Coverage of England games in the early seventies settled into a regular pattern. During the season, BBC and ITV would take turns to broadcast midweek highlights. Sportsnight with Coleman was moved to Wednesday nights and its host (left) was now firmly established as the BBC's top football commentator. Brian Moore, meanwhile, continued to reinforce his status as ITV's number one. Both combined expert commentary with assured presentation skills.

When the British Championship came around at the end of each season, ITV would show early-evening highlights of England's opening match away to Northern Ireland or Wales, with the BBC covering both of the opening games in the later transmission in International Match of the Day. Sportsnight would then broadcast highlights of England's midweek game from Wembley (with ITV covering Scotland's home game on a separate night), before the companies would go head-to-head with coverage of England's clash with Scotland. From 1971 onwards, with the fixture always a guaranteed sell-out, it became an annual live game throughout the United Kingdom, usually just two weeks after the only domestic game that television could show live, the FA Cup Final.

ITV's successful 1970 World Cup panel prompted their re-appearance for the British Championship in 1971. The quartet of Allison, Crerand, Dougan and McNab would later be joined by two managers; Jack Charlton of Middlesbrough, and Derby County's Brian Clough, who, without fail, livened up every conversation and was guaranteed to come up with a memorable quote. In comparison, the BBC's panel, including the likes of Don Revie, Joe Mercer and Bobby Charlton, who were more successful in their day-jobs, couldn't generate the same lively debates enjoyed by viewers of the independent channel.

Jimmy Hill also took his expert analysis to new levels by using slow-motion to reveal previously hidden incidents in the game. After ITV's camera behind the goal at the FA Cup Final at Wembley had revealed that Eddie Kelly had scored Arsenal's equaliser against Liverpool, and not George Graham, Hill was quick to point out, two weeks later, that Scotland's equaliser was not, in fact, scored by Hugh Curran, who had failed to connect with the ball. It was, clearly, an Alan Ball own-goal, yet, to this day, the Scottish Football Association archive still credits it to Curran.

Long before the introduction of video replays helping referees to make vital decisions, back in 1971, they still revealed how a number of incidents helped England to secure the British Championship title. Northern Ireland had a goal disallowed when George Best intercepted Gordon Banks' clearance and then ran on to head it into the net. He did not touch Banks at all and the ball was in the air when he played it, yet the referee, seemingly caught out by Best's ingenuity, disallowed it. Then, to add insult to injury, Francis Lee blocked the ball with his hands before releasing Allan Clarke to run on and score the only goal of the game, looking suspiciously offside. A week later, at Wembley, Martin Peters gave England the lead when his header was palmed onto the crossbar by Scotland defender, John Greig, before bouncing away. The referee gave a goal, though it seemed unlikely that it had crossed the line. It was a sense of déjà vu for England!

The 1972 European Championship quarter-finals gave TV the opportunity to show two more live games at the end of the season and there was huge interest when England were drawn against West Germany, the team that had ended England's reign as world champions, less than two years earlier. Although ITV had secured the second leg in Berlin, potentially their first exclusive live coverage of one of the biggest games in England's history, the first leg at Wembley, shown live by the BBC on a Saturday night, effectively ended the tie as a contest, with West Germany giving due notice of their intention to dominate world football for the next five years or so.

Curiously, this match seemed to signal a hiatus in the commentary career of David Coleman. He then took an unexpected break and left Barry Davies to commentate on all of England's games in the upcoming British Championship, plus the European Cup Final and the closing stages of the European Championship. If England had beaten West Germany, they would have been the hosts, and surely Coleman would have been at the forefront of the coverage. He returned in July to commentate on athletics and then was a key member of the BBC's Munich Olympic coverage, where he won huge acclaim for his sensitivity in describing the Israeli hostage crisis.

Coleman's name was dropped from the Sportsnight title for the following season, as his time was taken up between presenting the occasional Grandstand, as well as Match of the Day and football commentaries, but his interest in athletics also took him away from football, and in 1973, Jimmy Hill transferred to the BBC to present Match of the Day, enticed by its nationwide audience, after having been frustrated by his lack of visibility outside of the London area, apart from around the big games at the end of the season, when ITV was competing with the corporation for attention.

