FIGHTING TALK
ITV’s panel for 1974 finals was full of bants ’n spats
IT’S not just on the pitch during a World Cup that stars are born. In the TV studios, too, the pundits are just as controversial and competitive. Football panels were in their infancy 48 years ago, but ITV’s experts were every bit as flamboyant as the football in West Germany. IAN MURTAGH talks to one of that team, former Scotland captain Bobby Moncur.
BOOZE, bust-ups, baby-sitting duties and games of squash.
The famous ITV World Cup panel of 1974 – widely acclaimed as one of the best in the history of football punditry – had a bit of everything.
Only the two Scots, Bobby Moncur and Paddy Crerand, are still with us, but motor mouths Brian Clough, Malcolm Allison, Jack Charlton and Derek Dougan ensured that particular tournament was remembered as much for the arguments preand post-match as the football itself.
“I probably recall the banter and the fun we had more than the games themselves,” admitted Moncur (above), who, at 77, is still active as a Newcastle ambassador.
“ITV knew what they were doing when they brought that lot together.
“With Scotland the only British team to have qualified, Paddy and I were there to speak up for our country.
“But really, the big hitters were Cloughie, Mal, Big Jack and The Doog.
‘‘All of them were great characters who weren’t afraid to say exactly what they thought.
“And there were quite a few times when they clashed which is exactly why they were asked to be pundits. It made for great telly with viewers loving it.
“The presenter Brian Moore, who was the consummate professional, asked a question then sat back and let the rest of us get on with it.”
What viewers didn’t know was that occasionally, on-screen spats carried on off it.
“I remember Brian having to step in once or twice,” added Moncur. “Cloughie and The Doog didn’t really like each other and it could get quite heated. And Jack wasn’t averse to carrying on an argument once the cameras were off.”
The flamboyant Allison, who was Crystal Palace boss, really came into his own away from the studio.
“Malcolm liked causing mischief but his style was very different to Cloughie or Big Jack,” added Moncur.
“He loved the high life. One night he invited Paddy and I out to dinner, picked us up in his flash Jag and we headed to the West End.
“Then he parked his car on the double yellow lines outside the main entrance of The Ritz and threw the keys to the doorman.
“It wasn’t long before the champagne started flowing and I’ll admit we had quite a few bottles.
“Paddy and I were getting a bit worried about the cost of it all but Malcolm just said: ‘Never mind the bill, I’ll sort it’.
“The waiter approached him and said: ‘Who’s paying this week Mr Allison?’ and he replied: ‘Send the bill to ITV.’
“On his way out, he tipped the doorman who’d parked his car a tenner which was a lot of money back then.”
As for Big Jack, Moncur confirms the image of a gregarious, wise-cracking Geordie was spot on.
“Every pub we went to – and there were a few – he knew someone,” said Moncur. “Jack loved a cigarette but I never once saw him buy any. Everyone was happy to oblige.”
Moncur and Allison tipped Holland to win the World Cup but it was Cloughie who had the winners.
He added: “From the outset, he fancied West Germany and as ever, Old Big ‘Ead got it spot on.”