Media Index
England Football Online
Page Last Updated 16 March 2024
 
 

Euro
1938-39
1950-55
1960-65

1970-75
1980-85
1990-95

World Cup
1947-50
1955-60
1965-70
1975-80
1985-90
1995-2000

Media Coverage
England on Television
(1965-70)

The commentators in italics are likely, but not confirmed.

With the Football Association suddenly deciding that they would not allow England internationals to be shown live during the season, ITV managed to secure, for themselves, exclusive rights to the highlights of all of the internationals played at home, leading up to the 1966 World Cup. However, this arrangement was to spectacularly backfire in the very first programme, when an editing error meant that Austria's late winning goal was excluded from the broadcast highlights, leading some viewers to believe that the game had ended in a draw.

The BBC, for their part, faithfully produced the highlights of all of England's away games, as excitement grew towards the upcoming festival of football. Viewers in Scotland had a different arrangement, when it came to the England game, as they were able to see it live, and they could also choose whether to watch it with BBC Scotland, or with Scottish TV.

This match also became England's first appearance on Match of the Day and their first on BBC2, thanks to the unique situation of a Scotland v. England international being a replacement for a snowed-off game at Liverpool. Those who could not yet receive the BBC's second channel had to wait until the following day to see the seven-goal thriller.

Apart from the obvious historic moments of 1966, there were also three new voices covering England matches for the first time, all of whom went on to become famous broadcasters. Barry Davies, at 28, commentated on the other England v. West Germany game, in February, and also on their first game as World Champions, in Belfast. Three years later, he would join the BBC and end up describing more England games over the next three decades.

33-year-old, Frank Bough, who had replaced Peter Dimmock as the Sportsview presenter, two years earlier, commentated on England's last game before the World Cup. During the tournament, he and Davies were to commentate on the same games at Middlesbrough and Sunderland; Bough for the BBC and Davies for ITV. Frank Bough then went on to become a household name presenting Grandstand on Saturday afternoons between 1968 and 1983.

The third newcomer was Hugh Johns, a 43-year-old presenter from TWW (Television Wales and West), who suddenly found himself covering all of the Wembley games at the World Cup for ITV. Gerry Loftus, the main football commentator for the independent channel since 1958, stayed in Liverpool and Manchester to cover Brazil's short-lived attempt to win a third successive World Cup. He would never commentate on England again, preferring the boardroom, whilst Johns took on all of ITV's major finals for the next two years and four successive World Cup Finals. Although Kenneth Wolstenholme's immortalized commentary on the 1966 final for the BBC was heard by about six times more viewers than that of ITV's, Hugh Johns had made a big enough impression to endear himself to ITV viewers for many years to come.

BBC and ITV were joint-host broadcasters for the 1966 World Cup, with Eurovision relaying the pictures across the continent, and satellite sending them to South America for the first time. Colour television was not yet available, but there was one technical innovation unveiled at the first match. The BBC had borrowed a slow-motion action-replay machine from CBS in the United States and its use prompted a few phone calls from confused viewers, asking if the game was actually live or if it had been pre-recorded.

The tournament received the BBC's undivided attention, whilst some of ITV's regions expressed their customary individuality, when weighing up the appeal of the games to their viewers, probably due to their (correct) assumption that most football fans would be watching England on the BBC. Three regions did not show the first half of the Saturday-night Mexico game, thus missing England's first goal of the tournament (a Bobby Charlton thunderbolt). Scottish TV, perhaps predictably, were the least enthusiastic about showing England, and made this abundantly clear by only showing the last quarter-hour of each of England's three group games.

None of the ITV regions showed the first half-hour of the France game. This was due to the regular scheduling of Coronation Street, a soap opera so popular that it could not be moved to satisfy millions of football fans. It may, however, have been an acceptable compromise in many households up and down the land. This was the first major tournament to schedule games at peak viewing time and if BBC1 and ITV were both showing football, it only left BBC2 as an alternative for those not interested in the World Cup. By the end of the tournament, however, even Scottish TV was broadcasting the England games in full.

The final attracted an estimated audience of 32.3 million across the two channels, the highest all-time viewing figures in the UK. In an era of multi-channel availability, it would take a monumental event to beat it. Despite this peak of interest in the England team, however, the television companies were still unable to show live coverage during the season, thanks to the 'cull' of 1965, which also resulted in live Under-23 and schoolboy games disappearing from the airwaves.

ITV continued to show highlights of most of the England games over the next two years, with the BBC only getting one Wembley game per season, plus all of the matches played abroad. By the end of the 1967-68 season, however, the BBC was re-establishing itself as the prime broadcaster of England games, gaining exclusive coverage of all of England's games in the closing stages of the European Championship.

Four days before the tournament began, a major landmark was reached. An England game was broadcast in colour for the first time. It was the World Cup Final rematch against West Germany in Hannover, with German television providing the pictures and BBC2 relaying them live to the viewers back home (apart from in Scotland). Two weeks earlier, the FA Cup Final had been broadcast on all three channels at the same time, because BBC2 was the only channel able to transmit colour pictures, and with parts of the country unable to receive BBC2 at all, it was vital that the game was also shown on BBC1. So, for the second time in three weeks, non-football fans were given absolutely no alternative if they wanted to watch television during a certain two-hour slot on a Saturday afternoon. At least, the England game, unlike the Cup Final, could not go to extra time. ITV, meanwhile, were broadcasting their first England game from abroad since the 1958 World Cup.

The 1968-69 season was a significant one, in the world of televised football, with a number of changes. Firstly, Kenneth Wolstenholme's position as the BBC's unrivalled top commentator, a position that he'd held unchallenged since 1953, was suddenly under threat. The pretender to the throne was David Coleman, who'd actually been at the BBC since 1954, and had commentated on his first England game, three years later, but Wolstenholme's contract ensured that he alone could commentate on all of the big games.

Coleman's stock was rising within the BBC, however. He had presented Grandstand from its beginning, demonstrating an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Football League (and Scottish League), as the scores came in on a Saturday afternoon. With ITV re-organising and planning a new production style to challenge the BBC domination, the corporation wanted a fresher look, themselves, and they did not want to lose their blossoming talent. Coleman gave up Grandstand and began to present Match of the Day on a Saturday night, often with Wolstenholme commentating. He was also given his own Thursday night programme, Sportsnight with Coleman, to provide more in-depth coverage of sport, and he was commentating on more of England's Wembley internationals that season. Meanwhile, Wolstenholme's contract was amended, whereby he would still get all of the major cup finals, but his England games would be mostly abroad, utilising his vast international experience of the past two decades.