Ironically, it was just after he left that ITV finally got that exclusive moment that they had been craving. It turned out to be a historic moment in England's history and probably ranked alongside Hungary in 1953 in its effect on the nation.

England's World Cup qualification campaign was wobbling. Following defeat in Poland, they were left with a do-or-die return match with the Poles at Wembley. Poland needed a point. England had to win and for them not to qualify, just seven years after winning the World Cup, was unthinkable. When all tickets had been sold, two weeks before the game, the FA gave permission for it to be televised live. It was to be the first time ever that an England night match during the season was broadcast in its entirety. The BBC argued that the rotation policy, which meant that it was ITV that would provide the coverage, did not apply to live games, but they did eventually concede defeat, placated by the awarding of the highlights to be shown in Sportsnight, immediately after the game.

It was, of course, another opportunity for ITV to engage its panel of experts and, because Brian Moore was the only one with the experience to chair the debates, he became studio-bound. Hugh Johns was brought back to do the commentaries of both the Poland game and the one that preceded it, three weeks earlier, a confidence-boosting 7-0 win over Austria at Wembley. He was also their 1966 World Cup Final commentator. What could possibly go wrong now?

In only the second minute of the game, Poland's goalkeeper, Jan Tomaszewski, broke his wrist in a clash with Allan Clarke. This incident seemed to be the catalyst for an extraordinary performance by the 'keeper. He was given a painkilling spray, but the adrenaline generated by the initial pain, transformed him and he proceeded to throw himself in ungainly fashion at absolutely everything as England pushed for an early goal. Save after save, coupled with desperate goal-line clearances from the defenders that stayed camped in the penalty area alongside him, resisted wave after wave of relentless England attacking, with the woodwork also coming to Poland's rescue on more than one occasion. It all prompted Johns to say, "This is the most incredible first half of football I've seen for a very, very long time".

Poland survived to half-time on what appeared to be instinct and determination alone. Brian Clough, in the studio, was convinced that England would break through and beat the "circus clown in gloves", a term that would forever be associated with Tomaszewski and this game. Incredibly, Poland got their point and left England's players, fans and pundits in shock. Clough insisted that Peter Shilton, who had been at fault for the Polish breakaway goal, was far and away a better goalkeeper than the "clown at the other end", and reiterated the point, a few days later, by stating that Tomaszewski would be 'found out' at the World Cup. On the contrary, Poland went on to finish third in Germany and the 'keeper became the first to save two penalties in a World Cup tournament. Tomaszewski did have a reputation for eccentricity, however, and his performance at Wembley, which was probably caused by the unique events and circumstances of the occasion, was something that could never be repeated, or forgotten.

England's failure to qualify was a big concern for the TV companies, who were planning their blanket coverage of the following year's World Cup, but Scotland came to the rescue and provided British interest. There were more games at peak time to show, with West Germany then being in the same time zone as the UK, thanks to British Summer Time. Having again relinquished several big games to Barry Davies during the season, David Coleman returned to add his customary authority to the business end of the campaign, including his first World Cup Final. Hugh Johns commentated on his third, with Brian Moore, once again, in London with the panel of experts.

The following season saw Don Revie ensconced as the new England manager, including a victory over the new world champions, West Germany. Sir Alf Ramsey, less than a year after he was sacked, sat alongside Brian Moore (right) in the commentary box, though a decade of guarded comments when facing the media was mostly reflected in his simple descriptions of the action unfolding, rather than him providing insights into his wealth of experience. Moore's co-commentator for the Scotland game was Denis Law, an experience that must have brought memories of the 1961 trauma, flooding back for him.

By 1975, both the BBC and ITV football coverage was thriving, despite England's World Cup failure. Jimmy Hill achieved the nationwide exposure that he had always wanted by both presenting Match of the Day and providing expert analysis on the show, a unique combination. ITV managed to re-introduce live schoolboy football to the schedule each year, and this proved very popular. There were still a few outposts where coverage of England games was either in black and white, or even unavailable, in the case of Malta in 1971, Czechoslovakia in 1973 and Portugal in 1974, but more cameras were being used now, colour television was firmly established and viewers were being taken closer to the action than ever before, with more informed analysis to accompany the pictures.

