I’m stunned by sad loss of Bob, a funny man and true professional
STUNNED and sad – my reaction on hearing the news that Bob Hall had died last week. He was a fine professional broadcaster who I brought to the Midlands to join my Central TV team when I became Head of Sport in 1981.
He was an important player in the days when I developed regional sport with a mix of different shows in Central’s halcyon days – affectionately remembered by older readers.
His popularity from those days has been underlined by the many tributes paid to Bob since news of his death last Friday.
Bob was a dignified private man (he did not provide his home number even to me as his boss) who always stayed calm on and off the screen.
Bob was the first name I thought of when I was appointed to the role for sharing the presenting role with me and he was everything I hoped he would be over the next 23 years.
He had been presenting the rugby league coverage for a joint production by Granada and Yorkshire Television stations.
The Head of Sport for Granada, Paul Doherty, refused my approach, explaining
Bob was under contract despite Bob’s keenness to join my Birmingham operation. I pointed out that his opposite number at Yorkshire had forgotten to issue this contract!
Bob, from Yorkshire, was part of the hard work ethic that I demanded from my new team.
I believed in working hard and playing hard outside of our commitments. Bob was first class on both fronts! Humour abounded too on and off screen, especially as Jimmy Greaves signed for us in the previous
year.
Jimmy always called him ‘Robert.’ Bob was a good impersonator and even took the mickey out of me when I was out of earshot! Attitudes are different today and I understand the changes, but as long as alcohol did not feature when we had shows, I wanted the downtime to be fun.
The result was that we took local
TV sport to a new level with shows ranging from Star Soccer to lots of other shows, including our own midweek football special, boxing, darts, and so on.
I won the tender for Central to make all of ITV’S network football contract and my team were brilliant until the so-called Granada-carlton merger in 2003. Within a year, my team – apart from three – was disbanded, including Bob and myself by Granada bosses.
I was told that, as Bob had always wanted to be freelance, he was not entitled to a pay-off. I fought hard for all my team and I am pleased to recall that I secured compensation for Bob.
I was already on my way to join Sky Sports but I did stay to make sure all my team got their money.
The 30 involved were all highly talented and I am so pleased they have gone on to land big jobs in TV with other stations.
Until his tragic passing at the age of 76 last week, Bob had been reporting on matches live into Sky Sports Soccer Saturday show with Jeff Stelling, as well as plenty of corporate work.
Four years ago we lost my brilliant number two, Jeff Farmer, from cancer and now Bob has gone. I understand he had a heart attack. Two top people sadly missed.
Back in November, when Solihull Moors lost to Wigan in a home FA Cup tie, I was interviewed on ITV4’S coverage when the Moors were well down in the National League table. I predicted they would be in the EFL soon.
Now they are one win away from completing an amazing short story since their formation.
If they beat Grimsby on Sunday in the play-off final at the London Stadium, they will be the newest members of the EFL.
With only one defeat in 23 league matches, the Moors – scoring goals galore – have a great chance.
Under manager Neal Ardley, they are playing good football and have confidence and a great spirit.
A record crowd of 4,026 at the ARMCO Arena saw the Moors win their home play-off semi-final 3-1 against Chesterfield after the visitors had scored first in the eighth minute.
Their opponents at the London Stadium for the 3pm kick-off (live on BT Sport 1) will be Grimsby Town, managed by Paul Hurst in his second spell at the club having been previously in charge of Shrewsbury, Ipswich and Scunthorpe.
Grimsby were relegated from the EFL last season and scored a lastminute 5-4 winner after extra-time at Wrexham in the other semi-final on Saturday.
The Moors’ current form will make them favourites and – with top scorer Andrew Dallas, 23 for the season, with just behind Joe Sbarra – if they hold their form and play well again my prediction will come true.
Bob was the first name I thought of for sharing the presenting role with me and he was everything I hoped he would be over the next 23 years.