ITV had gone through a franchise review, in which all of its regions were put out to tender for interested television companies to bid for. The region for programmes between Friday evening and Sunday evening in London went, appropriately enough to London Weekend Television (LWT), a new company. Its Head of Sport was Jimmy Hill, who had previously been Coventry City's manager, and he was a former chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association. His ambitions included challenging the BBC's dominance with a much more modern and vibrant presentation of football. He recruited 36-year-old, Brian Moore, who had commentated on the 1966 World Cup Final for BBC Radio, to present the new Sunday afternoon highlights programme, called The Big Match. England were to appear on the programme twice, at the end of the season. With Hugh Johns moving with ATV to focus on Midlands football, LWT proceeded to allocate Brian Moore to England commentaries, including the midweek games covered by Thames TV, though Johns did still, on occasion, provide England commentaries for the rest of the ITV network.

The Home International (British) Championship also underwent a television makeover, being condensed into an eight-day tournament at the end of the season, in an attempt to boost flagging interest in the old competition. With each game scheduled for a different time, this gave the television companies the chance to show all six games live, though only the BBC did so. LWT were the only ITV region to show both of England's weekend games live. The deciding game, at Wembley, was the first time since 1949 that viewers in England were able to watch the Scotland game live. Twelve months later, it had been decided that the live TV coverage affected attendances too much and it was back to highlights again, with full delayed coverage of the game between Scotland and England.

There was also another technological breakthrough in 1969. ITV managed to secure exclusive rights to show an England game from abroad for the first time, and as this was in Mexico, it was the first live broadcast of an England match from outside Europe. If the BBC had gained the rights, they would have been able to show it in colour, but ITV did not yet have this capability until later in the year.

The 1970 British Championship climax, at Hampden Park, was the occasion of Kenneth Wolstenholme's final commentary on an England match, after twenty years and over a hundred games describing the national team's exploits. David Coleman was given England's games at the 1970 World Cup, and though Wolstenholme still commentated on his fifth successive World Cup Final, plus his 21st FA Cup Final, a year later, it was clear that Coleman was getting more and more of the big games, and Wolstenholme left the BBC in 1971. He re-appeared later in the decade at Tyne Tees and then covered Italian football for Channel 4 in the 1990s, but he would forever be associated with England's greatest triumph.

Though England lost their world title in Mexico, the tournament was a huge success for television. This was the first World Cup to be broadcast live from outside Europe, via satellite. The vibrant colours of a sun-drenched Mexico were irresistible (to those lucky enough to own a colour set) and the football was of a very high standard; the Brazil side that inherited England's crown being regarded by many as the greatest team of all time. Both channels provided blanket coverage, and with all of the midweek games kicking off at 11pm in the UK, there were plenty of opportunities to catch the highlights on the following day, to fit in with working hours. You could watch them at breakfast time, lunch time or dinner time.

Although both channels showed England's first two games simultaneously, they appear to have reached agreement over the next two (which, as it turned out, were the last two). ITV had their first exclusive coverage of an England World Cup match, though it was a late Thursday night fixture, during which viewers with black-and-white televisions complained that England's pale-blue kit was virtually indistinguishable from Czechoslovakia's all-white. England, subsequently, switched to red for the quarter-final, when the BBC had exclusive coverage on a Sunday evening at peak viewing time. This, of course, proved to be a devastating evening for England fans.

It was ITV, however, that came out of the tournament, for once, with most credit, and they had, at least, matched the BBC in the ratings. The reason for this appears to be a masterstroke made by LWT's Jimmy Hill, who created a World Cup panel of experts, who were on-air for every programme. Malcolm Allison (Manchester City coach), Pat Crerand (Manchester United and Scotland), Derek Dougan (Wolverhampton Wanderers and Northern Ireland) and Bob McNab (Arsenal and England) were the quartet that produced lively, honest debates, the likes of which had not been seen in the BBC's football coverage up to that point. The viewers were captivated and it all added up to a mesmerising tournament, with so many memories that would never be forgotten.

So, despite all of the attempts by the football authorities in the sixties, to curb television coverage of the sport, the broadcasters had begun the new decade by turning the World Cup into a mass media event, using the latest colour technology and seducing the viewer with entertaining opinion to supplement the exciting coverage. What they didn't know at this point was that the national team was about to go into decline and it would be twelve years before England graced a World Cup finals tournament again. This would not really matter to the TV companies, however. English club football was thriving and television coverage was only going to get bigger and better.

Thanks to Robert Pedley for various amendments.

 

"Pelé! What a save! Gordon Banks picked that out of the net."
David Coleman (Brazil v. England 1970 World Cup)

For more details on TV football in this era, the ITV Football 1968-83 website is well worth a visit.

1965-66


392

Saturday, 2 October 1965 - Wales 0 England 0 [0-0]
Ninian Park, Cardiff
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - Sunday, 3rd October - 2:20pm - 3:05pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Notes First Division highlights were shown on the Saturday night of the games between West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea (on BBC2's Match of the Day), and between Newcastle United and Arsenal (on Tyne Tees' Shoot). Anglia showed Match of the Week after the England game.

393
Wednesday, 20 October 1965 -
England 2
Austria 3
[1-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
ITV - 10:30pm - 11:15pm
Anglia, Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales) and TWW (South Wales and West of England)
Westward - 10:30pm - 11:18pm
Border - 10:34pm - 11:15pm
ITV - 10:34pm - 11:19pm

ATV (Midland), Granada (Northern) and Rediffusion (London)
Tyne Tees - 10:35pm - 11:15pm
ITV - 10:35pm - 11:18pm
Channel and Grampian
Ulster - 10:35pm - 11:19pm
Scottish Television - 12:05am - 12:45am
(Thursday, 21st)
ITV commentator Gerry Loftus
(recorded highlights)

394
Wednesday, 10 November 1965 -
England
2
Northern Ireland 1 [1-1]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm GMT
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Tyne Tees - 10:30pm - 11:15pm
Westward - 10:30pm - 11:18pm
ITV - 10:33pm - 11:18pm
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Channel, Grampian, Granada (Northern), Rediffusion (London), Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England) and Ulster

(Scottish Television opted out)
ITV commentator Gerry Loftus
(recorded highlights)

395
Wednesday, 8 December 1965 -
Spain 0 England 2 [0-1]
El Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
-
Kick-off 8.30pm (7.30pm GMT)

HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 10:55pm - 11:25pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)

396
Wednesday, 5 January 1966 -
England 1
Poland 1 [0-1]
Goodison Park, Liverpool
- Kick-off 7.30pm GMT
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
ITV - 10:12pm - 10:57pm
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Channel, Grampian, Granada (Northern), Rediffusion (London), Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Tyne Tees, Ulster and Westward
Scottish Television - 10:15pm - 10:58pm

ITV commentator Gerry Loftus
(recorded highlights)

397
Wednesday, 23 February 1966 -
England 1
West Germany 0
[1-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm GMT
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
ITV - 10:10pm - 10:55pm
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Channel, Granada (Northern), Rediffusion (London), Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Tyne Tees and Westward
10:25pm - 11:11pm
Grampian and Ulster
Scottish Television - 11:45pm - 12:30am

ITV commentator Barry Davies
(recorded highlights)


398

Saturday, 2 April 1966 - Scotland 3 England 4 [1-2]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY (live in Scotland)
Grandstand (BBC1 Scotland) - 12:45pm - 5:15pm
commentator George Davidson
Scotsport Hampden Special (ITV)
2:45pm - 3:45pm and 3:55pm - 4:45pm

(Racing Results during half-time interval)

Grampian and Scottish Television
ITV commentator Alex Cameron
Scotsport (Scottish Television) - 9:25pm - 9:55pm
(recorded highlights)

Match of the Day (BBC2) - 10:15pm - 11:00pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Sportsreel (BBC1 Scotland) - 10:20pm - 10:45pm
(recorded highlights)

Border - Sunday, 3rd April - 2:40pm - 3:15pm
ITV - Sunday, 3rd April - 2:45pm - 3:20pm
ABC (Midland and Northern), ATV (London), Grampian, Scottish Television, Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Tyne Tees, Ulster and Westward
(recorded highlights)

BBC1 - Sunday, 3rd April - 2:55pm - 3:45pm

(recorded highlights)

Anglia - Sunday, 3rd April - 4:40pm - 5:15pm

(recorded highlights)
Notes Match of the Day was scheduled to cover the First Division game between Liverpool and Sheffield United, but it was postponed, because of snow, and highlights of the international were shown in its place.


399

Wednesday, 4 May 1966 - England 2 Yugoslavia 0 [2-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
ITV - 10:30pm - 11:15pm
Anglia, Border, Grampian, Teledu Cymru (Wales) and TWW (South Wales and West of England)
ITV - 10:30pm - 11:18pm
ATV (Midland) and Ulster
Scotsport (Scottish Television) - 10:33pm - 11:08pm
ITV - 10:33pm - 11:15pm
Granada (Northern) and Southern Television
ITV - 10:33pm - 11:18pm
Channel, Rediffusion (London), Tyne Tees and Westward
ITV commentator Gerry Loftus
(recorded highlights)


400

Sunday, 26 June 1966 - Finland 0 England 3 [0-2]
Olympiastadion, Helsinki
- Kick-off 7.00pm (6.00 PM BST)
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY

BBC1 - Monday, 27th June - 10:45pm - 11:15pm
commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)


401

Wednesday, 29 June 1966 - Norway 1 England 6 [1-5]
Ullevĺl Stadion, Oslo - Kick-off 7.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 10:40pm - 11:10pm
commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)


402

Sunday, 3 July 1966 - Denmark 0 England 2 [0-1]
Idrćtsparken, København
- Kick-off 7.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC2 - 10:10pm - 10:40pm
commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)


403

Tuesday, 5 July 1966 - Poland 0 England 1 [0-1]
Stadion Śląski, Chorzów
- Kick-off 6.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 10:45pm - 11:15pm
commentator Frank Bough
(recorded highlights)
World Cup Finals 1966

England


404

Monday, 11 July 1966 - England 0 Uruguay 0 [0-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.30pm BST
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 6:50pm - 9:20pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme and Ron Greenwood
Rediffusion (London) - 7:25pm - 9:15pm
ITV - 7:25pm - 9:20pm
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, Granada (Northern), Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Tyne Tees, Ulster and Westward
Scottish Television - 8:55pm - 9:20pm
(last 15 minutes only)
ITV commentators Hugh Johns and Dave Bowen
(Channel opted out)
Notes The BBC coverage included the Opening Ceremony.


405

Saturday, 16 July 1966 - Mexico 0 England 2 [1-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.30pm BST
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 7:00pm - 9:20pm
commentators
Kenneth Wolstenholme and Johnny Haynes
ITV - 7:25pm - 9:20pm
Anglia, ATV (London), Border, Grampian, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England) and Tyne Tees
Ulster - 8:15pm - 9:15pm
ITV - 8:20pm - 9:15pm

ABC (Midland and Northern) and Westward
Southern Television - 8:20pm - 9:20pm

(second half only)

Scottish Television - 8:55pm - 9:20pm

(last 15 minutes only)
ITV commentators Hugh Johns and Dave Bowen
(Channel opted out)

BBC1 - 10:50pm - 11:50pm

(recorded highlights)
Notes Both channels showed an earlier World Cup game live; Grandstand on BBC1 covered the game between Argentina and West Germany, whilst ITV's World of Sport showed the game between Bulgaria and Portugal at the same time. Both channels will have shown highlights from the other's live game, plus the remaining match between Italy and the USSR. On the following day, seven ITV regions (ABC, ATV, Grampian, Scottish, Teledu Cymru, TWW and Westward) broadcast World Cup Report, which included highlights of the week's matches, whilst BBC1 showed World Cup Match of the Week, which may have featured Brazil's surprise defeat to Hungary on the Friday night.


406

Wednesday, 20 July 1966 - France 0 England 2 [0-1]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.30pm BST
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 7:15pm - 9:25pm
commentators
Kenneth Wolstenholme and Johnny Haynes
ITV - 8:00pm - 9:20pm
(all except first half-hour)
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, Granada (Northern), Rediffusion (London), Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Ulster, Tyne Tees and Westward
Scottish Television - 8:55pm - 9:20pm

(last 15 minutes only)

ITV
commentators Hugh Johns and Dave Bowen
(Channel opted out)

World Cup Star Match (ITV) - 10:35pm - 11:20pm
(recorded highlights)
Anglia, Grampian, Granada, Southern Television, Teledu Cymru, TWW and Tyne Tees
ITV - 10:35pm - 11:22pm
ATV, Border, Ulster and Westward
Rediffusion (London) - 10:37pm - 11:22pm

BBC1 - 11:00pm - 11:30pm
(recorded highlights)

Scottish Television - 12:00am - 12:45am (Thursday, 21st)

(Channel opted out)
Notes Both channels also showed highlights from the night's other games; between Spain and West Germany, Bulgaria and Hungary, and Chile and the USSR.