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

Season 1970-71
Notes		The United Kingdom was still on BST (British Standard Time), a continuing Government experiment keeping the country at GMT+1 (i.e. the same as Central European Time), until 31 October 1971. From 1972 onwards, the country switched back to British Summer Time, from March to October. ITV's Channel region did not broadcast in colour until 1976. All other broadcasts are in colour, except where stated.
Other England Internationals		Wednesday, 14th October 1970 - Under-23 Filbert Street, Leicester England 3 West Germany 1 - Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) 9:20pm - 10:45pm (recorded highlights) commentator David Coleman
449	Wednesday, 25 November 1970 - England 3 GDR 1 [2-1] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) - 9:30pm - 10:50pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights)
Other England Internationals		Wednesday, 24th February 1971 - Under-23 Hampden Park, Glasgow Scotland 2 England 2 - Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) 9:20pm - 10:45pm (recorded highlights) commentator David Coleman BBC Scotland commentator Archie Macpherson
451	Wednesday, 21 April 1971 - England 3 Greece 0 [1-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV (black and white) - 10:30pm - 11:30pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire (Grampian and Scottish opted out) commentator Brian Moore (recorded highlights)
Notes		BBC1 Northern Ireland showed highlights from the European Championship qualifier between Northern Ireland and Cyprus.
452	Wednesday, 12 May 1971 - England 5 Malta 0 [2-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) - 10:15pm - 11:00pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights)
Notes		BBC1 Scotland and Scottish Television showed highlights from the Scottish Cup Final Replay between Celtic and Rangers. BBC Scotland may have opted out of Sportsnight with a special edition of Sportsreel in colour, whilst Scottish showed the game in Scotsport in black and white.
453	Saturday, 15 May 1971 - Northern Ireland 0 England 1 [0-0] Windsor Park, Belfast - Kick-off 3.00pm BST DELAYED COVERAGE AND HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV (all regions) - 7:15pm - 9:00pm commentators Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill (full game recording) International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:00pm - 11:30pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights)
Notes		International Match of the Day also included highlights from the other opening match in the British Championship, between Wales and Scotland.
454	Wednesday, 19 May 1971 - England 0 Wales 0 [0-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) - 9:50pm - 11:20pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights)
455	Saturday, 22 May 1971 - England 3 Scotland 1 [3-1] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 3.00pm BST	Grandstand (BBC1) - 2:35pm - 4:50pm commentator David Coleman World of Sport (ITV) - 2:35pm - 4:50pm (all regions) commentators Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:00pm - 11:15pm (recorded highlights) ITV - Sunday, 23rd May - 2:15pm - 3:15pm (recorded highlights) Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Grampian, Granada, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire (HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), London Weekend, Scottish and Southern opted out)
Notes		International Match of the Day and possibly, also some of ITV's coverage on the following day, also included highlights from the game between Northern Ireland and Wales.

