-11:30am*, Jack Charlton was the manager of Middlesbrough at the time, but he was in charge at Sheffield Wednesday by the time the 2nd series went out which was entitled "Skilful Soccer", this series being broadcast in the Tyne Tees region on Sundays from 30th October 1977 at 9:30-10am*.

*Yorkshire, Border and Ulster all showed the first series in the same Saturday morning slot as Tyne Tees. LWT and Anglia showed it at the earlier time of 9:25am, Scottish, Southern, Granada and ATV screened it at 9:45-10:10am (I remember sitting through it waiting to see "Tiswas"), Westward showed it at 10am and Grampian at 12pm. HTV showed it a day later on Sunday afternoons at 1:10pm. As for the 2nd series; LWT, ATV, Granada, Anglia, Scottish and Border all showed it a day earlier than Tyne Tees in various Saturday morning slots, Southern, Ulster and Yorkshire broadcast it on Sunday mornings, Grampian on Sunday afternoons.

Series One "Play Soccer - Jack Charlton's Way"
All archived.
1. No details
2. Passing
3. Ball Control
4. Heading And Goalkeeping
5. Correct way to kick a ball
6. Controlling ball above the waist
7. Dribbling And Running

Series Two "Skilful Soccer"
Granada's archive logs the series as "Jack Charlton Soccer".
1. Shooting
2. Heading
3. Passing And Movement
4. Goalkeeping
5. Creating Space
6. Dead Ball Situations
7. Tricks & Dummies
 

Focus On Soccer
First broadcast on ITV, September - October 1978
The TVTimes entry for 8th September 1978 reads; "In this new series of films made in co-operation with the Football League, some of England's top professionals talk about their skills and demonstrate training techniques. Sequences from League matches bring home the relationship between training and performance."
Seven half hour episodes were produced by HTV and broadcast in that region in a 5:15-5:45pm slot from Friday 8th September 1978 to 29th October 1978. Other regions showed it on different days at different times - Granada, ATV and Westward on Saturday mornings from the 9th September. LWT, Southern, Anglia, Yorkshire, Tyne Tees and Border on Sunday mornings from the 10th.

1. "The History Of The Game And It's Basic Skills" with Mick Channon
2. "The Goalkeeper" with Ray Clemence
3. "The Defender" with Colin Todd
4. "The Midfield Player" with Trevor Brooking
5. "The Winger" with Gordon Hill
6. "The Striker" with Kevin Keegan
7. "The Team" with Matt Busby & the current Manchester United squad

All seven programmes are archived. It was also distributed on film to various countries abroad and translated into French, Arabic, Spanish and German.

Great Managers, Great Players
Shown in the GRANADA region only, Friday 9th March 1979 (10:30-11:15pm)
A one off programme produced by Granada Television. The TV Times entry reads; "Sir Matt Busby, Joe Mercer, Bill Shankly - Three of the most famous post-war managers in British soccer explain what makes "greatness" in the world's most popular game. Between them, they have been in charge of some of the most exciting talents ever to appear on a football field, players who have captained club and country and become household names in the process. But which players can be termed the greatest? The three retired managers look back and decide on an elite group of players they are convinced will be immortalised as the "greatest" ever."
The programme is archived but incorrectly dated 8th March 1979.

World In Action - The Man Who Bought United
Networked on Monday 28th January 1980 (8:30-9pm)
"Investigates the unorthodox way Louis Edwards became majority shareholder of Manchester United using a series of secret cash payments and incorrect share transfer entries. Cash payments were also used in winning contracts for the Louis Edwards family meat business. Includes interviews with some of the previous shareholders and records a telephone conversation between Louis Edwards and the son of one such shareholder."  Apparently the Granada cameras got a frosty welcome when they covered United v Wolves the following Saturday.
 

Up For The Cup
Networked from Saturday 6th September 1980 - 1st November 1980 (6:45-7:30pm)
An ATV series which fused the concept of a football knock-out tournament with a variety show contest, "refereed" by David Hamilton with professional footballer's and managers acting as "linesmen" judging and awarding points to entertainers selected by two teams supporters clubs. Bolton won the final and received the 'ATV Challenge Cup' from Billy Wright.

1. Charlton Athletic v Cardiff City. 2. Bolton Wanderers v Southampton. 3. Walsall v Coventry City. 4. Manchester City v Nottingham Forest. 5. Sunderland v Norwich City. 6. Charlton Athletic v Coventry City. 7. Bolton Wanderers v Manchester City. 8. Norwich City v Charlton Athletic. 9. The Final - Bolton Wanderers v Charlton Athletic.
 
 

City!
Networked on Monday 9th February 1981 (10:30-11:30pm) *Tyne Tees showed it 30 minutes later.
A Granada production. "Malcolm Allison and Tony Book were the main characters in a management team that spent nearly £3 million on building a Manchester City side that was unsuccessful. The programme follows the last few days of Allison's reign at City, his dismissal and the subsequent interview and employment of John Bond as new manager, the rise of the team under Bond and the chance draw which brought Allison back to Maine Road in the League Cup when City played Crystal Palace, the team Allison went to manage after his sacking."
 
 

World In Action - The Bankrupt Game
Networked, 15th February 1982 (8:30-9pm)
Granada production. "World In Action followed the developments at Bristol City Football Club where their top 8 players were made redundant and a new board of directors was formed leaving the old board to sort out all the financial debts. The majority of clubs in the league are in financial trouble and many chairmen believe the maximum wage should be re-introducted. The World In Action team filmed behind the scenes activities at Bristol City during the turbulent week in which the players finally agreed to accept redundancy settlement and leave. Includes views of chairman of Manchester City Peter Swales. There is an exclusive interview with the group of eight."

Paisley: A Champion's Farewell
Networked, 7th May 1983 (11:15pm-midnight)
A Granada tribute to Liverpool manager Bob Paisley who was to retire at the end of the 1982/83 season after nine years at the helm. On this penultimate Saturday of the league season, Brian Clough traced Paisley's glorious years including 14 major titles, culminating in a League Championship and League Cup double in his final season.

Other Football Related Stuff on ITV (1968-1983)