407

Saturday, 23 July 1966 - England 1 Argentina 0 [0-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
Grandstand (BBC1) - 2:35pm - 5:20pm
commentators
Kenneth Wolstenholme and Jimmy Hill
World of Sport (ITV) - 2:45pm - 4:45pm
ABC (Midland and Northern), Anglia, ATV (London), Border, Grampian, Scottish Television, Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Tyne Tees, Ulster and Westward
commentators
Hugh Johns and Dave Bowen
(Channel opted out)
BBC1 - 10:40pm - 11:40pm
(recorded highlights)
Notes BBC1's highlights programme also included action from the three other quarter-finals; the games between Hungary and the USSR, North Korea and Portugal, and Uruguay and West Germany. On the following day, six ITV regions (ATV, Grampian, Scottish, Teledu Cymru, TWW and Westward) broadcast World Cup Report, which included highlights of the week's matches, whilst BBC1 showed World Cup Match of the Week, which may have featured Portugal's extraordinary quarter-final comeback from being three goals down to North Korea.


408

Tuesday, 26 July 1966 - England 2 Portugal 1 [1-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.30pm BST
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 7:00pm - 9:20pm
commentators
Kenneth Wolstenholme and Tommy Docherty
ITV - 7:00pm - 9:20pm

Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, Granada (Northern), Rediffusion (London), Scottish Television, Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Ulster, Tyne Tees and Westward
commentators
Hugh Johns and Dave Bowen
(Channel opted out)
BBC1 - 11:05pm - 11:55pm
(recorded highlights)


409

Saturday, 30 July 1966 -
England 4 West Germany 2 [1-1] AET [2-2]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 12:00pm - 5:20pm (overran to 6:15pm)
commentators
Kenneth Wolstenholme and Walley Barnes - see transcripts below
World of Sport (ITV) - 2:15pm - 5:05pm
(overran to, at least, 5:40pm)
ABC (Midland and Northern), Anglia, ATV (London), Border, Grampian, Scottish Television, Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Tyne Tees, Ulster and Westward
commentators
Hugh Johns and Dave Bowen - see transcripts below
(Channel opted out)
BBC1 - 10:20pm - 11:20pm
(recorded highlights)
World Cup Match of the Year (BBC1)
Sunday, 31st July - 2:00pm - 3:55pm
(recorded highlights)

World Cup Verdict (ITV) - Sunday, 31st July

(recorded highlights)

2:20pm - 3:20pm
Scottish Television
2:20pm - 3:24pm
ABC (Midland and Northern)
2:20pm - 3:25pm
ATV (London), Grampian, Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England) and Ulster
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Tyne Tees
(Anglia, Border, Channel and Westward opted out)

1966-67


410

Saturday, 22 October 1966 -
Northern Ireland 0 England 2 [0-1]
Windsor Park, Belfast
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Ulster - 10:15pm - 10:35pm
World of Soccer (ITV) - Sunday, 23rd October
2:45pm - 3:40pm
ABC (Midland and Northern), Grampian, Southern Television, Tyne Tees and Ulster
ATV (London) - Sunday, 23rd October
3:10pm - 4:10pm

(recorded highlights)

ITV commentator
Barry Davies
(Anglia, Border, Channel, Scottish Television, Teledu Cymru, TWW and Westward opted out)
Notes Anglia showed Second Division highlights of Ipswich Town's 5-4 win against Hull City in Match of the Week, instead of the international. BBC1's Match of the Day, BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel and Scottish Television's Scotsport broadcast highlights of the game between Wales and Scotland on the Saturday night, whilst BBC1 Wales and ITV's Welsh regions (Teledu Cymru and TWW) provided highlights on the Sunday afternoon at the same time as each other.


411

Wednesday, 2 November 1966 -
England 0
Czechoslovakia 0 [0-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm GMT
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Channel - 10:25pm - 11:10pm
ITV - 10:35pm - 11:15pm
Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales) and TWW (South Wales and West of England)
ITV - 10:35pm - 11:16pm
ATV (Midland), Border and Ulster
ITV - 10:35pm - 11:20pm
Anglia and Tyne Tees
Westward - 10:35pm - 11:21pm
Granada (Northern) - 11:05pm - 11:50pm
Rediffusion (London) - 11:12pm - 11:52pm

(recorded highlights)

ITV commentator
Hugh Johns
(Grampian and Scottish Television opted out)
Notes Scottish Television may have included highlights of the international in Scotsport, but probably featured the Inter-Cities' Fairs Cup second round, second leg tie between Kilmarnock and Royal Antwerp.


412

Wednesday, 16 November 1966 -
England 5
Wales 1 [3-1]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm GMT
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 10:55pm - 11:30pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Notes BBC1 Northern Ireland, BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel and Scottish Television's Scotsport showed highlights of the game between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Other England Internationals Wednesday, 1st March 1967 - Under-23
St. James' Park, Newcastle
England 1
Scotland 3
BBC1 - 10:57pm - 11:27pm
commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Sportsreel (BBC1 Scotland) - 10:57pm - 11:27pm
commentator George Davidson
(recorded highlights)


413

Saturday, 15 April 1967 - England 2 Scotland 3 [0-1]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Scotsport Wembley Special (ITV) - 10:05pm - 10:30pm
(recorded highlights)

Grampian and Scottish Television
(also 2:50pm - 3:30pm on the following day, - Scottish only)
commentator Arthur Montford
International Star Soccer (ITV) - Sunday, 16th April
2:45pm - 3:30pm
Southern Television
2:50pm - 3:30pm
ATV (London), Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England) and Tyne Tees
World of Soccer (ITV) - Sunday, 16th April
4:15pm - 5:00pm
Westward
4:15pm - 5:05pm
ABC (Midland and Northern), Border, Channel and Ulster
(recorded highlights)

ITV commentators
Hugh Johns and Billy Wright
(Anglia opted out)
Notes Anglia showed highlights from the Second Division match between Norwich City and Crystal Palace in Match of the Week, instead of the international. BBC1's Match of the Day on the Saturday night featured the Second Division game between Coventry City and Huddersfield Town.
Other England Internationals Friday, 19th May 1967
Arsenal Stadium, Highbury
England 0 Young England 5 - BBC1 - 10:00pm - 10:45pm
commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)