Season 1971-72
456	Wednesday, 13 October 1971 - Switzerland 2 England 3 [2-2] Sankt Jakob Stadium, Basel - Kick-off 8.00pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV - 10:30pm - 11:25pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Grampian, Granada, HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West), Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire (Scottish opted out) commentator Brian Moore (recorded highlights)
Notes		BBC1 Northern Ireland showed highlights from the European Championship qualifier between Northern Ireland and the USSR, whilst Scottish featured Scotland's qualifier with Portugal in Scotsport in black and white.
457	Wednesday, 10 November 1971 - England 1 Switzerland 1 [1-1] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm GMT HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) - 10:25pm - 11:10pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights)
Notes		The programme also included action from Scotland's European Championship qualifier with Belgium.
458	Wednesday, 1 December 1971 - Greece 0 England 2 [0-0] Karaiskakis Stadio, Athens - Kick-off 2.45pm (12.45pm GMT) HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) - 9:20pm - 10:50pm commentator Barry Davies (recorded highlights)
Notes		Scottish broadcast highlights of Scotland's meeting with the Netherlands in Amsterdam, in Scotsport.
Other England Internationals		Wednesday, 16th February 1972 - Under-23 Baseball Ground, Derby England 2 Scotland 2 - Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) 9:20pm - 10:45pm (recorded highlights) commentator David Coleman
459	Saturday, 29 April 1972 - England 1 West Germany 3 [0-1] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST	International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 7:30pm - 9:50pm commentator David Coleman
Notes		The goals were shown again in London Weekend's The Big Match on the following day (2:15 to 3:15pm). This was also shown in the HTV Cymru (Wales), HTV (Wales), HTV (West) and Westward ITV regions.
460	Saturday, 13 May 1972 - West Germany 0 England 0 [0-0] Olympiastadion, Berlin - Kick-off 4.00pm BST	World of Sport (ITV) - 3:15pm - 5:55pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, London Weekend, Southern, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire (Grampian and Scottish opted out) commentators Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill Scotsport (Scottish) - 9:20pm - 10:15pm (recorded highlights) Match of the Day Special (BBC1) - 10:45pm - 12:15am (BBC Scotland opted out) commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights) Sportsworld '72 (ITV) - Sunday 14th May - 2:15pm - 3:15pm (recorded highlights) Border, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, London Weekend, Southern and Ulster (Anglia, ATV, Channel, Grampian, Scottish, Tyne Tees, Westward and Yorkshire opted out)
Notes		RTÉ also showed the game live in Ireland, but in black and white. Match of the Day Special included highlights from the Rugby League Cup Final between Leeds and St. Helens at Wembley Stadium. Sportsworld '72 also featured other sports in the run-up to the Munich Olympics in August.
461	Saturday, 20 May 1972 - Wales 0 England 3 [0-1] Ninian Park, Cardiff - Kick-off 3.00pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV (all regions) - 7:00pm - 8:30pm commentator Brian Moore (recorded highlights) International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:00pm - 11:30pm commentator Barry Davies (recorded highlights) Sportsworld '72 (ITV) - Sunday 21st May - 2:15pm - 3:15pm (recorded highlights) Border, Granada, London Weekend, Southern and Ulster Star Soccer (ITV) - Sunday 21st May - 2:15pm - 3:15pm (recorded highlights) ATV, Channel, Grampian, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West and Westward commentator Hugh Johns (Anglia, Scottish, Tyne Tees and Yorkshire opted out)
Notes		International Match of the Day also included highlights from the other opening match in the British Championship, between Northern Ireland and Scotland. Sportsworld '72 also included athletics and gymnastics.
462	Tuesday, 23 May 1972 - England 0 Northern Ireland 1 [0-1] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight with Coleman (BBC1) - 10:05pm - 11:35pm commentator Barry Davies (recorded highlights)
463	Saturday, 27 May 1972 - Scotland 0 England 1 [0-1] Hampden Park, Glasgow - Kick-off 3.00pm BST	Grandstand (BBC1) - 2:35pm - 4:50pm commentator Barry Davies BBC Scotland commentator Archie Macpherson World of Sport (ITV) - 2:35pm - 4:55pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, London Weekend, Southern, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire commentators Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill Grampian and Scottish commentator Arthur Montford International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:25pm - 11:55pm (recorded highlights) Sportsworld '72 (ITV) - Sunday 28th May - 2:15pm - 3:15pm (recorded highlights) Border, Granada, London Weekend, Southern and Ulster Star Soccer (ITV) - Sunday 28th May - 2:15pm - 3:15pm (recorded highlights) ATV, Channel, Grampian, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West and Westward commentator Hugh Johns (Anglia, Scottish, Tyne Tees and Yorkshire opted out)
Notes		International Match of the Day and possibly, also some of ITV's coverage on the following day, also included highlights from the game between Wales and Northern Ireland.