09/Sep/1968 - "It's Trueman", (Granada region only, 6:05-6:30pm), "The Fanatics", Brian Trueman investigates football supporters obsessive enthusiasm for the game.
12/Jan/1969 - "Sports Arena" (LWT region only, 2-2:30pm), Alan Hardaker (Chief of Football League) and Denis Howell (Minister for Sport) on Football Violence. Not archived.
27/Apr/1969 - "Sports Arena" (LWT region only, 2:30pm), profile of Alf Ramsey (as part of The Big Match Special which also showed Cup Final highlights).
23/Jul/1970 - "Take Me To Your Leader", (Granada region only, 6:05-6:30pm), Episode 5 looked at the career and ambitions of Alan Hardaker (Chief of the Football League).
01/May/1971 - "Aquarius" - A feature on The Kop was included on this edition of LWT's arts programme (London region only, 10:15-11:15pm).
04/May/1971 - "People Work Here", A Yorkshire Television production for ITV Schools. One episode in the series was titled "Football".
22/Aug/1971 - "Man In The News", LWT. Derek Dougan (London region only, 11:45pm-12:15am). Tape may have been wiped.
09/Jan/1972 -  "Another Sunday And Sweet F.A.", Granada, (Networked Sunday night play, 10:15-11:15pm) Jack Rosenthal comedy about two amateur football teams.
10/May/1972 - "What The Paper's Say", Granada, (London & Granada only, after midnight) Danny Blanchflower fronted this edition looking at reports on the cup final & the media treatment of current stars compared to his day.
18/Mar/1973 - "Achilles Heel", LWT, (Networked Sunday night play, 10:15-11:25pm) written by Alan Clarke (not the Leeds player) about a fictional professional footballer played by Martin Shaw.
25/Mar/1973 - "Frost Programme", LWT (Networked 11:15pm-12:15am), "Darlington FC".
30/Dec/1973 - "Meanwhile, Back in Sunderland", (Tyne Tees region only, 3:05-3:30pm). Documentary which captured the mood of the town whilst the FA Cup final was on.
06/Aug/1974 - "Village Hall", Granada, (Networked 9-10pm), play by Willis Hall about an amateur team starring George Cole and Lewis Collins.
09/Sep/1974 - "You'll Never Walk Alone", Yorkshire TV, (Networked 8:30pm), Comedy short starring Brian Glover and Maureen Lipman as two Leeds fans travelling by train to the Cup final.
12/Oct/1975 - "London Weekend Show", LWT, (London only 11:30am-12pm), this edition looked at Football apprentices.
23/Nov/1975 - "The London Programme", LWT, (London only 11:10pm-12:10am), this edition included a feature on Brentwood Town and Chelmsford City.
11/Jan/1976 - "Granada Profile", (Granada only 11-11:30pm), Gordon Burns interviews Francis Lee.
08/Feb/1976 - "Red Letter Day (Match Fit)", Granada, (Networked 10-11pm), Brian Glanville wriiten football play.
02/May/1976 - "Granada Profile", (Granada only 1:30-2pm), Kevin Keegan tells Gordon Burns why he aims to be playing on the Continent in about two years time.
14/Sep/1977 - "Star Spangled Soccer", Yorkshire TV, (Networked 10:30-11:15pm), Ian Woodridge looks at the techniques with which the game is presented in the USA.
23/Oct/1977 - "The London Programme", LWT, (London only 11pm-12am), London clubs in financial crisis (Guests include George Best & Brian Glanville)
20/Jan/1978 - "An Audience With Jasper Carrott", LWT, (London only 10:40-11:10pm), Stand up comic includes story of going to Old Trafford to follow Birmingham City.
05/Sep/1978 - "Star Games" (Thames TV), celebrity version of It's A Knock Out, included five-a-side football with Gerald Sinstadt commentating.
15/Dec/1978 - "Reports Extra", (Granada only 10:30-11pm), "The Huyton Boys", Reunion of Schoolboys Football Trophy winners of 1971 & the failure of all but one (Peter Reid) to make it to the top.
02/Nov/1979 - "Carrott Gets Rowdie", LWT (Networked 9-10pm), Comedian Jasper Carrott visits Tampa Bay Rowdies in a documentary exploring the soccer boom in the USA.
18/May/1979 - "The London Programme", LWT (London only 11:10pm-12:10am), Looks at the "decline" of the football hooligan.
30/Nov/1979 - "Double Vision", (Granada only 10:30-11pm), Gordon Burns chairs debate "Is the one million pound player bad for football?", includes Malcolm Allison & Ian Greaves.
23/Nov/1980 - "Credo", LWT (All regions except Scottish & Grampian, 6:10-6:40pm), Exploration of sectarian rivalries in Galsgow. Interviews with Protestant Rangers Fans and Catholic Celtic fans.
20/Feb/1981 - "Extraordinary People Show", Yorkshire TV (Networked 4:45-5:15pm), Kevin Keegan is the subject of this edition in a series for children.
22&29/Mar/1981 - "Skin", LWT (London only 2:15-2:30pm), Racism, the NF and the British Movement at London's grounds / The rise in black star players (inc Vince Hilaire and Justin Fushanu).
30/Mar/1981 - "Calendar People", (Yorkshire only), Raich Carter.
20/May/1981 - "Live From Two", (Granada only, 2-2:50pm), Shelley Rhode interviews Bill Shankly and ex PM Harlold Wilson who talk about their childhood, careers and passion they both share for football.
09/Sep/1981 - "Live From Two", Granada (Networked, 2-2:25pm), Shelly Rhode interviews Denis Law, Mike Summerbee and Fred Eyre.
19/Feb/1982 - "The London Programme", LWT (London only 11-11:35pm)), "Sick As A Parrott", financial problems in football, focusses on Crystal Palace and Fulham.
01/Mar/1982 - "Murphy's Mob", Central (Networked 4:45-5:15pm), first in a children's drama series based around a fictitious football club, filmed at Watford's ground (later series at Derby).
04/Mar/1982 - "Yesterday", (Granada only, 2:30-2:45pm), Looking back twenty years when Accrinton Stanley closed down and resigned from the Football League.
22/May/1982 - "The Game" (Granada), Paul Pender play based on two Scotland fans watching the 1978 World Cup on TV.
04/Jun/1982 - "Past Masters - The Huddersfield Terriers" (Yorkshire only, 6:30-7pm), John Helm presents programme celebrating the great Huddersfield team of the 1920's.
06/Jun/1982 - "A Captain's Tale", Tyne Tees, (Networked 10-11:30pm), Drama by Neville Smith telling the story of West Auckland winning a proto World Cup in 1910, starring Dennis Waterman.
09/Aug/1982 - "Rowan's Report", Yorkshire, (Networked, 4:30-4:45pm), Children's show, this edition followed Leeds apprentice Neil Aspin.
22/Aug/1982 - "Football's My Game", (Granada only, 1:30-2:15pm), Trevor Francis narrates the progress of school leavers Michael Phelan (Burnley) and Darron McDonough (Oldham).
05/Feb/1983 - "Munich Remembered", Granada, (All region's at various times over weekend), Tribute to the Man Utd team of 1958, eight of whom died in the Munich air crash 25 years earlier.

Big League Soccer
From 1980ish, this was a weekend highlights programme made by ITV for export to Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Brian Moore presented and it usually featured three matches. The show was up and running by season 1980/81 and was still being made in 1984/85.
 

The Big Match Replayed
First broadcast on ITV, 14th May 1996
A series of selected episodes of the London Weekend Television highlights programme.
It was repeated in a middle-of-the-night networked slot around 2004-ish.
This list was compiled by Stuart Croucher

1. Original Programme Date : 7th January 1978 (FA Cup Third Round weekend)

A. Main Match from LWT - Chelsea 4 Liverpool 2
Commentator – Brian Moore
Chelsea goal-scorers: Clive Walker (2); Steve Finnieston; Tommy Langley.
Liverpool goal-scorers: David Johnson; Kenny Dalglish.

B. Second Match from Granada – Everton 4 Aston Villa 1
Commentator – Gerald Sinstadt
Everton goal- scorers : Andy King; Trevor Ross (penalty); Duncan McKenzie; Bob Latchford.
Aston Villa goal- scorers : Andy Gray
Other details: Aston Villa’s Leighton Phillips was sent off.

C. Third Match from Yorkshire TV – Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 5
Commentator – Martin Tyler
Arsenal goal-scorers: David O’Leary; Malcolm MacDonald (2); Frank Stapleton (2)
Other details: Sheffield United’s Chico Hamilton missed a penalty in this game.