414

Wednesday, 24 May 1967 - England 2 Spain 0 [0-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Scotsport Special (ITV)
10:25pm - 11:10pm
Grampian
10:25pm - 11:13pm
Scottish Television
ITV - 10:25pm - 11:10pm
Channel, Southern, Teledu Cymru (Wales) and TWW (South Wales and West of England)
ITV - 10:25pm - 11:13pm
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border and Westward
Rediffusion (London) - 11:02pm - 11:47pm
Tyne Tees - 11:05pm - 11:50pm
Ulster - 11:08pm - 11:55pm
Granada (Northern) - 11:10pm - 11:55pm
ITV commentator
Hugh Johns
(recorded highlights)
Notes Scotsport Special featured the Inter-Cities' Fairs Cup semi-final, second leg between Kilmarnock and Leeds United, as well as the international.


415

Saturday, 27 May 1967 - Austria 0 England 1 [0-1]
Praterstadion, Wien
- Kick-off 4.30pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Match of the Day (BBC1) - 11:15pm - 12:00am
(recorded highlights)

commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(BBC Scotland opted out)
Notes BBC1 Scotland broadcast highlights of Celtic's European Cup Final victory against Internazionale from two days earlier.

1967-68


416

Saturday, 21 October 1967 - Wales 0 England 3 [0-1]
Ninian Park, Cardiff
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
ITV - Sunday, 22nd October
2:30pm - 3:20pm
ABC (Midland and Northern), Border and Ulster
2:45pm - 3:35pm
Channel and Westward
3:00pm - 3:35pm
Teledu Cymru (Wales) and TWW (South Wales and West of England)
3:00pm - 3:50pm
ATV (London) and Southern Television
Tyne Tees - 4:15pm - 5:05pm
Anglia - 5:10pm - 5:55pm
(recorded highlights)
ITV commentator
Hugh Johns
(Grampian and Scottish Television opted out)
Notes BBC1 Wales provided their own coverage of the game. Highlights of the game between Northern Ireland and Scotland, were shown in BBC1's Match of the Day on the Saturday night.


417

Wednesday, 22 November 1967 -
England 2
Northern Ireland 0 [1-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm GMT
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Channel - 11:15pm - 11:55pm
Westward - 11:15pm - 11:59pm
ITV - 11:15pm - 12:00am
Granada (Northern), Rediffusion (London), Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Tyne Tees and Ulster
ITV - 11:15pm - 12:02am
Anglia, ATV (Midland) and Border
(recorded highlights)
ITV commentator Hugh Johns
(Grampian and Scottish Television opted out)
Notes Highlights of the game between Scotland and Wales were shown on BBC1 Scotland, BBC1 Wales and Scottish Television's Scotsport.


418

Wednesday, 6 December 1967 -
England 2
USSR 2 [1-2]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm GMT
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Sportsreel - 10:35pm - 11:15pm
BBC1 Northern Ireland and BBC1 Scotland
BBC1 - 10:35pm - 11:25pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Notes Sportsreel featured highlights from the European Cup-Winners Cup second round, second leg between Aberdeen and Standard Liege, as well as the international. The BBC1 programme in the rest of the UK also included Rugby Union highlights from the tour match between Monmouthshire and the New Zealand All Blacks.
Other England Internationals Wednesday, 7th February 1968 - Under-23
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Scotland 1 England 2
-
Sportsreel (BBC1 Scotland)
11:17pm - 11:32pm (recorded highlights)
commentator George Davidson
Scottish Television - 11:32pm - 11:47pm (recorded highlights)
commentator Arthur Montford


419

Saturday, 24 February 1968 -
Scotland 1 England 1 [1-1]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY (live in Scotland)
Grandstand (BBC1 Scotland) - 2:40pm - 4:45pm
commentator George Davidson
Scotsport Hampden Special (ITV)
2:40pm - 4:45pm
Grampian and Scottish Television
commentator Arthur Montford
Scotsport Special (ITV) - 9:35pm - 10:05pm

(recorded highlights)

Grampian and Scottish Television
(also 3:15pm - 3:45pm on the following day)

Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:20pm - 11:10pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)

Sportsreel (BBC1 Scotland) - 10:20pm - 11:10pm
(recorded highlights)
ITV - Sunday, 25th February - 2:30pm - 3:20pm
ABC (Midland and Northern), ATV (London), Border, Channel, Southern Television, Teledu Cymru (Wales), TWW (South Wales and West of England), Tyne Tees, Ulster and Westward
(recorded highlights)

ITV commentators
Hugh Johns and Billy Wright
(Anglia opted out)
Notes Anglia showed highlights from the Second Division match between Ipswich Town and Cardiff City in Match of the Week, instead of the international.


420

Wednesday, 3 April 1968 - England 1 Spain 0 [0-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 10:00pm - 10:35pm
(BBC Scotland and BBC Wales opted out)
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Notes Sportsreel on BBC1 Scotland (and possibly Scottish Television's Scotsport) probably showed one or both of the Scottish Cup semi-final replays (Dunfermline Athletic v. St. Johnstone, and Heart of Midlothian v. Morton), whilst BBC1 Wales featured highlights from the European Cup-Winners Cup quarter-final play-off between Cardiff City and Torpedo Moscow.


421

Wednesday, 8 May 1968 - Spain 1 England 2 [0-0]
El Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
- Kick-off 8.30pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 10:55pm - 11:29pm
(BBC Wales opted out)
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Notes BBC1 Wales may have shown highlights from the game between Wales and West Germany, instead. Most of the ITV regions showed the Evening Standard London Five-A-Side Championship, won by Charlton Athletic at Wembley's Empire Pool at the same time as the BBC highlights.