Season 1972-73
464	Wednesday, 11 October 1972 - England 1 Yugoslavia 1 [1-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight (BBC1) - 9:55pm - 10:45pm (recorded highlights) commentator David Coleman (BBC Scotland opted out)
Notes		BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel featured action from the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals.
465	Wednesday, 15 November 1972 - Wales 0 England 1 [0-1] Ninian Park, Cardiff - Kick-off 7.30pm GMT HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	World Cup Football (ITV) - 10:50pm - 11:50pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire Scotsport World Cup Special (ITV) - 10:50pm - 11:50pm Grampian and Scottish commentator Brian Moore (recorded highlights)
Notes		Scotsport featured the World Cup qualifier between Scotland and Denmark, which also appeared on BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel. Sportsnight on BBC1 showed the Daily Express Five-a-Side Championship.
466	Wednesday, 24 January 1973 - England 1 Wales 1 [1-1] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm GMT HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight (BBC1) - 9:25pm - 10:45pm (recorded highlights) commentator David Coleman
Notes		Sportsnight also featured the indoor Rothmans tennis tournament and the visit of the touring New Zealand All Blacks rugby union team to Neath. Scottish later showed highlights from the European Super Cup second leg between Ajax and Rangers.
467	Wednesday, 14 February 1973 - Scotland 0 England 5 [0-3] Hampden Park, Glasgow - Kick-off 8.00pm GMT HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV (all regions) - 10:45pm - 11:45pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire commentator Brian Moore Grampian and Scottish commentator Arthur Montford (recorded highlights)
468	Saturday, 12 May 1973 - Northern Ireland 1 England 2 [1-1] Goodison Park, Liverpool - Kick-off 3.00pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV (all regions) - 7:30pm - 9:00pm commentator Brian Moore (recorded highlights) International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:00pm - 11:30pm commentator Barry Davies (recorded highlights)
Notes		International Match of the Day also included highlights from the other opening match in the British Championship, between Wales and Scotland.
469	Tuesday, 15 May 1973 - England 3 Wales 0 [2-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight (BBC1) - 10:10pm - 11:10pm Sportsreel (BBC1 Scotland) - 10:10pm - 11:10pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights)
Notes		Sportsreel also included shinty.
470	Saturday, 19 May 1973 - England 1 Scotland 0 [0-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 3.00pm BST	Grandstand (BBC1) - 2:35pm - 4:55pm commentator David Coleman World of Sport (ITV) - 2:35pm - 4:55pm (all regions) commentators Brian Moore and Jimmy Hill International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:10pm - 11:40pm (recorded highlights) Tyne Tees - Sunday 20th May - 1:55pm - 2:55pm (recorded highlights) Sportsworld '73 (ITV) - Sunday 20th May - 2:15pm - 3:05pm (recorded highlights) Grampian, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, London Weekend, Scottish, Southern and Ulster (Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, Westward and Yorkshire opted out)
Notes		International Match of the Day also included highlights from the final game of the championship, played in the evening between Northern Ireland and Wales, at Goodison Park, Liverpool. Sportsworld '73 also featured international basketball, netball and motor racing.
472	Wednesday, 6 June 1973 - Poland 2 England 0 [1-0] Stadion Śląski, Chorzów - Kick-off 6.30pm (5.30pm BST)	World Cup Grandstand (BBC1) - 5:15pm - 7:25pm commentator David Coleman Sportsnight (BBC1) - 9:25pm - 10:00pm (recorded highlights)
Notes		Sportsnight also included a feature on Lester Piggott, who had ridden his sixth Epsom Derby winner, on Roberto, in the afternoon, and amateur boxing, plus highlights from the previous night, when John H. Stracey beat Bobby Arthur to win the British welterweight professional title.
Other England Internationals		Saturday, 9th June 1973 - Schoolboys Empire Stadium, Wembley England 2 Scotland 4 - World of Sport (ITV) 3:23pm - 4:55pm (all regions) commentator Hugh Johns (Coverage began after the 3:05 horse race at Epsom)
473	Sunday, 10 June 1973 - USSR 1 England 2 [0-1] Central V.I. Lenin Stadium, Moskva - Kick-off 6.00pm (4.00pm BST) HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV (all regions) - 10:15pm - 11:15pm commentator Brian Moore (recorded highlights)
474	Thursday, 14 June 1973 - Italy 2 England 0 [1-0] Stadio Comunale di Torino, Torino - Kick-off 6.30pm (5.30pm BST) HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV (all regions) - 10:30pm - 11:30pm commentator Brian Moore (recorded highlights)