2. Programme Date : 26th September 1976

A. Main Match from LWT - Fulham 4 Hereford United 1 (This was a Second Division match)
Commentator – Brian Moore
Fulham goal-scorers: Alan Slough; John Evanson; Rodney Marsh (2)
Hereford United goal-scorers: Own Goal – scored by Fulham’s Ernie Howe
Other Details: Brian Moore interviewed George Best and Rodney Marsh

B. Second Match from ATV – Derby County 2 West Bromwich Albion 2 (First Division)
Commentator – Hugh Johns
Derby County goal-scorers : Roy MacFarland (2)
West Bromwich Albion goal-scorers: Ray Treacey (2)

C. Third Match from Anglia TV – Ipswich Town 3 Arsenal 1 (First Division)
Commentator – Gerry Harrison
Ipswich Town goal-scorers : Roger Osborne; Eric Gates; Kevin Beattie (penalty).
Arsenal goal-scorer: Own goal - scored by Ipswich Town’s Allan Hunter.

3. Programme Date : 7th February 1976

A. Main Match from LWT – Crystal Palace 3 Swindon Town 3 (This was a Third Division match)
Commentator – Brian Moore
Crystal Palace goal-scorers: Peter Taylor (penalty); Nicky Chatterton (2)
Swindon Town goal-scorers: Kenny Stroud; Dave Syrett(2)
Other Details: Swindon Town’s Dave Moss missed a penalty in this game.

B. Second Match from Anglia TV – Norwich City 3 Arsenal 1 (First Division)
Commentator – Gerry Harrison
Norwich City goal-scorers : Martin Peters (2); Ted MacDougall.
Arsenal goal-scorers: Brian Kidd

C. Third Match from Tyne Tees – Newcastle United 4 Derby County 3
Commentator – Kenneth Wolstenholme
Newcastle United goal–scorers: Own goal- scored by Derby County’s Colin Todd*. Geoff Nulty; Tommy Craig (penalty); Malcolm MacDonald
Derby County goal-scorers : Steve Powell; Charlie George; Bruce Ricoh.
*Kenneth Wolstenholme is generous to Todd and tries credit it to Tommy Craig of Newcastle United.

4. Programme Date : 1st April 1972 (First Division matches)

A. Main Match from LWT – West Ham United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Commentator – Brian Moore
West Ham United goal-scorers: Trevor Brooking; Ade Coker.

B. Second Match from Anglia – Ipswich Town 1 Chelsea 2
Commentator – Gerry Harrison
Ipswich Town goal- scorer : Colin Viljoen (penalty)
Chelsea goal- scorers : David Webb (2)

C. Third Match from ATV – Coventry City 2 Manchester United 3
Commentator – Hugh Johns
Coventry City goal-scorers: Chris Chilton; Bobby Graham.
Manchester United goal- scorers : George Best: Ian Storey Moore; Bobby Charlton.

5. Programme Date : 30th January 1977 (FA Cup Fourth Round Weekend)

A. Main Match from LWT – Arsenal 3 Coventry City 1
Commentator – Brian Moore
Arsenal goal-scorers: Frank Stapleton: Malcolm MacDonald (2)
Coventry City goal-scorer: Tommy Hutchison

B. Second Match from HTV – Swindon Town 2 Everton 2
Commentator – Roger Malone
Swindon Town goal-scorers : David Sperring: Kenny Stroud
Everton goal-scorers: Duncan MacKenzie: Bob Latchford

C. Third Match from Anglia TV – Ipswich Town 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2
Commentator – Gerry Harrison
Ipswich Town goal-scorers : Paul Mariner: George Burley.
Wolverhampton Wanderers goal-scorers: John Richards (2)

6. Programme Date : 6th March 1977

A. Main Match from LWT – Chelsea 2 Blackpool 2 (This was a Second Division match)
Commentator – Brian Moore
Chelsea goal-scorers: Kenny Swain; Steve Wicks
Blackpool goal-scorers: Billy Ronson; Derek Spence

B. Second Match from Granada – Manchester United 3 Manchester City 1 (First Division)
Commentator – Gerald Sinstadt. Denis Law was Sinstadt’s co-commenator.
Manchester United goal-scorers : Stuart Pearson; Gordon Hill; Steve Coppell
Manchester City goal-scorer: Dennis Tueart

C. Third Match from Tyne Tees – Sunderland 6 West Ham United 0 (First Division)
Commentator – Kenneth Wolstenholme
Sunderland goal–scorers: Mel Holden (2); Gary Rowell (2); Bobby Kerr; Bob Lee.

7. Programme Date : 7th October 1977

A. Main Match from LWT – Queen’s Park Rangers 1 Everton 5 (This was a First Division match)
Commentator – Brian Moore
Queen’s Park Rangers goal-scorer: Peter Eastoe
Everton goal-scorers: Bob Latchford (4), Steve McKenzie
Other details: Queen’s Park Rangers’ Stan Bowles missed a penalty in this game.

B. Second Match from Granada – Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0 (This was a First Division match)
Commentator – Gerald Sinstadt
Liverpool goal-scorers : Kenny Dalglish; David Fairclough

C. Third Match from ATV – Stoke City 0 Crystal Palace 2 (This was a Second Division match)
Commentator – Hugh Johns
Crystal Palace goal-scorers: Nick Chatterton; Steve Perrin.
Other details: Crystal Palace’s George Graham was sent off in this match.

8. Programme Date : 17th September 1978 (All First Division matches)

A. Main Match from LWT – Chelsea 1 Manchester City 4
Commentator – Brian Moore  Chelsea goal-scorer: Gary Stanley
Manchester City goal-scorers: Mick Channon: Ron Futcher (3)
Other details: There were two interviews after this match, the first was with Ray Wilkins. The second was with Clive Thomas, who had refereed the match. Thomas was responding to criticism that had been levelled at him by FIFA in connection with Thomas’ decision to blow for full-time just as Brazil had scored in the final moments of their World Cup match against Sweden in Argentina that summer. Both interviews were conducted by Brian Moore.

B. Second Match from ATV – Derby County 3 West Bromwich Albion 2
Commentator – Hugh Johns
Derby County goal-scorers : John Duncan; Steve Powell; Gerry Daly
West Bromwich Albion goal-scorers: Cyrille Regis; Laurie Cunningham

C. Third Match from Yorkshire TV – Leeds United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Commentator – Martin Tyler
Leeds United goal-scorer: Arthur Graham
Tottenham Hotspur goal-scorers: Peter Taylor: Colin Lee

9. Programme Date : 8th December 1974

A. Main Match from LWT – Tottenham Hotspur 3 Newcastle United 0 (This was a First Division match)
Commentator – Brian Moore
Tottenham Hotspur goal-scorers: Own goal scored by Newcastle United’s Tony Bell; Martin Chivers; Cyril Knowles

B. Second Match from ATV – Birmingham City 0 Stoke City 3 (This was a First Division match)
Commentator – Hugh Johns.
Stoke City goal-scorers: Jimmy Greenhoff (2); Ian Moores

C. Third Match from Yorkshire TV – Sheffield Wednesday 4 Manchester United 4 (This was a Second Division Match)
Commentator – Keith Macklin
Sheffield Wednesday goal–scorers: David Sunley (2); Colin Harvey; Bernard Shaw
Manchester United goal-scorers: Stewart Houston; Lou Macari (2); Stuart Pearson.
 

