Matches to be done in the near future.
February 2010 has a real mixed bag of football to commentate on - with Premier League, Football League and German Pokal Cup action.
Each and every Monday night from January 18th (except Easter Monday) I shall be co-producing a new Football League programme for BBC1 in the South/West/South-West area; called Late Kick Off. This show will be made by the production company that I own with my friend and colleague Andy Steggall; and will be transmitted at some time after 11pm. The programme is to be presented by my fellow Match of the Day commentator Jonathan Pearce.
There are also the usual BBC Football League web-edit voiceovers to be done; and some voiceover reporting for the Football League Show.
I am intrigued as to who (if anyone!!) reads this. You can send me an email via this website; though I can't promise that I will reply.
Frequently asked questions.
Q. How did you start doing football commentary?
I joined BT Clubcall in 1986 and then Mercia Sound in Coventry the following year; this was when I did my first radio commentaries. My first TV commentary was in 1996.
Q. When did you join the Match of the Day team?
In the summer of 2004; for the return of the programme to BBC TV after ITV had covered the Premier League in highlights form for the previous three seasons.
Q. MotD shows highlights; do you commentate on the entire match, or do it afterwards?
Quite frankly, it is ridiculous when people say that the MotD commentators dub their words on afterwards. We are at the grounds; do 90 minutes live commentary, and then do the post-match interviews. Sometimes for technical reasons you have to re-do a line or two of commentary; but in five seasons of working on the programme I have only once had to re-dub a goal call. Please see these two blogs from MotD editor Paul Armstrong.
How the Premier League is covered
Are the commentators actually there?
Q. What is the difference between commentating on a match when you are at the stadium and when you are commentating off-tube?
When you are doing a match off-tube (ie by watching it on a monitor, please see the photo on the home page) you are totally reliant on what the match director is choosing to broadcast; as you are seeing exactly what the viewer is seeing. So if an incident occurs off-the-ball and out of picture, you have no idea what has happened, and it is only when the slow-motion replay starts that you can ascertain what has occured. If a number of players are going for the same ball in the penalty area; from a corner or free kick for example, and one of them scores, you have to be certain who has got the final touch if you are going to name the scorer. If the director then cuts to a shot of a player, you have to hope it is the player who scored, believe me it doesn't always happen! You can always take your time in identifying the scorer if it is uncertain; you simply must not guess, as getting a goalscorers name wrong is unacceptable. Frequently a substitution will be made and the first you know of it when doing the match off-tube is that a new player gains possession.
At a stadium you see the whole picture; and if it is your outside broadcast, you can ask the director for specific shots to illustrate the point that you or your co-commentator is making. Being at the stadium is always better.
Q. What else do you do?
Voiceovers, sports programme making, corporate hospitality hosting.
Q. What do football commentators do in the summer?
Every 2 years, more football at the World Cup and European Championships. Football from other parts of the world. Prepare for the next season.
