No worries TheDifference will post Mercia's commentary team on Sunday as soon as it is announced by the station.

Any idea when they are likely to confirm it on air/online? As i've stated in another thread i honestly don't beleive they are looking for a commentatory team at this moment in time, it would had been sorted months in advance before Orion took overall control of Global Yesterday.

It is interesting to see Stuart Linnell's Twitter Page, he said that behind the scenes BBC Coventry & Warwickshire are 'keen' to know who they hire for the coverage.

Radio 5's 3pm commentary this Saturday is Derby vs P'Boro I imagine with Darren Fletcher.

They also have Boro vs Sheff Utd on Fri and WBA vs Newc on Sat evening.

Sunday is Community Sheild but there is no commentaro on Cov vs Ips before hand

August 5th 2009

BBC Radio Scotland

Sportsound presented by Richard Gordon

Dynamo Moscow v Celtic

John Barnes and Jim Duffy commentating, Chris McLaughlin trackside.

Mike Sewell (via phone) for R5L


Now there's a phrase you don't hear often!

Thanks for that, mw1.

Have Mercia announced anything about their Sky Blues coverage yet?


Given the teams involved, I'd rather hear Ross Fletcher commentating.


Looks like Five Live have gone early with their first bad scheduling decision of the season right there.

Onto the reporters I heard covering today's thrilling Champions League qualifier:

Wednesday 4th August

talkSPORT

UEFA Champions League, third qualifying round second leg
Dinamo Moscow v Celtic - Mark Donaldson (off-tube)

BBC Five Live

UEFA Champions League, third qualifying round second leg
Dinamo Moscow v Celtic - Mike Sewell (sounded like he was there)

I'll be going to Cardiff's Championship play off status confirmed* on Saturday against Sĉunthorpe United, but will still be able to give out Radio Wales/Cymru/Real Radio details after coming back from what should be an excellent day out.

* Damn red tape means we actually have to play our 46 games.

Thursday 5th August

BBC Radio London

BBC London Sport with Nick Godwin

UEFA Europa League, third qualifying round second leg
Fulham v FK Vetra - Jamie Hill (reports only, no FM or online commentary)

talkSPORT

Kick-Off with Danny Kelly & Darren Gough

UEFA Europa League, third qualifying round second leg
Fulham v FK Vetra - Andy Clarke
Europa League nerve centre - Mark Donaldson (rounding up the other games)

BBC Five Live

Five Live Sport with Arlo White

UEFA Europa League, third qualifying round second leg
Fulham v FK Vetra - David Oates
Motherwell v Steaua Bucharest - Roddy Forsyth


Additionally, on top of presenting talkSPORT's mid morning show today - Andy Townsend is doing punditry AND co-commentary on Fulham v FK Vetra on ITV4. Busy boy!

BBC Radio Scotland

Motherwell v Steaua Bucharest - John Barnes and Craig Paterson (commentary) with Chick Young pitchside

Five Live will have full commentary of Norway/Scotland and the England game next Weds

Friday 7th August: talkSPORT

Danny Kelly presenting Matchday Live Preview with Stewart Robson.

Championship
Middlesbrough v Sheffield United - Graham Courtney

The Ashes: Fourth Test
England v Australia - Jack Bannister and Darren Gough


As for tomorrow, I'm working until about 6.30pm and probably going out tomorrow after work so won't be able to do the reporters for talkSPORT.

Middlesbrough verses Sheffield United
Full commentary on BBC Radio Sheffield FM and DAB
commentators Paul Walker and Seth Bennett
summariser Keith Edwards

Friday 7th August - BBC Five Live

Championship
Middlesbrough v Sheffield United - Conor McNamara, Darren Fletcher & Danny Mills (who has announced his retirement from football tonight)

UEFA Champions League/Europa League draw - Nigel Adderley


No worries, I'll pick up the baton and post talkSPORT, BBC WM, Beacon Radio, Gold Birmingham and BBC Radio Derby details on here at some point tomorrow.

Everton V Malaga CF - Peter Slater

BBC TEES

Middlesbrough v Sheffield Utd

Alastair Brownlee/Gary Gill (commentary)
Mark Drury (Touchline reporter)

The Pulse will broadcast all of Bradford City's away matches, and Huddersfield Town's home matches.

Really the used to do all Bradford home on main station then they were shunted to Pulse 2 (AM and DAB). Huddersfield suprise move as they are also on Radio Leeds FM whilst Bradford are on Radio Leeds AM.

Like the Pulse, BBC Radio Leeds can only broadcast Bradford City's away matches this season. The club has decided not to let any radio station broadcast its home matches, though the Pulse Sport commentary team will provide commentary to subscribers to Bradford City's website. BCB will provide reports on all of Bradford City's matches.

Presumably, the Pulse has spent half as much money as usual on Bradford City rights as it can only broadcast half their league matches. The money it didn't spend has presumably been used to pay for Huddersfield Town's home matches. That would explain why Huddersfield Town's away matches aren't being covered by the Pulse. I assume that if Bradford City are playing away at the same time as Huddersfield Town are playing at home, Bradford City will be on the Pulse, and Huddersfield Town will be on Pulse 2.

Radio Leeds will continue to broadcast all of Huddersfield Town's matches on 92.4 FM.

BBC Radio Scotland, 8/8/09

Sportsound presented by Richard Gordon, with Chick Young.

No commentaries; just 'open all mics'.