10. Programme Date: 16th February 1975  (This was an FA Cup Fifth Round weekend )

A. Main Match from LWT – West Ham United 2 Queen’s Park Rangers 1
Commentator – Brian Moore
West Ham United goal-scorers: Pat Holland; Keith Robson
Queen’s Park Rangers goal-scorer: Dave Clement
Other details: There was a real furore in this match when Queen’s Park Rangers’ Stan Bowles was substituted. Bowles appeared to show his manager Dave Sexton two fingers. Back in the studio, Brian Moore felt compelled to comment upon Bowles’ behaviour.

B. Second Match from Anglia – Ipswich Town 3 Aston Villa 2
Commentator – Gerry Harrison
Ipswich Town goal-scorers: David Johnson; Bryan Hamilton (2)
Aston Villa goal-scorers : Bobby MacDonald: Alun Evans.

C. Third Match from Granada – Everton 1 Fulham 2
Commentator – Gerald Sinstadt
Everton goal-scorer: Roger Kenyon.
Fulham goal-scorers: Viv Busby (2).
Other details: Viv Busby was a guest in the studio on the Sunday afternoon and was interviewed by Brian Moore.

11. Programme Date : 31st December 1978

A. Main Match from LWT – Arsenal 3 Birmingham City 1 (This was a First Division match)
Commentator – Brian Moore
Arsenal goal-scorers: Frank Stapleton; Pat Rice; Alan Sunderland.
Birmingham City goal goal-scorer: Trevor Francis (penalty)

B. Second Match from ATV – Stoke City 2 Notts County 0 (This was a Second Division match)
Commentator – Hugh Johns Stoke City goal-scorers: Sammy Irvine; Brendan O’Callaghan.
Other details: The colour of the ball changed in this game. The first half saw an orange ball being used. The pitch appeared frosty, but was not completely covered in snow. However in the second half a white ball is being used, presumably because the orange ball had become more difficult to pick up in the darker conditions.

C. Third Match from Granada – Manchester United 3 West Bromwich Albion 5 (This was a First Division match)
Commentator – Gerald Sindstadt
Manchester United goal-scorers: Tony Brown (2); Len Cantello; Laurie Cunningham; Cyrille Regis.
West Bromwich Albion goal-scorers : Brian Greenhoff; Gordon McQueen; Sammy McIlroy.

*****Brian Moore also introduced a clip from a Dutch match between A.Z. 67 and Haarlem, that included the sight of Haarlem manager Barry Hughes blowing a streamer at his opposite number the AZ manager George Kessler. This has been mentioned on the ‘Big Match Revisited’, but this edition of the Big Match is where the clip originally appeared.****

12. Programme Date: 1st October 1972  (13/Aug/1996)

A. Main Match from LWT – Queen’s Park Rangers 3 Cardiff City 0 (This was a Second Division match)
Commentator – Brian Moore
Queen’s Park Rangers goal-scorers: Don Givens (2, 1 penalty); Stan Bowles.

B. Second Match from ATV – Coventry City 3 Chelsea 1 (This was a First Division match)
Commentator – Hugh Johns
Coventry City goal-scorers: Brian Alderson;
Chelsea goal-scorers: Bill Garner; own goal scored by Coventry City’s Jeff Blockley; Peter Houseman.

C. Third Match from Yorkshire TV – Leeds United 1 Liverpool 2 (This was a First Division match)
Commentator – Keith Macklin
Leeds United goal-scorer: Mick Jones.
Liverpool goal-scorers: Larry Lloyd; Phil Boersma.

13. Programme Date: 27th November 1977

A. Main Match from LWT – Queen’s Park Rangers 2 Manchester United 2 (This was a First Division match)
Commentator – Brian Moore
Queen’s Park Rangers goal-scorers: David Needham; Don Givens
Manchester United goal-scorers: Gordon Hill (2)
Other details: There is a brief interview afterwards with John Hollins of Queen’s Park Rangers and Manchester United manager Dave Sexton.

B. Second Match from Tyne Tees – Sunderland 1 Luton Town 1
Commentator – Kenneth Wolstenholme
Sunderland goal-scorers: Joe Bolton
Luton Town goal-scorers: Ron Futcher

C. Third Match from Granada – Everton 6 Coventry City 0
Commentator – Gerald Sinstadt
Everton goal-scorers: Martin Dobson; Bob Latchford (3); Jim Pearson; Andy King.

*** In this episode of the Big Match, Brian Moore introduced a brief section called ‘Crazy Corner’. This featured a cross bar breaking in Ireland and a reference to a goalkeeper who had scored in successive weeks in amateur football.

Also shown.....
Arsenal v Leeds 1978-79

The Big Match Revisited
First broadcast on ITV4, 7th February 2008
"The Big Match Revisited" differed from "The Big Match Replayed" in two ways - Rather than being a series of memorable episodes from different season's, "Revisited" stuck with one season only and showed a programme from the corresponding weekend, it would also occasionally throw up an alternate region's programme instead of London Weekend's package. The title "The Big Match Revisited" never actually appeared on screen during the initial run, ITV4 pretty much showed the programmes as they were originally aired, but some material had to be excised in order to fit in the extra commercial break required for modern day broadcasting (There had only been two breaks during a one hour show in the 1970's and 1980's, there were now three, so about 5 minutes of material was cut from each show). 

1st Series, Season 1982/83
Tx'd February 2008 - May 2008
Showed a corresponding weekend's show from 25 years ago, starting with 05/Feb/1983 and ending with the final day of the league season, 14/May/1983.
The cuts in this series appear to have been post match interviews and the pools news.
All episodes were repeats of LWT's The Big Match except....
05/Feb/1983 - Match Time (Granada)
05/Mar/1983 - Match Time (Granada)
02/Apr/1983 - The Saturday Match (TVS)
16/Apr/1983 - Match Time (Granada)
14/May/1983 - The Saturday Match (TVS)

2nd Series, Season 1978/79
Tx'd January 2009 - May 2009*
Showed a corresponding weekend's show from 30 years ago, starting with 30/Dec/1978 and ending with the FA Cup Final on 12/May/1979. Original break bumpers were now replaced with new "Revisted" captions (except for the final edition which retained the 1979 World Of Sport Cup Final Special bumpers).
Post match interviews were now largely left intact, the excised portions appear to have been the news round-ups.
All episodes were repeats of LWT's The Big Match except....
30/Dec/1978 - The Kick Off Match (Granada)
20/Jan/1979 - The Kick Off Match (Granada)
10/Feb/1979 - The Kick Off Match (Granada) *Elton Welsby standing in for (a presumably ill) Gerald Sinstadt.
17/Mar/1979 - Football League Cup Final (ITV Sport) *Re-edited to give the impression that this was an edition of "The Big Match"
21/Apr/1979 - The Kick Off Match (Granada)
05/May/1979 - The Kick Off Match (Granada)
12/May/1979 - FA Cup Final (ITV Sport) *Sourced from the live Saturday broadcast and re-packaged for 2009 as "The Big Match"

*ITV's 'Men & Motors' channel began repeating the 1978/79 series on 20th May 2009.

Other ITV football archive programmes
Post 1983 productions that covered the classic '68-83 period.