422

Wednesday, 22 May 1968 - England 3 Sweden 1 [2-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 10:00pm - 10:35pm
BBC1 Wales - 10:15pm - 10:35pm
(recorded highlights)
commentator
David Coleman
(BBC Scotland opted out)


423

Saturday, 1 June 1968 -
West Germany 1 England 0 [0-0]
Niedersachsenstadion, Hannover - Kick-off 4.00pm BST
Grandstand (BBC1) - 3:55pm - 5:45pm
BBC2 (Colour) - 3:55pm - 5:45pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(BBC Scotland opted out of both channels)
World of Sport (ITV) - 3:55pm - 5:45pm
ABC (Midland and Northern), Anglia, ATV (London), Border, Channel, Harlech (Wales), Harlech (West), Southern Television, Tyne Tees, Ulster and Westward
ITV commentator
Hugh Johns
(Grampian and Scottish Television opted out)
European Championship Finals 1968

Italy


424

Wednesday, 5 June 1968 -
Yugoslavia 1 England 0 [0-0]
Stadio Comunale di Firenze, Firenze -
Kick-off 9.15pm (8.15pm BST)
BBC1 - 8:00pm - 9:00pm and 9:15pm - 10:05pm
(News Summary during half-time interval)

commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
Notes The programme may have included, before the match, some action from the other semi-final played earlier in the evening, between Italy and the USSR, in Naples.


425

Saturday, 8 June 1968 - England 2 USSR 0 [1-0]
Stadio Olimpico, Roma
- Kick-off 6.45pm (5.45pm BST)
Grandstand (BBC1) - 6:20pm - 7:35pm
(all except first 35 minutes)

commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
Notes Kenneth Wolstenholme stayed in the stadium after the game to commentate on the final between Italy and Yugoslavia, which went to extra time. Highlights were shown on BBC1 at 11:05.

Season 1968-69
Notes From this point, all references to BST are British Standard Time (not British Summer Time). This was a Government experiment to keep the UK at GMT+1 (i.e. the same as Central European Time).


426

Wednesday, 6 November 1968 -
Romania 0 England 0 [0-0]
Stadionul 23 August, Bucureşti - Kick-off 2.30pm (1.30pm BST)
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 10:45pm - 11:25pm
(BBC Scotland opted out)
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Notes BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel and Scottish Television's Scotsport showed highlights of Scotland's World Cup qualifier with Austria.


427

Wednesday, 11 December 1968 -
England 1
Bulgaria 1 [1-1]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 11:05pm - 11:50pm
(BBC Scotland opted out)
commentator David Coleman
(recorded highlights)


428

Wednesday, 15 January 1969 -
England 1
Romania 1 [1-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - 10:45pm - 11:30pm
(BBC Scotland opted out)
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Notes BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel probably featured highlights from the European Cup-Winners Cup quarter-final, first leg between Dunfermline Athletic and West Bromwich Albion, though there was also the Inter-Cities' Fairs Cup third round, second leg played between Hibernian and Hamburg, with Scottish Television's Scotsport possibly also providing action.


429

Wednesday, 12 March 1969 - England 5 France 0 [1-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
ITV - 11:30pm - 12:15am
Channel and Yorkshire
ITV - 11:30pm - 12:20am
Border, Southern Television, Thames (London), Ulster and Westward
ITV - 11:30pm - 12:24am
ATV (Midland), Harlech (Wales), Harlech (West) and Scottish Television
ITV - 11:30pm - 12:25am
Anglia and Granada (North)
(recorded highlights)
ITV commentator Brian Moore
(Grampian and Tyne Tees opted out)
Notes Tyne Tees featured the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup quarter-final, first leg between Newcastle United and Vitoria Setubal, instead. BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel showed highlights from the European Cup quarter-final, second leg between Celtic and AC Milan.


430

Saturday, 3 May 1969 -
Northern Ireland 1 England 3 [0-1]
Windsor Park, Belfast
- Kick-off 7.30pm BST
Football Grandstand (BBC1) - 7:15pm - 9:15pm
(News Headlines during half-time interval)

commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
Big Match Special (London Weekend) - 7:25pm - 9:20pm
commentators
Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill
ITV - 10:40pm - 12:15am

Grampian, Granada (North), Southern Television, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
Harlech (West) - 10:43pm - 12:15am
ITV - 10:45pm - 12:15am
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border and Scottish Television
(recorded highlights)
ITV commentator Hugh Johns
(Harlech (Wales) opted out)

Football Grandstand (BBC1) - Sunday, 4th May - 2:25pm - 3:35pm

(recorded highlights)

The Big Match (ITV) - Sunday, 4th May
3:00pm - 3:50pm
London Weekend and Ulster
(recorded highlights)
Notes Grandstand also had live coverage of the opening game of the British Championship between Wales and Scotland in the afternoon, an eight-goal thriller. David Coleman was the commentator, who then hurried across the Irish Sea from Wrexham to Belfast to present the evening's programme. Grampian, Harlech (Wales), London Weekend and Scottish Television also broadcast the afternoon game live, and the commentators, Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill, also rushed across to Belfast to do another commentary for London Weekend, who were the only ITV region to show the evening game live. The other regions showed highlights of both games later, with the exception of Harlech (Wales), who only provided live coverage of the afternoon game. Sunday's highlights programmes also included both games, though Scottish Television's Scotsport on Sunday, may have only featured the game between Wales and Scotland. Only two other ITV regions showed Sunday highlights.


431

Wednesday, 7 May 1969 - England 2 Wales 1 [0-1]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
Football Grandstand (BBC1) - 7:30pm - 9:45pm
(News Headlines during half-time interval)

commentator
David Coleman
ITV - 10:45pm - 11:30pm
ATV (Midland) and Westward
ITV - 10:45pm - 12:10am
Grampian, Granada (North), Harlech (Wales), Harlech (West), Southern Television, Thames (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster and Yorkshire
ITV - 10:45pm - 12:12am
Anglia, Border and Scottish Television
ITV commentator
Brian Moore
(recorded highlights)


432

Saturday, 10 May 1969 - England 4 Scotland 1 [2-1]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.30pm BST
Football Grandstand (BBC1) - 7:00pm - 9:15pm
(News Headlines during half-time interval)

commentators
David Coleman, Brian Clough and Jock Stein
ITV - 7:25pm - 9:20pm

Grampian and Scottish Television
commentator
Arthur Montford
Big Match Special (London Weekend)
commentators
Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill
ITV - 10:45pm - 12:15am
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Granada (North), Harlech (West), Southern Television, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
(recorded highlights)
ITV commentator Hugh Johns
(Grampian and Harlech (Wales) opted out)
Scottish Television - 10:45pm - 12:15am
(recorded highlights)
Football Grandstand (BBC1) - Sunday, 11th May - 2:25pm - 3:35pm

(recorded highlights)

Grampian - Sunday, 11th May - 2:25pm - 3:50pm

(recorded highlights)

Scotsport on Sunday (Scottish Television) - Sunday, 11th May
2:30pm - 3:30pm

(recorded highlights)

The Big Match (ITV) - Sunday, 11th May
3:00pm - 3:50pm
London Weekend and Ulster
(recorded highlights)
Notes Grandstand also had live coverage of the goalless game between Northern Ireland and Wales in the afternoon, as did Harlech (Wales) and London Weekend. RTÉ in Ireland also broadcast live coverage of the evening game from Wembley. All of the highlights programmes included both games, with the possible exception of ATV's Sunday afternoon programme, which featured the game between Northern Ireland and Wales.


