BACK OF THE NET!
We take a look at the world’s longest-running football programme
SOCCER special Match Of The Day started 55 years ago – just two years before England won the World Cup and Kenneth Wolstenholme uttered the now immortal words “They think it’s all over ... it is now.”
The first regular football programme on television began on new channel BBC2 on August 22, 1964, at the start of the 1964-65 season.
The identity of the match – Liverpool v Arsenal at Anfield – was kept secret until 4pm, by agreement with the Football League, who feared crowds would stay at home to watch it instead of going to the ground.
Nearly an hour of highlights of the game was shown – Liverpool won 3-2. Commentary was by Wolstenholme and Welsh footballer-turned-broadcaster Walley Barnes and they reached an estimated TV audience of 20,000.
The growing popularity of football, however, later led to Match Of The Day switching to BBC1 and the jaunty signature tune by Barry Stoller was once voted one of the most recognised TV
theme tunes. That was heard for the first time in 1970. The first programme opened with Drum Majorette by Arnold Stock.
John Motson became the youngest FA Cup Final commentator at the age of 31 and his famous sheepskin coat made him a recognisable figure on TV.
He covered 29 FA Cup Finals and more than 200 England games during his 50-year career as the “voice of football”. Fellow commentator Barry Davies uttered many an immortal line during his time in the hot seat, and one of his most famous phrases came in a match between Manchester City and Derby County in 1974. “Interesting,” said Davies, as Derby’s Francis Lee turned on the edge of the box. Then, as Lee hit an absolute screamer into the top corner of the City net: “Very interesting! Look at his face! Just look at his face!” Four years ago Match Of The Day was recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest-running football television programme in the world.
Presenters over the years have included David Coleman, Jimmy Hill and Des Lynam. Gary Lineker has fronted the programme for the last 20 years.