Match of the Day (1964)
Rate This:
Releases/Streaming In:
Notify MeBBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Seasons
Seasons of Match of the Day
Season 1964/65 (Aug 22, 1964)
Episodes: 37
Match of the Day begins on 22 August 1964, for coverage of Liverpool versus Arsenal. Kenneth Wolstenholme opens the programme with the words: "Welcome to Match of the Day, the first of a weekly series coming to you every Saturday on BBC TWO. As you can hear we're in Beatleville for this Liverpool versus Arsenal match." The programme began on BBC TWO where it remained until 1966.
Air Date: 22 Aug, 1964
Season 1965/66 (Oct 02, 1965)
Episodes: 33
Despite attempts by some clubs to prevent its return due to fear over ticket sales, Match of the Day returned to the BBC in October 1965 two months after the start of the new season. The duration of each programme had been reduced to 45 minutes in length and it could no longer be broadcast before 10.00pm.
Air Date: 02 Oct, 1965
Season 1966/67 (Aug 20, 1966)
Episodes: 40
In the year that saw England win the World Cup, Match of the Day moves to BBC ONE.
Air Date: 20 Aug, 1966
Season 1967/68 (Aug 05, 1967)
Episodes: 42
Once again, protracted negotiations during the summer ensured the return of the show. In order to secure the deal the BBC had to agree to broadcast five matches from Division Two and two from Divisions Three or Four as well as the 23 Division One games that they wanted.
Air Date: 05 Aug, 1967
Season 1968/69 (Aug 03, 1968)
Episodes: 38
Grandstand presenter David Coleman begins regularly presenting Match of the Day.
Air Date: 03 Aug, 1968
Season 1969/70 (Aug 02, 1969)
Episodes: 40
From 1969, the programme becomes live and studio based, rather than being pre-recorded at the ground of the featured match, and there were now two games seen each week.
Air Date: 02 Aug, 1969
Season 1970/71 (Aug 08, 1970)
Episodes: 43
1970 saw the introduction of the Goal of the Month competition, which led to thousands of postcards being sent to the BBC.
Air Date: 08 Aug, 1970
Season 1971/72 (Jul 31, 1971)
Episodes: 43
John Motson makes his debut as a Match of the Day commentator.
Air Date: 31 Jul, 1971
Season 1972/73 (Jul 29, 1972)
Episodes: 43
The current contractual agreement meant that Match of the Day had to lead with a Division Two fixture, and twice with a match from Division Three.
Air Date: 29 Jul, 1972
Season 1973/74 (Aug 11, 1973)
Episodes: 42
Match of the Day appoints Jimmy Hill as the new presenter, after signing him from LWT. He was the first to both present the programme and offer expert analysis.
Air Date: 11 Aug, 1973
Season 1974/75 (Aug 10, 1974)
Episodes: 43
Match of the Day signs a new three-year contract with the Football League.
Air Date: 10 Aug, 1974
Season 1977/78 (Aug 13, 1977)
Episodes: 41
Match of the Day celebrates its 500th edition, marked with a special Radio Times cover and a new set of opening titles with hundreds of school children holding up cards that depicted Jimmy Hill's face and the Match of the Day logo.
Air Date: 13 Aug, 1977
Season 1978/79 (Aug 19, 1978)
Episodes: 41
In November ITV signed a secret three year deal with the Football League to show edited highlights on Saturday nights instead of Sundays in an attempt to break away from the joint negotiating strategy and replace Match of the Day. A ruling by the Office of Fair Trading prevented ITV's exclusive contract being signed but a compromise was reached. For the duration of the next four year contract it was agreed that the BBC and ITV would have to alternate their programme coverage with Match of the Day switching to Sunday afternoons for the 1980-81 and 1982-83 seasons.
Air Date: 19 Aug, 1978
Season 1979/80 (Aug 11, 1979)
Episodes: 46
For the first time Match of the Day was allowed to screen additional games, and on 13 weekends there were highlights from three different matches.
Air Date: 11 Aug, 1979
Season 1980/81 (Aug 17, 1980)
Episodes: 40
After 16 seasons in the Saturday night slot, Match of the Day moved to Sunday afternoons.
Air Date: 17 Aug, 1980
Season 1981/82 (Aug 22, 1981)
Episodes: 42
The programme returned to Saturday nights. Only two games were allowed to be shown per show.