Cloughie's Golden Oldies
Central
26/Apr/1987 - 14/Jun/1987
Brian Clough introduced vintage highlights of Midlands clubs in action in the 1970's and early 1980's, the theme tune was the classic Star Soccer jingle. The six part series of 30 minute programmes was only broadcast to the Central region.

Best & Marsh - The Perfect Match
Granada
22/Jan/1988 - 18/Mar/1988
Tony Wilson hosted this eight part series, prompting George Best and Rodney Marsh to reminisce on two 1970's matches plucked from the archives in each half-hour programme. Although this was a non-networked Granada production, the footage was not exclusively concerned with North West clubs and some other region's screened it the following year. New Order provided the theme tune which was later released on the b-side of their single "Round and Round"*. The shows were themed as follows; 1. George & Rod, 2. Goalkeepers, 3. Great Teams: Derby & Leeds, 4. The Liverpool Years, 5. Local Derby's, 6. Goalscorers, 7. British Clubs in Europe, 8. The FA Cup.**

*After hearing the Best and Marsh tune, the FA asked New Order to come up with the official England song for the 1990 World Cup - the result being World In Motion.
**Match highlights included in the series; Show 1 - Northampton 2 United 8 from 1970 and Fulham 4 Hereford 1 from 1976. Show 2 - Liverpool 2 Stoke 1 match from 1972. Show 7 -  Spurs 5 Dynamo Tiblisi 1 from 1973 and Liverpool 3 St Ettiene 1 from 1977. Show 8 - Hull 2 Stoke 3 from 1971 and Liverpool 2 Manchester United 2 from 1979.

21 Years of London Football
LWT
29/Jul/1989
A 60 minute special looking back at the LWT era of football coverage was followed by a series - each show focussing on a classic match.
 

The Channon & Ball Video Show
TVS
15/Mar/1990 - 23/May/1990
Presented by David Bobin with Mike Channon and Alan Ball. Not networked.
 

Soccer in the 70s
TVS
1991
Gary Lineker's first presenting role. The ten part half hour series looked back at each season of the 1970's with relevant studio guest's (starting with 1970/71 and concluding with 1979/80). It wasn't networked, but it was shown in at least three ITV region's.

"The People's Final" - The League Cup Story
LWT
21/Apr/1991
A very good one hour special narrated by Clive Tildesley with footage from all League Cup finals since 1967 (Broadcast before the Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester United final).
 

There's Only One Brian Moore
LWT
20/May/1994 - 03/Jun/1994
Three part, one hour slot series celebrating the LWT commentator. Hosted by comedian Tim Clark with a panel of football celebrities picking vintage 1970's action.

The Rock And Goal Years
Granada
03/Oct/1995 - 05/Dec/1995
A series of half hour programmes which mixed archive footage of North West teams in action with pop hits of the day. The season's covered (not in this order) were; 1970/71, 1972/73, 1973/74, 1976/77, 1978/79, 1980/81, 1982/83, 1989/90 and 1991/92. There was also a Christmas Special and two further one-off specials; A General Election edition on 23/Apr/1997 was presented by Michael Parkinson (this looked at the years 1979 and 1990), and a one hour World Cup edition narrated by Sean Bean was shown on 12/Jul/1998.

Up For The Cup
LWT
09/Nov/1997 - 14/Dec/1997
A series of six one hour shows looking back at classic FA Cup finals, it was shown in the London region on Sunday afternoon's and was hosted by Jonathan Pearce with comments from players involved.
1. Chelsea v Leeds (1970), 2. Arsenal v Liverpool (1971), 3. Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City (1981), 4. West Ham v Fulham (1975), 5. Ipswich v Arsenal (1978), 6. Wimbledon v Liverpool (1988).

Leeds Leeds Leeds
Yorkshire
22/Aug/2003 - 03/Oct/2003
An excellent six part history of Leeds United.
 

Rock 'N' Goal Years
Yorkshire
26/Sep/2001 - 03/Jun/2008
This was Yorkshire Television's version which added local news to the mix of local football and chart hits from a particular season (there were also some World Cup editions). The half hour shows were screened over the course of several years. The Season's covered were; 1. 1969/70, 2. ?????*, 3. 1976/77, 4. 1980/81, 5. 1984/85, 6. 1991/92, 7. 1974/75, 8. 1979/80, 9. 1981/82, 10. 1990/91, 11. World Cup 1982, 12. World Cup 1986, 13. World Cup 1990. 14. 1995/96*

*Show 2 may actually have been postponed and could be 1995/96 which was screened much later than the others.

Glory Days
Central
18/Sep/2008 - 10/Nov/2008
Stan Collymore presented this eight part series. Each 30 minute show focussed on one Midlands based club and their greatest achievements, clips from matches were interspersed with new interviews with the heroes involved. The clubs featured were; 1. Nottingham Forest (European success), 2. Coventry City (1987 FA Cup), 3. West Bromwich Albion (1968 FA Cup & late '70's), 4. Stoke City (1972 League Cup), 5. Leicester City (1990's League Cups), 6. Derby County (1970's championship season's), 7. Wolves (1974 & 1980 League Cups), 8. Aston Villa (1982 European Cup).

BBC Television Coverage

Match Of The Day
First shown on BBC2 on Saturday 22nd August 1964 (at 6:30pm) and moved to BBC1 from the start of the 1966/67 season (at 10pm), Match of the Day featured one match only until the end of 1968/69*. From 1969/70 two games were shown each week (in colour from 15/Nov/1969). Initially, the 2nd game depended on which BBC region you were viewing, but from 1970/71 the regional format was dropped in favour of two networked matches.
A list of highlights shown on Match of the Day up to the end of 1991/92 season is included in John Motson's book "Match of the Day - The Complete Record Since 1964", but there are a few errors/omissions. The following list details the one's we're aware of .......

*Two cup ties were shown on MOTD on FA Cup weekends from 1966/67.

12/Nov/1966    No game listed.
03/Aug/1968    Charity Shield match is missing.
02/Nov/1968    Chelsea 2 Manchester City 0 *Motson's book doesn't mention that this week's show went out on BBC2 as a one off colour edition.
28/Dec/1968    No show due to snow.
25/Jan/1969     Two additional FA Cup R4 ties shown, these were Fulham 1 (Rees) West Bromwich Albion 2 (Brown, Hartford) & Preston North End 0 Chelsea 0.
01/Mar/1969    Manchester United 0 Everton 1 (Royle) [FA Cup QF] is missing.
29/Mar/1969    Man City v Stoke *is listed but was another colour edition on BBC2 only at 10-11pm, there was also a late addition to BBC1's schedule which showed a different match ...
                        Leicester C. 1 (Clarke) West Bromwich A. 0 [FA Cup SF] *on BBC1 as "Soccer Special", a 20 min show to follow "Eurovision Song Contest" at 11:40pm

*Note:- Colour footage exists of Leeds v Leicester from 19/Apr/1969 but MOTD was NOT scheduled for BBC2 that night, so maybe they just captured some colour footage of Leicester in action for the following week's Cup Final build up on BBC2 (having already got some colour VT of Man City at home to Stoke and away at Chelsea earlier in the season).