Season 1973-74
475	Wednesday, 26 September 1973 - England 7 Austria 0 [3-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV - 10:30pm - 11:30pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV West, Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Westward and Yorkshire (Grampian, HTV Cymru/Wales, Scottish and Ulster opted out) commentator Hugh Johns (recorded highlights)
Notes		Grampian, Scottish and also, Ulster viewers enjoyed live coverage of Scotland's historic victory against Czechoslovakia, as they qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1958. At the same time that the England game was being broadcast, viewers in the HTV Cymru/Wales region were watching highlights of Wales' trip to Poland as they were eliminated from England's World Cup qualifying group.
476	Wednesday, 17 October 1973 - England 1 Poland 1 [0-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST	ITV - 7:30pm - 10:00pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire (Grampian and Scottish opted out) commentator Hugh Johns - see transcripts below Sportsnight (BBC1) - 9:25pm - 10:45pm commentator Barry Davies - see transcripts below (recorded highlights)
Notes		Scotland's return match with Czechoslovakia, in Bratislava, was covered live by Grampian and Scottish at 5pm. Sportsnight also included an amateur boxing tournament between England and Scotland.
477	Wednesday, 14 November 1973 - England 0 Italy 1 [0-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm GMT HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight (BBC1) - 9:25pm - 10:45pm (recorded highlights) commentator Barry Davies (BBC Scotland opted out)
Notes		Sportsnight began with highlights from European heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Bugner's victory against Mac Foster, from the previous night. At 10pm, instead of the England match, BBC1 Scotland then switched to Sportsreel for highlights of Scotland's clash with West Germany.
Other England Internationals		Wednesday, 13th March 1974 - Under-23 St. James' Park, Newcastle England 2 Scotland 0 - Sportsnight (BBC1) 9:25pm - 10:50pm (recorded highlights) commentator John Motson
		Saturday, 30th March 1974 - Schoolboys Fir Park, Motherwell Scotland 4 England 1 - Scotsport (ITV) Sunday 31st March - 2:10pm - 3:30pm Grampian and Scottish (recorded highlights) commentator Arthur Montford
479	Saturday, 11 May 1974 - Wales 0 England 2 [0-1] Ninian Park, Cardiff - Kick-off 3.00pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV - 7:45pm - 8:30pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Grampian, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire (Scottish opted out) ITV commentator Brian Moore (recorded highlights) International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:00pm - 11:30pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights) Scottish - 11:35pm - 12:20am (recorded highlights)
Notes		International Match of the Day also included highlights from the other opening match in the British Championship, between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
480	Wednesday, 15 May 1974 - England 1 Northern Ireland 0 [0-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight (BBC1) - 9:55pm - 11:30pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights)
Notes		The Grampian, HTV Cymru/Wales and Scottish ITV regions all showed live coverage of the European Cup Final from Brussels, between Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich. It was unable to be shown in England, due to it potentially affecting the attendance at Wembley, and English viewers had to wait until the following night for highlights of the game.
481	Saturday, 18 May 1974 - Scotland 2 England 0 [2-0] Hampden Park, Glasgow - Kick-off 3.00pm BST	Grandstand (BBC1) - 2:35pm - 4:55pm commentator David Coleman BBC Scotland commentators Archie Macpherson and Ian St. John World of Sport (ITV) - 2:35pm - 4:55pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, London Weekend, Southern, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire commentator Hugh Johns Grampian and Scottish commentator Arthur Montford International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:00pm - 11:30pm (recorded highlights) Sportsworld '74 (ITV) - Sunday 19th May - 1:55pm - 2:40pm (recorded highlights) ATV, Channel, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, London Weekend, Southern, Ulster and Westward (Anglia, Border, Grampian, Granada, Scottish, Tyne Tees and Yorkshire opted out)
Notes		International Match of the Day also included highlights from the final game of the championship, played in the evening between Wales and Northern Ireland. Sportsworld '74 also featured Gaelic football and gymnastics.
482	Wednesday, 22 May 1974 - England 2 Argentina 2 [1-0] Empire Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight (BBC1) - 9:25pm - 10:50pm (recorded highlights) commentator David Coleman
Notes		Sportsnight also included athletics, plus highlights from the previous night's boxing, when John Conteh retained his European light-heavyweight title and took the British and Commonwealth belts from Chris Finnegan.
483	Wednesday, 29 May 1974 - GDR 1 England 1 [0-0] Zentralstadion, Leipzig - Kick-off 8.00pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV (black and white) - 10:30pm - 11:30pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire (Grampian and Scottish opted out) commentator Hugh Johns (recorded highlights)
Other England Internationals		Saturday, 1st June 1974 - Schoolboys Empire Stadium, Wembley England 4 West Germany 0 - World of Sport (ITV) 3:10pm - 4:55pm (all regions) commentator Brian Moore
484	Saturday, 1 June 1974 - Bulgaria 0 England 1 [0-1] Stadion Vasil Levski, Sofija - Kick-off 6.30pm (5.30pm BST) HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:05pm - 11:05pm (recorded highlights - black and white) commentator Barry Davies
485	Wednesday, 5 June 1974 - Yugoslavia 2 England 2 [1-1] Stadion Crvena zvezda, Beograd - Kick-off 6.00pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	ITV (all regions) - 10:30pm - 11:30pm (recorded highlights) commentator Hugh Johns
Notes		Sportsnight on BBC1 showed some black and white film from Scotland's defeat in Belgium on the previous Saturday night.