433

Sunday, 1 June 1969 - Mexico 0 England 0 [0-0]
Estadio Azteca, ciudad de México
-
Kick-off 12.00pm (7.00pm BST)
ITV (all regions) - 6:55pm - 9:00pm
commentators
Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill
Other England Internationals Wednesday, 4th June 1969 - Unofficial
Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara
Mexico 0 England 4
Channel - 10:30pm - 12:05am
10:30pm - 12:10am
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, Granada (North), Harlech (Wales), Harlech (West), Southern Television, Thames (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire

Scottish Television - 10:35pm - 12:10am
commentators Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill
(full game recording)


434

Sunday, 8 June 1969 - Uruguay 1 England 2 [0-1]
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
-
Kick-off 3.00pm (7.00pm BST)

HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) - Thursday, 12th June
9:05pm - 9:55pm

commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)


435

Thursday, 12 June 1969 - Brazil 2 England 1 [0-1]
Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio de Janeiro

- Kick-off 9.30pm (1.30am Friday, 13 June BST)
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 - Saturday, 14th June - 10:10pm - 11:00pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)

Season 1969-70


436

Wednesday, 5 November 1969 -
Netherlands 0 England 1 [0-0]
Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam
- Kick-off 8.15pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Grandstand Special (BBC1) - 10:50pm - 12:00am
(BBC Scotland opted out)
commentator
Barry Davies
(recorded highlights)
Notes The programme also included Rugby Union action from Oxford University's game with the touring South African Springboks. BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel and Scottish Television's Scotsport may have shown highlights from Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Austria in Vienna, or possibly, Dunfermline Athletic's Inter-Cities' Fairs Cup, second round, first leg with Gwardia Warszawa.


437

Wednesday, 10 December 1969 -
England 1
Portugal 0 [1-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 (Colour) - 10:20pm - 11:00pm
(BBC Scotland and BBC Wales opted out)
commentator
David Coleman
(recorded highlights)


438

Wednesday, 14 January 1970 -
England 0
Netherlands 0 [0-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
BBC1 (Colour) - 10:15pm - 11:00pm
(BBC Scotland opted out)
commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Notes BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel and Scottish Television's Scotsport may have shown highlights from Scotland's Under-23 international against Wales at Aberdeen, or possibly, Dunfermline Athletic's Inter-Cities' Fairs Cup, third round, second leg with Anderlecht.


439

Wednesday, 25 February 1970 -
Belgium 1 England 3 [0-1]
Stade Émile Versé, Bruxelles
- Kick-off 7.30pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
ITV - 10:30pm - 11:25pm
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Channel, Granada (North), Harlech (Wales), Harlech (West), Southern Television, Thames (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
Scotsport (Scottish Television)
- 10:30pm - 11:25pm
(Grampian opted out)
commentator
Brian Moore
(recorded highlights)


440

Saturday, 18 April 1970 - Wales 1 England 1 [1-0]
Ninian Park, Cardiff
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
International Match of the Day (BBC1 Colour)
7:30pm - 9:00pm
commentator
David Coleman
(recorded highlights)

ITV (Colour) - Sunday, 19th April
(recorded highlights)
1:30pm - 2:00pm
HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales) and HTV (West)
commentator
Roger Malone
Star Soccer (ATV (Midland)) - 1:30pm - 3:20pm
2:20pm - 3:20pm
Anglia, Border, Grampian, Granada (North), Scottish Television, Tyne Tees and Yorkshire
Southern Television - 3:15pm - 4:10pm
3:15pm - 4:15pm
Channel, London Weekend, Ulster and Westward
ITV commentator
Brian Moore
Notes ATV and the three HTV regions were the only ITV regions not to show later highlights on the Saturday night, of the other opening game, between Northern Ireland and Scotland. The other regions included highlights again on the Sunday, whilst HTV possibly only showed the England game.


441

Tuesday, 21 April 1970 -
England 3
Northern Ireland 1 [1-0]
Empire Stadium, Wembley
- Kick-off 7.45pm BST
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
International Match of the Day (BBC1 Colour)
10:00pm - 11:30pm
commentator
David Coleman
(recorded highlights)


442

Saturday, 25 April 1970 - Scotland 0 England 0 [0-0]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
- Kick-off 3.00pm BST
DELAYED COVERAGE AND HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
ITV (Colour) - 7:15pm - 9:00pm
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Granada (North), HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), London Weekend, Southern Television, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
commentator
Brian Moore
(full game recording)
ITV
(Colour) - 7:15pm - 9:00pm
Grampian and Scottish Television
commentator
Arthur Montford
(full game recording)
International Match of the Day (BBC1 Colour)
9:15pm - 10:45pm
commentator
Kenneth Wolstenholme
(recorded highlights)
Notes International Match of the Day also included highlights from the game between Wales and Northern Ireland.


443

Wednesday, 20 May 1970 - Colombia 0 England 4 [0-2]
Estadio Nemesio Camacho, Bogotá

- Kick-off 9.00pm (3.00am Thursday, 21st May BST)
HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) - Thursday, 21st May
10:00pm - 10:45pm

commentator David Coleman
(recorded highlights)
Notes The programme probably also included highlights from the unofficial B international between the two countries, played immediately before the game in the same stadium.


444

Sunday, 24 May 1970 - Ecuador 0 England 2 [0-1]
Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito
-
Kick-off 11.30am (5.30pm BST)

HIGHLIGHTS ONLY
World Cup 70 (ITV Colour) - Friday, 29th May
10:30pm - 12:00am

Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Channel, Grampian, Granada (North), HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), London Weekend, Southern Television, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
Scottish Television - 11:00pm - 12:00am
ITV commentator
Hugh Johns
(recorded highlights)
Notes The programme also included highlights from England B's unofficial 4-0 win against Ecuador's League Champions, Liga Deportiva Universitaria, played in the same stadium, immediately before the full international. Scottish joined the programme after half an hour, possibly missing both games, with the rest of the programme dedicated to a preview of the upcoming World Cup tournament.
World Cup Finals 1970

Mexico

Notes The Granada (North) ITV region was off-air for the duration of the World Cup, due to a technicians' strike over pay claims for using colour television equipment. All of the World Cup coverage was broadcast in colour.