1969/70 was the season in which the BBC experimented with regional matches, shown locally as a 2nd feature after the networked main game, but these games are not listed in Motson's book. The MOTD regions were defined differently to those of ITV and were much larger. East Anglia and the North East didn't have their own regular BBC matches because there were not enough clubs to choose from with Anglia and Tyne Tees already picking one local match each week, HTV and Westward were not showing a weekly local match and so that would explain why the BBC showed regular local games from those areas and not others. BBC1 viewers on either side of the Pennines still received their pictures from the Holme Moss transmitter, so that would account for why there was no separate service for the North West and Yorkshire.

The six BBC regions for 1969/70;

North *Included both sides of the Pennines as well as the North East
South East
South & West *This included the South West (Plymouth/Exeter/Torquay) as well as the Bristol/Swindon area and all of the clubs on the South coast.
Midlands *East Anglia appears to have been lumped in with the Midlands.
Wales
Northern Ireland

Here's a Radio Times article from the issue dated 9th -15th August 1969.....

"It's the great kick-off on Saturday for another season of soccer.  This will end, we hope, with England retaining the World Cup in the Aztec Stadium, Mexico City, on June 21 next year. Nearer home the season will be distinguished in another way.  For BBC-tv is introducing its most ambitious Saturday football coverage ever with a restyled, hour-long Match of the Day programme which will now include two recorded games instead of one.
Each Saturday BBC cameras will be in action at six League games.  The star national feature will continue to be shown everywhere except in Scotland, which has its own programme, but six BBC regions will now be showing as well the day's most attractive match in their area. David Coleman will host this new Match of the Day format, which will also feature late-night soccer news, the penetrating player-manager interview, and such innovations as monthly sportsmanship awards and the highly original National Kop Choir Contest. The whole thing adds up to the most expensive all-soccer weekly show in television history.  The brain-child (and long-held ambition) of Bryan Cowgill, head of BBC-tv sports programmes, it is edited by Sam Leitch, former Fleet Street Sportswriter of the Year.  Executive producer is Alec Weeks. Regular commentators will be Kenneth Wolstenholme and Alan Weeks, who will be joined by such experts as Barry Davies, former Wales and Arsenal skipper Walley Barnes and Idwal Robling, winner of Sportsnight's commentators' competition.
To sum up: on one Saturday the national Match of the Day might be, say, Chelsea v. Manchester United.  Then the South-east match might feature another London club away from home, while the North would have a wide choice of famous teams.  Midland viewers would see two of their teams in action; the Western Match of the Day territory stretches from Brighton to Plymouth; the Welsh match might involve Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport or Wrexham."

These are the known BBC games not included in Motson's book for 1969/70.....
*Games shown in both the South East and South&West regions are listed as "South"

09/Aug/1969    Leeds United 3 (Bremner, Clarke, Giles(pen)) Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Greaves) NORTH
16/Aug/1969    West Bromwich Albion 0 Arsenal 1 (George) MIDLANDS
23/Aug/1969    Derby County 0 Stoke City 0 MIDLANDS
                        Sunderland 1 (Todd) Sheffield Wednesday 2 (Craig, Eustace) NORTH
                        West Ham United 1 (Hurst) West Bromwich Albion 3 (Suggett, Brown, Krzwicki) SOUTH EAST
                        Wrexham 2 (Kinsey, Griffiths) Chester 0 WALES
                        Southampton 2 (Paine, Kemp) Chelsea 2 (Osgood 2) SOUTH & WEST
30/Aug/1969    Manchester United 3 (Best, Kidd, Givens) Sunderland 1 (McGiven) NORTH
                        Coventry City 1 (Hunt) Wolverhampton W. 0 MIDLANDS
                        Swindon Town 5 (Smith, Noble 3, Billett(og)) Charlton Athletic 0 SOUTH
                        Cardiff City 2 (King, Toshack) Bolton Wanderers 1 (Wharton) WALES
                        Ards v Coleraine N.IRELAND
06/Sep/1969    Bristol City 0 Preston North End 0 SOUTH & WEST
                        Blackburn Rovers 4 (Mulvaney, Newton(pen), Martin, Hill) Middlesbrough 0 NORTH
13/Sep/1969    Huddersfield Town 2 (Dobson 2(1pen)) Blackpool 0 NORTH
                        Chelsea 2 (Dempsey, Osgood) Wolverhampton W. 2 (Curran 2) MIDLANDS
                        Brentford 2 (Mansley, Ross(pen)) Swansea City 2 (Williams, Slattery) WALES
                        Bristol Rovers 3 (Jarman(pen), Stubbs, Graydon) Fulham 2 (Conway, Earle) SOUTH
20/Sep/1969    Manchester City 3 (Bell 2, Lee(pen)) Coventry City 1 (Hunt) NORTH
                        Queens Park Rangers 2 (Wilks, Clarke(pen)) Swindon Town 0 SOUTH
                        Swansea City 3 (Thomas(pen), Slattery, Evans) Northampton Town 2 (Townsend, Hawkins) WALES
27/Sep/1969    West Bromwich A. 2 (Astle, Hegan) Liverpool 2 (Graham, Hunt) MIDLANDS & NORTH
                        Tottenham Hotspur 0 Sunderland 1 (England(og)) SOUTH EAST
                        Cardiff City 4 (Toshack 3, King) Queens Park Rangers 2  (Venables(pen), Bridges) WALES
                        Plymouth Argyle 1 (Nicholls(og)) Luton Town 3 (Tees 2, French) SOUTH & WEST
04/Oct/1969    Manchester City 2 (Young, Bell) West Bromwich A. 1 (Pardoe(og)) NORTH
                        Southampton 2 (Gabriel, Stokes) Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Gilzean, Greaves) SOUTH & WEST *prob South East too
                        Newport County 4 (Derrick, Hill 2, Raybould) Colchester United 1 (Light) WALES
11/Oct/1969    Middlesbrough 4 Bolton Wanderers 0 (Hickton 2, McIlroyle 2) NORTH *opening goal on 44 seconds
25/Oct/1969    West Bromwich Albion 2 (Brown, Hope) Manchester United 1 (Kidd) MIDLANDS
01/Nov/1969    Wolverhampton W. 1 (O'Grady) West Bromwich A. 0 MIDLANDS
                         Southampton 1 (Channon) West Ham United 1 (Brooking) SOUTH
                         Cardiff City 6 (King(pen), Clark 2, Toshack 2, Sutton) Hull City 0 WALES
08/Nov/1969    Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Prendergast) Chelsea 3 (Hutchison 2, Osgood) NORTH
                         Birmingham City 2 (Murray, Vowden) Swindon Town 0 MIDLANDS
                         Swansea City 3 (Gwyther, H.Williams, G.Thomas) Crewe Alexandra 0 WALES
15/Nov/1969    Derby County 3 (Durban 2, Ashurst(og)) Sunderland 0 NORTH *main game was first BBC1 match in colour but Derby match was b&W
                        Wolverhampton W. 2 (Lutton, Curran) Arsenal 0 MIDLANDS
                        Watford 0 Swindon Town 0 SOUTH & WEST
                        Oxford United 1 (Shepherd) Cardiff City 1 (Lee) WALES
22/Nov/1969    Luton Town 2 (Collins, Allen) Rochdale 0 *This may have actually been the main game rather than Arsenal 1 Man City 1
                         Everton 2 (Hurst, Royle) Burnley 1 (Coates) NORTH
                         Stoke City 3 (Burrows 2(1pen), Ritchie) Ipswich Town 3 (Lambet, Collard, Viljoen(pen)) MIDLANDS
                         Wrexham 3 (Kinsey, May, Smith) Newport County 0 WALES
                         Torquay United 0 Rotherham United 0 SOUTH & WEST
29/Nov/1969    Manchester City 1 (Lee(pen)) Leeds United 2 (Gray, Jones) NORTH
                        Plymouth Argyle 0 Bournemouth & Boscombe A. 1 (Meredith) SOUTH & WEST
06/Dec/1969    Nottingham Forest 2 (Hilley, Rees) Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Whitham) MIDLANDS *b&W
                        Portsmouth 4 (Hiron 2, Bromley, Jennings) Preston North End 0 SOUTH & WEST
                        Cardiff City 3 (Clark 2, Bird) Watford 1 (Lewis) WALES
13/Dec/1969    Derby County 2 (Hinton, McGovern) Newcastle United 0 MIDLANDS
                        West Ham United 0 Everton 1 (Whittle) SOUTH EAST *colour
                        Newport County 0 Chesterfield 2 (Pugh 2) WALES
                        Torquay United 2 (Rudge, Welsh) Bournemouth & Boscombe A. 2 (MacDougall, White) SOUTH & WEST
20/Dec/1969    Walsall 3 (Baker 2, Taylor) Barnsley 2 (Dean 2) MIDLANDS
                        Cardiff City 1 (Clark) Charlton Athletic 0 WALES
27/Dec/1969    Arsenal 0 Newcastle United 0 SOUTH
                        Newport County 3 (Smith, Mabbutt, White) Aldershot 4 (Howarth, Gowans, Jopling, Walden) WALES
17/Jan/1970     Manchester City 0 Stoke City 1 (Burrows) NORTH
                        West Ham United 0 Manchester United 0 SOUTH EAST
                        Wrexham 1 (Griffiths(pen)) Brentford 0 WALES
                        Bristol City 1 (Bush) Millwall 1 (Dunphy) SOUTH & WEST
31/Jan/1970     Nottingham Forest 1 (Richardson) Liverpool 0 *May have been main match with Huddersfield v Carlisle the North match
                        Tottenham Hotspur 0 Southampton 1 (Davies) SOUTH *colour
                        Cardiff City 2 (Toshack 2) Blackpool 2 (Burns, Suddick) WALES
14/Feb/1970    Burnley 1 (Casper) Derby County 1 (O'Hare) NORTH
                        Cardiff City 1 (Woodruff ) Carlisle United 1 (Balderstone) WALES
                        Plymouth Argyle 1 (Bickle) Reading 1 (Habbin) SOUTH & WEST *poss South East too
28/Feb/1970    Nottingham Forest 1 (Ingram) Everton 1 (Royle) MIDLANDS
                        West Ham United 0 Southampton 0 SOUTH
                        Swansea City 0 Port Vale 0 WALES
21/Mar/1970    Orient 3 (Coddington(og), Jones, Taylor) Stockport County 0 *May have been main game with Manchester City 1 West Ham United 5 only shown in North & South regions
                        Aston Villa 1 (Curtis) Blackburn Rovers 1 (Goodwin) MIDLANDS
                        Swansea City 2 (Gwyther, H.Williams) Scunthorpe United 1 (Barker) WALES
                        Exeter City 1 (Gadston) Northampton Town 0 SOUTH & WEST
28/Mar/1970    Blackpool 2 (Pickering 2) Aston Villa 1 (Hamilton) *May have been main game with Leeds United 1 Southampton 3 the game for North & South only
                        Birmingham City 1 (Vowden) Preston North End 0 MIDLANDS
                        Cardiff City 0 Oxford United 0 WALES
                        Bristol Rovers 1 (Gilbert) Orient 0 SOUTH & WEST
04/Apr/1970    Middlesbrough 2 (McIlmoyle, Laidlaw) Cardiff City 1 (Clark) NORTH
                        Oxford United 1 (Skeen) Charlton Athletic 1 (Treacy)  MIDLANDS
                        Arsenal 2 (Kelly, Radford) West Ham United 1 (Greaves) SOUTH EAST
                        Plymouth Argyle 2 (Maher, Taylor(og)) Bristol Rovers 2 (Allan 2) SOUTH & WEST