Air Date: 22 Aug, 1981
Season 1983/84 (Aug 20, 1983)
Episodes: 37
Match of the Day was back on Saturday nights as a highlights show but was supplemented by live matches on Friday evenings. The BBC and ITV had been allocated seven games each with the commercial channel choosing to broadcast theirs on Sunday afternoons. This was a radical change in strategy by all involved as prior to this new two year contract the only regular live domestic football had been the FA Cup Final, England against Scotland and the European Cup Final. Match of the Day was cancelled from 15 October to 19 November due to strike action at the BBC.
Air Date: 20 Aug, 1983
Season 1984/85 (Aug 25, 1984)
Episodes: 39
The show celebrated its 20th anniversary and matches were still being broadcast on Fridays. Most other sports were now seen live on television so the production team wanted to continue the football experiment as well. Jonathan Martin, the Head of Sport at the time, recalled that the experiment was disappointing: "We only got six or seven million viewers on a Friday night which was poor for the slot so we moved to Sundays in the following year." This was to be the last time that Match of the Day contained weekly League highlights until the beginning of the 1992-93 season.
Air Date: 25 Aug, 1984
Season 1985/86 (Aug 10, 1985)
Episodes: 14
In 1985 the television rights came up for renegotiation and BBC and ITV offered £16m for four years. This was in return for 19 live games plus weekend highlights. The Football League met on Valentine's Day and rejected it. Football was, however, in a weak negotiating position as the game was rife with hooliganism and the two sides became deadlocked. The result was a total black-out for the first part of the season which annoyed fans and concerned the sponsors. The Football League finally backed down and agreed a deal that gave them less money per game than before on a short term two and a half year contract. The remaining six months was worth £1.3m with a two year £6.2m extension confirmed in June. The supporters were delighted and Match of the Day resumed in January. It concentrated mainly on FA Cup highlights and the occasional live League match on a Sunday.
Air Date: 10 Aug, 1985
Season 1986/87 (Sep 21, 1986)
Episodes: 14
With highlights out of fashion there were only 14 editions of Match of the Day all season and the only League action came in the seven live games on Sunday afternoons.
Air Date: 21 Sep, 1986
Season 1987/88 (Aug 29, 1987)
Episodes: 19
The focus was still on the big clubs and the shows were very irregular. They followed the same format as the previous year with a mixture of live League games on Sunday afternoons and highlights shows for the FA Cup. This was also Jimmy Hill's final season as presenter after a record 15 years in charge of the show.
Air Date: 29 Aug, 1987
Season 1988/89 (Aug 20, 1988)
Episodes: 13
Match of the Day celebrated its 25th anniversary and had to cope with the fact that, for the first time since its inception in 1964, it couldn't broadcast any League football. Instead, the team settled into the four year contract with the intention of breathing new life into the FA Cup. With the new contract came a totally revamped show.
Air Date: 20 Aug, 1988
Season 1989/90 (Aug 12, 1989)
Episodes: 16
Des Lynam continued to present the show, joined by Jimmy Hill and Terry Venables as regular pundits.
Air Date: 12 Aug, 1989
Season 1990/91 (Aug 18, 1990)
Episodes: 21
In the third season of the new contract there were 20 editions of Match of the Day but they were still restricted to covering FA Cup matches.
Air Date: 18 Aug, 1990
Season 1991/92 (Aug 10, 1991)
Episodes: 22
After several years of speculation it was announced in February that a new, breakaway FA Premier League was going to be formed. ITV were expected to win the TV rights but the BBC and BSkyB combined to place a counter bid and had strong influence within the new organisation. In May 1992 the rights were decided and each club had one vote. BSkyB were awarded live matches on Sundays and Mondays and the BBC gained the Saturday night highlights as part of a five year deal. The two companies also joined forces to sign a new five year deal to cover FA Cup and International matches. ITV would be covering the Football League and the League Cup.
Air Date: 10 Aug, 1991
Season 1992/93 (Aug 15, 1992)
Episodes: 46
With the new season came a new Premier League, a new contract and a new show, fronted by Des Lynam. Des was joined by new regular pundits, Alan Hansen and Trevor Brooking, and the show reverted to the classic format of extended highlights from three main games. Now, however, as well as all the extra analysis, viewers were also able to see the goals from all the other matches as well.
Air Date: 15 Aug, 1992
Season 1994/95 (Aug 14, 1994)
Episodes: 53
Match of the Day celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Air Date: 14 Aug, 1994
Season 1995/96 (Aug 13, 1995)
Episodes: 53
When Alex Ferguson's side were discussed on Match of the Day on the opening day of the season Des remarked that "United were scarcely recognizable from the team we've known over the past couple of seasons, what's going on do you feel?" Alan Hansen famously replied: "You can't win anything with kids... he's got to buy players, it's as simple as that."
