Football Commentators Past and Present
Discussion
For me, I quite enjoy the football commentary of Darren Fletcher, partly because he also does a decent job of entertaining during the Red Bull Soap Box Challenge.
I used to get wound up by Alan Parry speaking almost perfect English until he got to saying a foreign player's name.
(Useless, but related thread fact: I changed Clyde Tyldesley's windscreen).
I used to get wound up by Alan Parry speaking almost perfect English until he got to saying a foreign player's name.
(Useless, but related thread fact: I changed Clyde Tyldesley's windscreen).
Barry Davies was the best for me. His ability to be impartial yet partisan at the same time was quite a skill. His commentary on Maradona's second goal against England in the 86 World Cup quarter final personified his style. An Englishman through and through and totally annoyed at the first goal but respectfully in awe of the second. "You have to say that's quite brilliant".
Pitre said:
I used to love Jonathan Pearce in his 'mad' days, he really added excitement to football. Off the boil now he's been 'beeb'd'...
Jonathan Pearce was groundbreaking because he was the first to do away with impartiality. He was working for Capital Radio /Gold doing the football commentary so always took the side of the London club, because that's who most of the listeners would be supporting. Then he was an England supporter commentating for England. Plus he is in Sopranos (season 4, episode 8), which is the ultimate accolade.
48k said:
Barry Davies was the best for me. His ability to be impartial yet partisan at the same time was quite a skill. His commentary on Maradona's second goal against England in the 86 World Cup quarter final personified his style. An Englishman through and through and totally annoyed at the first goal but respectfully in awe of the second. "You have to say that's quite brilliant".
There have been many great ones over the years but I would tend to agree that Barry Davies gets my vote. In addition to the above, another one that always stands out for me was his commentary on Paul Gascoignes free kick against you know who in the 1991 FA Cup semi final. Just sublime. BRM. 
Glassman said:
For me, I quite enjoy the football commentary of Darren Fletcher, partly because he also does a decent job of entertaining during the Red Bull Soap Box Challenge.
I used to get wound up by Alan Parry speaking almost perfect English until he got to saying a foreign player's name.
(Useless, but related thread fact: I changed Clyde Tyldesley's windscreen).
I don't mind Darren Fletcher (aka "Fletch" from Steve McManamanamanaman) but all too often, I find he pronounces players names incorrectly and it ends up annoying me more than it should. "Benzy-mar" was one of them, just say "Ben-ze-ma" like every other commentator does. I used to get wound up by Alan Parry speaking almost perfect English until he got to saying a foreign player's name.
(Useless, but related thread fact: I changed Clyde Tyldesley's windscreen).
There are others too that are no better. Sam Matterface is awful. As is Vikki Sparks.
Drury, Brackley and Seb Hutchison aren't bad.
Best of the old bunch was Barry Davies closely followed by Moore, Johns, Sinstadt and of course "Won-nil!", David Coleman.
Speed 3 said:
franki68 said:
G-wiz said:
Stuart Hall on 5 live was always a good listen.
Always made me smile .As you say, shame he was a wrong 'un.
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