BBC Radio 5 Live's new football summariser

[Cunny]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6266771.stm

 

Singer Gray in commentary box

By Paul Fletcher

 

 

Five Live Sports Extra's coverage sees a return to the original grid system (Image reproduced courtesy of Radio Times)

 

Football commentary goes old school on Sunday - with a dash of celebrity thrown in, courtesy of musician David Gray.

Manchester United fan Gray will be the guest summariser on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra for their 1920s style coverage of the Red Devils' trip to Arsenal in the Premiership.

 

Gray will focus on United, with former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson providing his thoughts on the Gunners.

 

While Wilson has a lifetime of experience, both as a player and a broadcaster, 38-year-old Gray, who shot to fame with the release of his album White Ladder in 1998, is making his debut.

 

I have got a huge sheepskin coat - it is beyond those worn by John Motson

 

"They are going to unleash me on the unwitting British public," Gray told BBC Sport. "If I can tame my natural bent towards expletives I should be fine."

 

Gray's involvement came about after a chance comment he made while appearing on Eamonn Holmes' television show.

 

He forms part of a four-man team put together to mark the 80th anniversary of the first football commentary, which took place on 21 January 1927 and covered Arsenal's match with Sheffield United.

 

The early days of commentary featured the now defunct grid system, which involved dividing the pitch into eight squares numbered one to eight.

 

Regular updates would inform the listener of exactly where the ball was by listing the relevant grid.

 

This role will be undertaken on Sunday by the BBC's legendary reader of football results James Alexander Gordon, with John Murray providing the commentary.

 

And although Gray is very much the novice, he is at least determined that he will look the part.

 

"I have already been briefed about my attire," added Gray.

 

"I have got a huge sheepskin coat - it is beyond those worn by John Motson and I will be wearing that."

 

Gray was born in Manchester and his family have been supporting United all the way back to the formation of the club.

 

As a youngster Gray was taken to watch United by his dad - and the team's rivalry with Arsenal is a theme that has run through the singer's life.

 

He recalls crying at Wembley after Alan Sunderland's late winner condemned United to defeat in the 1979 FA Cup final but believes mentioning Ryan Giggs' spectacular 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay winner as "the most exquisite pain you can deliver to an Arsenal fan".

 

I don't think our commentary will strictly be in the 1920s style

 

The first football commentary was broadcast by former Harlequins rugby player Henry Blythe Thornhill Wakelam.

 

It was a rather stuffy affair - and Murray is hoping for a slight less formal occasion on Sunday.

 

"If you listen to the early commentaries they are very stilted and formal," said Murray.

 

"We want to give a flavour of that - using the grid numbers - I don't think our commentary will strictly be in the 1920s style.

 

"I think that it is nice that in a game to mark the first commentary we will have somebody involved who has never done one before.

 

"I think David will provide an element of freshness."

 

Gray, who plays at right-back when he pulls on his boots, will be given training ahead of the match, with Murray set to provide some expert coaching.

 

In conversation it is obvious that Gray is looking forward to the experience, although he admits that he has no idea just what will happen.

 

"I have never done anything like this before and I have no reason to believe I will be any good at it," he said.

 

It should make for interesting listening.

 

 

Normal commentary is available on BBC Radio Five Live as well as the commemorative 80th anniversary version on Radio Five Live Sports Extra.

[Maldini]

Why do people in the media keep trying to make me hate football?

[floyd]

Well, well, well, the good old beeb favouring the Mancs again

[JohnnyH]

The grid system thing is great though.

[aka Dus]

The grid system thing is great though.

 

 

Isn't a gay or Islamic big match commentary long overdue? Public broadcast mandate and all that?

[JohnnyH]

Isn't a gay or Islamic big match commentary long overdue? Public broadcast mandate and all that?

 

What? Like arsenal put a jihad on us in the League cup?

[aka Dus]

What? Like arsenal put a jihad on us in the League cup?

 

I'm waiting for a lesbian Islamic commentator in a wheelchair.

 

The we will know we've made progress from this Mr Cholmondeley-Warner and Greyson waste of time and money.

[JohnnyH]

What about an "indian"? They're all the rage now. Or are they too thin?

Edited January 19, 2007 by JohnnyH

[Jarg Armani]

nice pic. everything below it made my blood boil. ho hum.

[Ostrich Man]

Well, well, well, the good old beeb favouring the Mancs again

its been that way ever since barwick took the reins...now hes left its getting worse, if its not alan green or spoony or lawrenson on radio its lawrenson or hansen on telly.

[Jarg Armani]

lawrenson

[Ostrich Man]

sorry i forgot he hates liverpool and its fans.

[matty]

There's a huge amount of making up to do in return for Clive 'Balmy Night' T.

[Ostrich Man]

There's a huge amount of making up to do in return for Clive 'Balmy Night' T.

he works for ITV

[Mondavi]

sorry i forgot he hates liverpool and its fans.

 

 

I have to say, lawro really is anti-liverpool. Others often percieved to be anti-liverpool are more often than not just trying to balance out the pro-liverpool comments I feel. Take SKY for instance, Parry and Darke are so sycophantic in their praise of Liverpool, that I sometimes feel that Smith, Marwood, Gale feel compelled to do their worst in an attempt to even it up - gets stupid most games really. Actually, scratch those last two from that argument, they really do hate us

 

Our commentator's/pundit's could take a lesson from the US commentators who seem to just call the game how it is.

 

In addition, Ian Darke used to be a half decent commentator, but he now almost invokes my gag reflex with his fawning. It's not just us mind, he seems to really have a boner for the BIg CluBs

Edited January 19, 2007 by Mondavi

[Senrab_nhoj]

I think all this commentary is doing is just taking us back to square 1

Edited January 19, 2007 by Senrab_nhoj