The BBC commentators for 1969/70;

Ken Wolstenholme *known main games 23/08, 30/08, 06/09, 20/09, 27/09, 04/10, 29/11, 27/12, 10/01 & 28/02
David Coleman *main games 16/08, 18/10, 25/10, 8/11, 15/11 & 6/12
Barry Davies *main games 09/08, 13/12, 20/12, 21/03 (at Man.C)
Stuart Hall *appears to have been the North commentator
Alan Weeks *seems to be the voice for Midlands matches
Walley Barnes *most likely a regular commentator for Wales
Idwal Robling *covered Leeds v Mansfield (the FA Cup R5 match on 07/02), probably did a fair number of games for South & West

*Davies ended up doing the main game on 09/08 (instead of the North regional) because Coleman fell ill on Friday, Davies had only just joined BBCtv but was flown down to London to commentate on the game between Palace and Man Utd and then had to present the show in the evening.

From 1970/71 it was two networked matches....

*Match of the Day replaced its' original antiquated theme tune ("Drum Majorette" by Major Statham) in August 1970. Barry Stoller composed the new theme which is still used today.

03/Apr/1971    Coventry City 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0 was also shown *So two 0-0 draws on MOTD that weekend.
08/Jan/1972     Missing from the book, the games were Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Peters) Manchester City 1 (Davies) and Stoke City 0 Arsenal 0.
30/Dec/1972    The Tottenham v Wolves League Cup game was the 2nd leg (not specified in the book).
09/Feb/1974    Only one game listed, other game postponed?
26/Feb/1977    Only one game listed *most likely only one game covered because of a camermen's strike
19/Nov/1977    West Bromwich Albion 0 Manchester City 0 was also shown
07/Jan/1978     Leeds Utd 1 (F.Gray(pen)) Manchester City 2 (F Tueart, Barnes) & West Ham 1 (Robson) Watford 0 [FA Cup R3] *recorded but not shown due to a technical error
        *both were included on BBC history video's for Leeds and West Ham in the early 1990's. Barry Davies on the Leeds game which included a riot, David Coleman at West Ham.
02/Dec/1978    The second game was going to be Manchester United v Ipswich Town but this was called off late in the day, so it was too late to move to another game.
10/Mar/1979    Two FA Cup games, Ipswich Town v Liverpool and West Brom v Southampton, were due to be shown but there was a late strike and the games were not recorded.
26/Apr/1980    Manchester United 2 (McIlroy 2(1pen)) Coventry City (Thompson) 1 was a third game. *incl on BBC Man Utd history, John Motson was commentating.

1980/81 (The season MOTD first switched to Sunday afternoons).....

*All dates from 08/Mar/81 are out by a day (all the dates up to this point are the Saturday dates, but they suddenly switch to the Sunday transmission date thereafter).
01/Nov/1980    Luton v Sheffield Wednesday was a Division Two game (not Three as listed)
13/Dec/1980    Swansea City 4 Newcastle United 0 was Division Two (not One)
10/Jan/1981     Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 0 was shown first not third as listed. 
02/May/1981   Preston North End 1 (Bruce) Swansea City 3 (L.James, Craig, Charles) is missing *Des Lynham commentary, 17 minutes appeared on Youtube
28/Nov/1981   Halifax Town 1 (Graham) Scunthorpe United 2 (Cowling, Moss) [Division Four] is listed as the third game in all pinks.
01/Jan/1983     Cardiff City 3 (Henneman 2(1 pen), G.Bennett) Bristol Rovers 1 (Bradd) [Division Three] was shown as a third game *Five minutes action with Idwal Robling commentating.