SFL Division 1

Ayr Utd v Partick Thistle - Billy Dodds
Dundee v Morton - Allan Preston
Dunfermline v Inverness CT - Kenny McIntyre
Queen of the South v Raith Rovers - Sandra Brown
Ross County v Airdrie Utd - John Robertson

SFL Division 2

Peterhead v Clyde - Scott Davie

Friendlies

St Johnstone v Burnley - Charlie Mann
Portsmouth v Rangers - Keith Jackson
Man City v Celtic - Martin Dowden
Hearts v Sunderland - John Barnes

Saturday 8th August

talkSPORT

Matchday Live with Adrian Durham in London, Stan Collymore at Pride Park and Bobby Gould at the Madejski Stadium

Championship
Cardiff City v Sĉunthorpe United - Roger Hughes
Crystal Palace v Plymouth Argyle - Andy Clarke
Derby County v Peterborough United - Ian Danter & Stan Collymore
Leicester City v Swansea City - Geoff Peters
Preston North End v Bristol City - Simon Humphreys
Queens Park Rangers v Blackpool - Tony Incenzo
Reading v Nottingham Forest - Andrew McKenna & Bobby Gould
Sheffield Wednesday v Barnsley - Dom McGuinness
Watford v Doncaster Rovers - Pete Abbott
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United - Ian Abrahams

League One
Southampton v Millwall - Dan Freeman

League Two
Notts County v Bradford City - Grahame Lloyd


No new names in the talkSPORT reporting team on the first day of the season, although White Hart Lane PA (and former Sports Breakfast sports newsreader) Pete Abbott is reporting from Vicarage Road.



BBC WM

Paul Franks presenting WM Sport from Villa Park

Pre-Season Friendlies
Aston Villa v Fiorentina - Mark Regan & Paul Franks (commentary), with Jane France interviewing the fans outside Villa Park
Birmingham City v Sporting Gijon - Rob Gurney
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Real Valladolid - Dan Wheeler

Championship
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United - Richard Wilford (reports only)

League One
Brighton & Hove Albion v Walsall - Phil Cartwright & Mick Kearns (Phil reporting, Mick with punditry and co-commentary for Saddlers Player)


Apparently BBC WM have not renewed commentary rights to West Brom or Walsall games (hence them not doing commentary on Albion's evening kick-off and that they have selected a friendly for 3pm commentary over Walsall's league game).

For those interested, commentary will now be on the respective club website's Albion Player (with Duncan Jones & Dave Bowler) and Saddlers Player (with Steve Hermon - of Beacon Radio - & Mick Kearns).



BBC Radio Derby

Colin Gibson hosting Sportscene from Pride Park

Championship
Derby County v Peterborough United - Colin Bloomfield & Roger Davies (FM commentary)

League Two
Shrewsbury Town v Burton Albion - Charles Collins & Tony Bentley (AM commentary)
Torquay United v Chesterfield - Callum Williams (reports)

BBC Radio Five Live

Cardiff v S****horpe Hamish Marshall
Crystal Palace v Plymouth Jacqui Oatley
Derby v Swansea John Murray, Tim Flowers (commentary)
Leicester v Swansea Darren Fletcher (host) and Alistair Bruce-Ball
Preston v Bristol City Conor McNamara
QPR v Blackpool David Oates
Reading v Nottingham Forest Nigel Adderley
Southampton v Millwall (12:30) Simon Mann
Sheffield Wednesday v Barnsley Peter Slater
Watford v Doncaster haven't heard a report yet.
Leeds v Exeter Alistair Yeomans
Notts County v Bradford Sohail Sahi
AFC Wimbledon v Luton Town Naz Premji
Liverpool v Atletico Madrid Gary Flintoff
Manchester City v Celtic Julie Ferrington


BBC London

Charlton v Wycombe Phil Parry (also host) and Clive Walker (FM commentary)
Crystal Palace v Plymouth Jamie Hill
QPR v Blackpool Nick Godwin and Bradley Allen (DAB commentary)
Watford v Doncaster Emma Jones
Carlisle v Brentford Billy Reeves
Bristol Rovers v Leyton Orient Dave Victor
Lincoln v Barnet Barry Swain
AFC Wimbledon v Luton Town Andy Rowlry
Kidderminster Harriers v Hayes and Yeading Mark Taylor
West Ham v Napoli Alan Seebrook

Beacon Radio 103.1 (Shropshire)

AFC Telford United v Blyth Spartans: Full match commentary from George Andrews and "Bucks superfan" Rob Palin

Shrewsbury Town v Burton Albion: Reports from Richard Nevin.


An interesting development for Beacon Shropshire. Surprised they are doing commentary on Telford, which is a Blue Square North club, but according to the Beacon Wikipedia page this is the case for the rest of the 09/10 season.

This puts a dent into BBC Shropshire's Telford commentaries, which are on DAB only with full Shrewsbury commentary on FM. And of course, non-league matches are considerably cheaper, with none of the associated Football League costs to pay.

Nevertheless if the Wikipedia reports are true, I reckon this is lowest level of football to get commentary coverage on a mainstream ILR station for several years, if not ever!

Hope he "topped up" before the game

JamSir, thanks for the details about Beacon Radio Shropshire.

Great to hear they are sticking with their Shrewsbury Town and AFC Telford coverage after the change of ownership.

Here's what the other Beacon Radio are doing today:



Beacon Radio 97.2 (West Midlands) & Gold 1152AM (Birmingham)

Tom Ross presenting The Goal Zone from The Hawthorns

Championship
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United - Tom Ross & Tony Brown



BBC Radio Leicester

Martin Ballard hosting Sportstime from the Walkers Stadium

Championship
Leicester City v Swansea City - Ian Stringer & Jon Sinclair (commentary)

Hehe...got to love the swear filter

The rights may be cheaper, but there can't be that many people wanting to hear AFC Telford commentaries, so this decision makes no commercial sense.