VOICES OF SPORT

Casting my mind back, funny how it is always back and not forward these days (!), I try to evoke my memories of sporting occasions, and always I hear voices, famous, plummy, friendly voices redolent of a different age.

My earliest memories from the 1940s and 1950s are of Scottish football commentators on the BBC where excitable Peter Thomson and partisan George Davidson held undisputed court. We were dependent on the radio, BBC Light Programme, but it was not beyond making the odd gaffe. I do not remember if it were Peter or George who, in those pre-substitute days, assured us in a game against England “Scotland are playing 10 men without Cox”, a handicap indeed!

          Raymond Glendenning

Harry Carpenter

Some voices were versatile, like old-school, bespeckled and handle-bar-moustached Raymond Glendenning who brought us Cup Finals, but also thrilling us with the Boat Race and the Grand National. Harry Carpenter was particularly associated with boxing, but also turned his hand towards football, tennis and golf. Boxing was a radio feast in the 1950s, the dominant Americans making short work of the likes of Bruce Woodcock, Don Cockrell and later “Our ‘Enery” Cooper. Eamonn Andrews was much involved in boxing commentary in those days, ably assisted by former referee W. Barrington Dalby.

Cricket was avidly followed and the eloquent West Country tones of John Arlott delighted. But the star of them all was Brian Johnston, instantly recognized with his banter and giggles. His humour was of the schoolboy variety and he enjoyed cakes sent in by listeners. He was rather prone to gaffes and once observed that “Botham failed to get his leg over the wicket” and (probably apocryphally) he is credited with the line, at a West Indies test match; “The bowler’s Holding, the batsman’s Willey”. The comma saved the blushes!

 

                                                           Brian Johnston

                                                   

                                                                       Peter Alliss

There were broadcasting heroes in most sports. Wimbledon was blessed with the sharp intake of breath and the gentle exclamation “Oh, I say!” from veteran Dan Maskell as a champion’s forehand passing shot won the point. Peter O’Sullevan amazed with his ability to reel off the places of all runners and riders in the big flat race at machine-gun speed. Peter Alliss, no mean golfer himself, took a gently philosophic view of the game, illuminating The Open or The Masters, who knew how easy it is to fluff a short putt. Murray Walker, who died only a few weeks ago at 97, was a hugely enthusiastic commentator on Formula 1 motor-racing, his screaming voice drowning out the clamour of even that noisy sport.

Football always had the largest following. Kenneth Wolstenholme was a familiar if unspectacular voice but he achieved immortality in the 1966 World Cup Final with his line: “Some people are on the pitch….they think it is all over….well it is now!” as Geoff Hurst hammered the 4^th goal into the German net. Ecstasy! Wolstenholme was replaced by David Coleman, another able professional commentator, but then football fell mainly into the hands of former players – Ian St John, Jimmy Greaves and Gary Lineker. They are all articulate but I particularly enjoy the Northern tones of Alan Shearer and the surprise of Martin Keown, an almost sinister predator on the field but a reflective being in the studio.

      

                             Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves

The sport I most enjoy watching is rugby union with the 6 Nations the most prominent forum. One commentator towered over all others, Bill McLaren, a native of Hawick in the Scots Borders, but a modest expert on all aspects of rugby.  

The incomparable Bill McLaren

 His turn of phrase, in his rich accent, was delightful. “I look at Colin Meads and see a great big sheep farmer who carried the ball in his hands as though it was an orange pip.” or, of an elusive Scottish scrum-half; “He’s like a demented ferret up a wee drainpipe” Bravo Bill, we miss you!

There are other rugby commentators deserving mention notably, calm Eddie Butler, the grotesquely partisan Jonathan Davies for Wales and Brian Moore for England enlivening debate.

I am conscious that my favourites are all “male and pale”, and I acknowledge female and BAME sporting voices and their growing contribution. This tribute is aimed mainly at figures from the past who gave great pleasure to at least 3 generations. A big Thank-You!

 

SMD

25.03.21

Text Copyright © Sidney Donald 2021