445

Tuesday, 2 June 1970 - England 1 Romania 0 [0-0]
Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara
- Kick-off 4.00pm (11.00pm BST)
World Cup 70 (ITV) - 10:45pm - 1:00am
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), Scottish Television, Southern Television, Thames (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster and Yorkshire
(Channel and Westward opted out)

commentators
Hugh Johns and Billy Wright
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 10:50pm - 12:45am
commentators
David Coleman, Don Revie and Joe Mercer
Good Morning, Mexico (BBC1) - Wednesday, 3rd June
8:00am - 9:00am (recorded highlights)
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - Wednesday, 3rd June
12:00pm - 1:30pm (recorded highlights)
World Cup 70 (ITV) - Wednesday, 3rd June
5:55pm - 6:30pm (recorded highlights)
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), Scottish Television, Southern Television, Thames (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
(Channel opted out)
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - Wednesday, 3rd June
6:00pm - 7:00pm (recorded highlights)
Notes After the live game, World Cup Grandstand continued on until 3am, with highlights of the other games played at the same time as England's. These were Israel v. Uruguay and Bulgaria v. Peru. RTÉ in Ireland also broadcast live coverage, probably of the England game. Highlights of all of the day's games were shown in each of the three programmes broadcast by the BBC on the following day. Three of the ITV regions (Thames, Tyne Tees and Yorkshire) probably showed highlights of the other two games between 6:30 and 7:00 on the Wednesday evening.


446

Sunday, 7 June 1970 - Brazil 1 England 0 [0-0]
Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara
- Kick-off 12.00pm (7.00pm BST)
World Cup 70 (ITV) - 6:45pm - 9:10pm
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), London Weekend, Scottish Television, Southern Television, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
(Channel opted out)

commentators
Hugh Johns and Billy Wright
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 6:50pm - 8:55pm
commentators
David Coleman, Don Revie and Joe Mercer
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 10:30pm - 1:00am
(recorded highlights)
World Cup 70 (ITV) - 11:25pm - 12:00am
(recorded highlights)
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), London Weekend, Scottish Television, Southern Television, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
(Channel opted out)
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - Monday, 8th June
12:00pm - 1:30pm (recorded highlights)
World Cup 70 (ITV)
(recorded highlights)

Monday, 8th June - 5:55pm - 6:30pm

Anglia and ATV (Midland)
Monday, 8th June - 5:55pm - 6:45pm

Border, Grampian, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), Scottish Television, Southern Television, Thames (London), Tyne Tees, Westward and Yorkshire
Ulster - Monday, 8th June - 6:10pm - 6:45pm
(Channel and HTV (West) opted out)
Notes All of the highlights programmes included the games between El Salvador and Mexico, Israel and Sweden, and Bulgaria and West Germany.


447

Thursday, 11 June 1970 -
Czechoslovakia
0 England 1 [0-0]
Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara
- Kick-off 4.00pm (11.00pm BST)
World Cup 70 (ITV) - 10:45pm - 1:00am
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), Scottish Television, Southern Television, Thames (London), Tyne Tees, Westward and Yorkshire
World Cup 70 (Ulster) - 10:55pm - 1:00am
(Channel opted out)

commentators
Hugh Johns and Billy Wright
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - Friday, 12th June
12:45am - 3:00am (recorded highlights)
commentators
David Coleman, Don Revie and Joe Mercer
Good Morning, Mexico (BBC1) - Friday, 12th June
8:00am - 9:00am (recorded highlights)
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - Friday, 12th June
12:00pm - 1:30pm (recorded highlights)
World Cup 70 (ITV) - Friday, 12th June - 5:55pm - 6:25pm
(recorded highlights)
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), Scottish Television, Southern Television, Thames (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
(Channel and Grampian opted out)
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - Friday, 12th June
6:00pm - 7:35pm (recorded highlights)
Notes Each BBC programme also included highlights of the other closing group games played at the same time as England's. These were Belgium v. Mexico, Israel v. Italy and Bulgaria v. Morocco.


448

Sunday, 14 June 1970 -
West Germany 3 England 2 [0-1] AET [2-2]
Estado de Guanajuato, León -
Kick-off 12.00pm (7.00pm BST)
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 6:25pm - 9:50pm
commentators
David Coleman, Don Revie and Joe Mercer
World Cup 70 (ITV) - 10:25pm - 12:00am
(recorded highlights)
Anglia, ATV (Midland), Border, Grampian, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), London Weekend, Scottish Television, Southern Television, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
(Channel opted out)

commentators
Hugh Johns and Billy Wright
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 11:25pm - 12:30am
(recorded highlights)
World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - Monday, 15th June
12:00pm - 1:45pm
(recorded highlights)
World Cup 70 (ITV)
(recorded highlights)

Border - Monday, 15th June - 5:55pm - 6:40pm
Monday, 15th June - 5:55pm - 7:00pm

Anglia, ATV (Midland), Grampian, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), Scottish Television, Southern Television, Thames (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire
(Channel and HTV (West) opted out)
Notes All of the highlights programmes included the other quarter-finals between Brazil and Peru, Italy and Mexico, and Uruguay and the USSR.

Saturday, 30 July 1966

WORLD CUP FINAL

England 4 West Germany 2

AFTER EXTRA TIME

(BBC commentary transcript - Kenneth Wolstenholme)

As Geoff Hurst scored England's controversial third goal, in extra time...

Here’s Ball, running himself daft…and now Hurst, can he do it? He has done, yes! Yes!
No! No, the linesman says, “no”. The linesman says, “no”...it’s a goal!

As Geoff Hurst scored England's fourth goal, with the last kick of the game...

…and here comes Hurst, he’s got…some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over. It is now! It’s four!

[He was probably about to say that Alan Ball was to Hurst's right, in space, calling for the ball, when he noticed that there were people running onto the pitch.]

(ITV commentary transcript - Hugh Johns)

As Geoff Hurst scored England's fourth goal, with the last kick of the game...

Geoff Hurst goes forward. He might make it three. He has! He has! ...and that's it! That's it!

(BBC commentary transcript - Kenneth Wolstenholme)

As Bobby Moore received the Jules Rimet trophy from Her Majesty The Queen...

It’s only twelve inches high, solid gold, and it means England are the World Champions.

GI