MOTD repeats
Classic MOTD matches were repeated in a series called Action Replay which celebrated the 20th anniversary in August 1984 with Jimmy Hill presenting.
The 'UK Gold' channel repeated a selection of Match of the Day episodes in the mid-1990's but replaced the original title sequences with a new one (as well as adding commercial breaks). Early-mid 1970's editions were mostly telerecordings (filmed off a monitor) recovered from abroad and sadly these were in black & white. The ESPN Classics channel repeated the same episodes and more in the 2000's but again these were missing their original title sequence. There were also some afternoon re-runs of 1960's matches on BBC2 in the late 1990's.

BBC Retrospectives
The 25th anniversary of Match of the Day was marked with an excellent BBC VHS video looking back at the 1960's (starting with 1964/65 and ending with the first few colour matches at the end of 1969), a further pair of video's covering the 1970's and the 1980's followed soon afterwards.
Match of the Seventies (BBC1) 26/Jul/1995 - 02/Sep/1996 and Match of the Eighties (BBC1) 21/Jul/1997 - 25/Aug/1997 are generally regarded to be the best archive football packages ever to be produced, although both chiefly relied on BBC material (ITV footage tended to be dubbed with music or fake crowd noise, probably because this would have meant paying less for use of the clips), the shows occupied a 40/45 minute slot and each told the story of one particular season. There were two series covering the 1970's (1970/71 through to 1979/80, all narrated by Dennis Waterman) but only one for the 1980's which ended with season 1985/86 (Danny Baker narrated these). There was also Match of the Nineties with Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley covering 1989/90 - 1996/97 (So no programmes for 1986/87, 1987/88 or 1988/89).

The BBC produced World Cup Stories in 2006 (first edition shown on 07/May/2006), this was an excellent series with each episode telling the story of one particular country (England, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Argentina and France). However, in terms of original TV footage unspoilt by overdubbed music or pointless effects, a series of shorts produced for Sportsnight in 1989 is probably more desirable (all BBC footage though).

Sky Retrospectives
Football Years from 01/Oct/2002 was a mixture of ITV, BBC and SKY footage with celebrity talking heads (comedians, pop stars etc. as well as players) looking back at a particular season in a one hour slot - Most programmes were concerned with the 1990's but season's 1980/81 and 1983/84 were also covered.
Bobby Charlton's Football Scrapbook was a Sky Sports Gold show circa 1997 presented by Dickie Davies.

Also...
20/Dec/1980 - "Football Association Coaching Tactics And Skills [F.A.C.T.S.]" (BBC), series shown daily in a morning slot over Xmas holidays.
07/May/1990 - "The Greatest Game On Earth" (Yorkshire TV), 4 part series/30 minutes each, mostly contemporary footage.
16/Sep/1991 - "Standing Room Only" (BBC), 'TV fanzine', ran for a few years, various features of vintage interest.
21/Jan/1994 - "Fantasy Football League" (BBC), Frank Skinner and David Baddiel's comedy football series, many references to classic era, later moved to ITV.
16/Oct/1995 - "Kicking And Screaming" (BBC), excellent 6 part series on the history of football narrated by James Bolan.
2000-2002 - "Football Stories" (Channel Four), an intermittent run of 1 hour documentaries including "The Charlton Brothers",  "When Bobby [Moore] met Jimmy [Greaves]", "Football's Fight Club" (Hooliganism) and "Ultimate Rulebreakers".
06/Jun/2002 - "Three Lions" (BBC) 3 part series/1 hour each, James Bolan narrates England story, 1. 1966-1973, 2. 1974-1986, 3. 1986-2000.
03/Sep/2002 - "Jimmy Hill: Football's First Revolutionary" (Channel Four), 1 hour documentary.
10/Feb/2006 - "That Was The Team That Was" (BBC1 Scotland), 3 series (15 shows) narrated by John Gordon Sinclair, 1. Scotland 1974, others on Scottish clubs of particular season's, 23/Feb/2007 edition on Leeds of 1973/74.
25/Mar/2009 - "Clough" (ITV1), documentary which served as an antidote to the fictional novel/movie "The Damned United".
02/Oct/2009 - "Manchester United Classics", ESPN compilations sourced from ITV Sport (mostly from The Big Match)
 

The unscreened 12/Sep/1981 ATV match - Derby County  v Leicester City
Duncan Cavanagh writes; "I have come across a Derby programme for the 1981/82 season which has a lot of infomation about the Derby v Leicester game played a few weeks earlier - The reason the game could not be shown was that Derby breached Football League Regulation 61, because their goalkeeper, Roger Jones wore a shirt with the Derby sponsors name 'Patrick' on it. Patrick were also the shirt manufacturers. The headline in the programme was "Are We The Only Ones In The Sin Bin?". The programme says that Derby were told on August 6th that the game would be televised, and booked extra advertising space. The kit man was told not to put out the sponsored shirts, and he did so, but the goalkeeper's shirt had the sponsors name on it, none of the outfield shirts did. Roger Jones said he never put his shirt on until the team went onto the pitch. "Call it superstition or habit. That's what i do." The Derby secretary missed the kick off, but noticed after 6 minutes that the keepers shirt had a sponsors logo on it and asked the trainer to swap the shirt, but no opportunities occurred, and the shirt could not be swapped until half time. Derby were winning 3-0 at half time! Derby's argument was that there was one rule for them, and another for Liverpool, whose game v Ipswich was shown the same day, and whilst none of the Liverpool shirts had 'Hitachi' on them, the trainers tracksuit did, and this was given screen time. They also asked why it was not possible to avoid showing the Derby keeper in the first half highlights, when Derby were winning 3-0. The programme called the game a wonderful advert for English football! The game was recorded by ATV, but minutes after the full time whistle, ITV sports boss Gerry Loftus decided that the game could not be shown that night. It cost ATV £15,000. There are some conspiracy theories in the article. One was - "Is it that Patrick Sports are English and Hitachi are not? ", another was that Derby were being made an example of, a further one involved a suggested take over by Doug Ellis at the time had affected the decision."

1968-1983 Football Links
ITV highlights 1968-1983 home page
It’s up for grabs now! The history of football on ITV - A site dedicated to regional ITV football coverage 1968-1983 by John Bourn
John Bromley - Telegraph obituary of ITV's head of sport through the 1970's & '80's
TV's voices of football - An excellent series of articles by Steve Williams
English Football Cards 1965/66 - 1979/80 - A nostalgia site devoted to football sticker and card collections
Bob's 70/71 - 1970's football
Post War Player's Database - A very useful resource put together by Neil Brown
Historical kits- Another useful resource by Dave Moor
English Football on TV in Sweden
Jim Edwards TV World - this links to the sports section
Sixties and Seventies Soccer Forum
Backpass Magazine - Website of the retro football magazine
 

Email
upthemaggies@hotmail.com

Page last updated October 2009