Air Date: 13 Aug, 1995
Season 1997/98 (Aug 09, 1997)
Episodes: 71
A new four year deal secured Premier League highlights on the BBC. Mark Lawrenson joined Trevor Brooking and Alan Hansen as a regular pundit during the second half of the season.
Air Date: 09 Aug, 1997
Season 1998/99 (Aug 15, 1998)
Episodes: 55
Des Lynam presented 36 of the 45 League and Cup programmes plus eight more UEFA Cup shows. Gary Lineker also fronted five editions with Ray Stubbs hosting the remaining four.
Air Date: 15 Aug, 1998
Season 1999/2000 (Aug 07, 1999)
Episodes: 90
Before the season began, on 2 August, Des Lynam resigned from the BBC and moved to ITV to become their main football presenter. Gary Lineker took over as the main presenter for the show.
Air Date: 07 Aug, 1999
Season 2000/01 (Aug 19, 2000)
Episodes: 57
ITV won back the Premier League highlights as part of a three year deal. They also obtained Nationwide League rights whilst the BBC regained the FA Cup and England games. It was a major blow to the BBC, but Match of the Day continued to show live FA Cup and European games.
Air Date: 19 Aug, 2000
Season 2001/02 (Aug 12, 2001)
Episodes: 93
With Saturday night highlights now being shown on ITV's The Premiership, Match of the Day reverted to covering live FA Cup and England matches as well as some UEFA Cup games.
Air Date: 12 Aug, 2001
Season 2003/04 (Aug 10, 2003)
Episodes: 113
In August 2003, it is announced that the BBC has won back the right to show Premiership highlights from 2004, for three years.
Air Date: 10 Aug, 2003
Season 2004/05 (Aug 08, 2004)
Episodes: 81
Match of the Day returns to the BBC for the new season, as part of a new football package on the BBC.
Air Date: 08 Aug, 2004
Cast & Crew of
Match of the Day
Videos & Photos of
Match of the Day
Videos (1)
Related Movies To
Match of the Day
The Last Leg of Tokyo 2020 (2021)
10/10
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are officially here and who better to cover it than the cast of The Last Leg? Returning to their disability positive routes, the comedy trio will be providing us with laughs and Paralympic insight throughout the Game.
Release: 24 Aug, 2021
Prince Oak Oakleyski: Royal Eurasia Andronovo International Sovereign TV (2022)
10/10
Religious broadcasting programme of Prince Oak Oakleyski. A nonprofit specialized television channel that is uplinked through private digital route, with no connecting to satellite. Since today is a digital era, Prince Oak Oakleyski has announced before the premiere show that it's only available in format of online TV. People who are interested in religion are all invited as guests and contributors in the post-production, too. The total focus of this programme is storytelling of truth behind Prince Oak Oakleyski shedding light on the road of real monotheism.
Release: 27 Apr, 2022
เมื่อเจ้าชายโอคไม่ยุ่งเกี่ยวกับข่าวสารนานาชาติ (2022)
0/10
We've heard that Prince Oak Oakleyski has banned many news companies that are popular because he tended to keep himself away from any gibberish promotional media. The matter of fact is that he's the Lord Kandanai Maneesawath who has significant reputation of his title Prince Oak Oakleyski or เจ้าชายโอค. His real original titled name is Lord Kandanai Maneesawath who is the real Eurasia Andronovo International Sovereign. However, there are many Eurasians who are not royal, and not handsome, not beautiful. Those Eurasians identifed themselves as Eurasian while they are just halfies or hapa. They are not original Eurasian, and they are not a sovereign. But Prince Oak Oakleyski is the Eurasia Handsome Royal Sovereign straightly of Timurid lineage. He has a better self-actualization than those little Eurasians. This is a funny television programme, sprinkled garlic and onion for welcoming guests as a flair.
Release: 31 Mar, 2022
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (2022)
0/10
The big names behind the big stories. Laura Kuenssberg talks to those making the news, inside and outside politics.
Release: 04 Sep, 2022
Fauci Unmasked (2022)
0/10
Anthony Fauci is one of the most successful failures in government history - but the media doesn't want you to know that. Join Michael Knowles in this three-part series as he peels back the mask on Fauci's past, and exposes the world's leading "scientist" for what he really is: a fraud.
Release: 16 Mar, 2022
Cuomo (2022)
0/10
Chris Cuomo makes his return to primetime news with his new 8pm (ET) show on NewsNation.
Release: 03 Oct, 2022
Conan (2010)
7.13/10
A late night television talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien.
Release: 08 Nov, 2010