Season 1974-75
486	Wednesday, 30 October 1974 - England 3 Czechoslovakia 0 [0-0] Wembley Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm GMT HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight (BBC1) - 9:55pm - 10:50pm (recorded highlights) commentator Barry Davies (BBC Scotland and BBC Wales opted out)
Notes		BBC1 Scotland's Sportsreel showed Scotland's European Championship qualifier with East Germany, whilst BBC1 Wales broadcast Wales' qualifier with Hungary in Sportsnight Wales. Sportsnight viewers in England probably also saw brief highlights of both.
487	Wednesday, 20 November 1974 - England 0 Portugal 0 [0-0] Wembley Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm GMT HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	The Mid-Week Match (ITV) - 10:40pm - 11:40pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire (Grampian and Scottish opted out) commentator Brian Moore (recorded highlights)
Notes		Grampian and Scottish broadcast highlights from Scotland's European Championship qualifier with Spain.
488	Wednesday, 12 March 1975 - England 2 West Germany 0 [1-0] Wembley Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm GMT HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	The Mid-Week Match (ITV) - 10:30pm - 11:30pm Anglia, ATV, Border, Channel, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, Southern, Thames, Tyne Tees, Ulster, Westward and Yorkshire (Grampian and Scottish opted out) commentators Brian Moore and Sir Alf Ramsey (recorded highlights)
489	Wednesday, 16 April 1975 - England 5 Cyprus 0 [2-0] Wembley Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight (BBC1) - 10:05pm - 11:15pm (recorded highlights) commentator David Coleman (BBC Northern Ireland opted out) BBC1 Northern Ireland - Thursday 17th April - 10:55pm - 11:28pm (recorded highlights)
Notes		Sportsnight also included amateur boxing. BBC1 Northern Ireland showed the European Championship qualifier against Yugoslavia, as Northern Ireland returned to Belfast for the first time since 1971. Action will also have been shown in Sportsnight. Viewers to BBC1 Wales had to wait a couple of nights to see highlights of their team beating Hungary.
490	Sunday, 11 May 1975 - Cyprus 0 England 1 [0-1] Tsirion Athletic Centre, Lemesos - Kick-off 4.45pm (2.45pm BST) HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportswide (BBC1) - Friday 16th May - 6:45pm - 7:05pm International Football Focus (BBC1) - Saturday 17th May 12:35pm - 1:00pm commentator John Motson (recorded highlights)
Notes		Only brief action was shown from a film report on the game and summarised by Jimmy Hill on Sportswide, part of the nightly Nationwide programme. Commentary was added for International Football Focus in the following day's Grandstand.
491	Saturday, 17 May 1975 - Northern Ireland 0 England 0 [0-0] Windsor Park, Belfast - Kick-off 3.00pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	International Match of the Day Special (BBC1) - 9:45pm - 11:45pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights) Home International Championship (ITV) - Sunday 18th May 2:05pm - 3:05pm ATV, Channel, Grampian, Granada, HTV Cymru/Wales, HTV West, London Weekend, Scottish, Southern, Tyne Tees, Ulster and Westward 2:40pm - 3:40pm Anglia, Border and Yorkshire ITV commentator Hugh Johns (recorded highlights)
Notes		International Match of the Day Special also included Muhammad Ali's defence of the world heavyweight boxing title against Ron Lyle. Highlights from the other opening match in the British Championship, between Wales and Scotland, were featured in both programmes.
492	Wednesday, 21 May 1975 - England 2 Wales 2 [1-0] Wembley Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 7.45pm BST HIGHLIGHTS ONLY	Sportsnight (BBC1) - 9:55pm - 11:25pm commentator David Coleman (recorded highlights)
493	Saturday, 24 May 1975 - England 5 Scotland 1 [3-1] Wembley Stadium, Wembley - Kick-off 3.00pm BST	Grandstand (BBC1) - 2:35pm - 4:50pm commentator David Coleman World of Sport (ITV) - 2:35pm - 4:55pm Channel, London Weekend, Tyne Tees and Westward commentators Brian Moore and Denis Law International Match of the Day (BBC1) - 10:50pm - 11:50pm (recorded highlights)
Notes		Because of a strike by the Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians over a pay dispute, only four ITV regions were able to show the game.
Other England Internationals		Saturday, 7th June 1975 - Schoolboys Empire Stadium, Wembley England 0 Scotland 1 - World of Sport (ITV) 3:20pm - 5:00pm (all regions) commentator Brian Moore (Coverage began after the 3:05 horse race at Epsom)

Wednesday, 17 October 1973

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING

England 1 Poland 1

(ITV commentary transcript - Hugh Johns)

After Mick Channon had hit the post...

Well, how did that one not go in?

After Colin Bell's shot had been turned around the post by Tomaszewski, following successive blocks by Polish defenders in the penalty area...

That is, just about, the most exciting goalmouth activity I've seen in a long time.

 

...Tomaszewski must be wearing all kinds of lucky charms under that yellow jersey.

As Tomaszewski tipped a Channon header over the crossbar...

...on for Clarke, looking for Channon, and a magnificent save by Tomaszewski! Wasn't much wrong with that piece of goalkeeping.

As Domarski gave Poland the lead...

Lato, screaming down the right side...left...left side, rather. Now, it's Lato against McFarland, and Gadoc..., Gadocha's over there. The shot is on for Domarski. Oh, and he's scored! Domarski's got a goal! One-nothing, Poland! A tragedy that England might have expected. The Poles going mad around the scorer, Domarski.

(BBC commentary transcript - Barry Davies)

As Domarski gave Poland the lead...

Hunter's gotta make that, and he's lost it! Gadocha is inside McFarland, Hughes trying to get back goal-side. Domarski's coming off square, number ten...and it's there! Hunter had to make that challenge and he didn't succeed, and Domarski has scored.

(ITV commentary transcript - Hugh Johns)

As Allan Clarke stepped up to take the penalty...

Allan Clarke, the eyes of over 100,000 people here at Wembley, on him and the goalkeeper he hopes to beat, Tomaszewski. Shilton can't even look at all, though.

 

After Kevin Hector's header had been blocked on the line, with less than two minutes remaining...

...and the Poles have lived dangerously, but they're still living.

At the final whistle...

Have England got time now? No, they have not! It's over! It's all over and, for England, one of the blackest days they've ever had. Sir Alf Ramsey must be a very disheartened man, but he still has a handshake for Polish officials.

(BBC commentary transcript - Barry Davies)

...and the final whistle, and England are out of the World Cup. The end of an era for Alf Ramsey, one breakaway stabbing England in the heart.

GI