More over manning and wastage of money by BBC radio at football.

Leicester v Norwich this afternoon was covered by no fewer than 3 (THREE) different and separate BBC commentary teams.

How can this possibly be justified? Do they each somehow see a different game?

Some information incomplete

BBC Radio Devon
Plymouth v Nots County Charlie Price (commentary on 95.7FM)
Stevenage v Exeter Sohail Sahi (commentary on 990AM, 95.8FM and 801AM)
Bognor Regis v Torquay Peter Smith (commentary on 1458AM)

BBC Radio Kent
Gillingham v Chesterfield Jack Nicholls
Welling v Aldershot Matt Gerrard
Dartford v Concord Rangers Matt Cole and Tony Hudd (hosts and partial commentary)
Ebbsfleet v Hayes and Yeading Charles Webster

BBC Surrey
Leyton Orient v Crawley John Barnett
Welling v Aldershot Gavin Dennison
Grimsby v Woking Gary Smith

BBC Radio London
Host Phil Parry at AFC Wimbledon
West Ham v Sunderland Nick Godwin and Bradley Allen (lunchtime commentary on DAB and, also for the second half, FM)
Watford v Bournemouth Emma Saunders
Southampton v Chelsea Jamie Hill
Charlton v Reading Louis Mendes
Fulham v Middlesbrough ? (possibly Ian Williams)
QPR v Birmingham Andy Rowley and Andy Sinton (DAB commentary)
Rotherham v Brentford Billy Reeves
Doncaster v Millwall Murray Burnell and Rob Scott (FM commentary)
AFC Wimbledon v Oxford United Alan Seabrook
Accrington v Barnet Jonathan Blakey
Dagenham and Redbridge v Yeovil Stuart Smith
Leyton Orient v Crawley Dave Victor
WBA v Crystal Palace Emma Jones and Steve Froggett (early evening DAB commentary)

BBC Essex
Colchester v Shrewsbury Glenn Speller, Neil Kelly and Dave Gregory (commentary)
Guisley v Braintree Mark Babbage

BBC Three Counties Radio
Host Geoff Doyle at Watford
Watford v Bournemouth Jon Marks and Remy Gilmartin (commentary on 98.0 and 103.8FM)
Blackburn v MK Dons Luke Ashmead (104.5FM commentary)
Stevenage v Exeter Steve Watkins (95.5FM commentary)
Wycombe v Bristol Rovers Phil Catchpole
York v Luton Simon Oxley and Paul Dixon (AM and DAB commentary)

BBC Radio Northampton
Hartlepool v Northampton Tim Oglethorpe and Joe Townsend (FM commentary)
R?U: Northampton v Worcester Graham McKechnie and Ian ? (DAB commentary)

BBC Radio Lancashire
Bolton v Burnley Phil Cunliffe and Paul Weller (commentary)
Blackpool v Bradford City ?
Cardiff v Preston Andy Bayes and Jamie Hoyland (commentary on 103.9 and 104.5FM)
Accrington v Barnet Dan Jewell
Coventry v Fleetwood Gary Hunt
Morecambe v Carlisle Derek Quinn

BBC Radio Cumbria
Morecambe v Carlisle James Philips and Chris Lumsden (FM commentary)
Barrow v Forest Green Andy Wood and John Goodman (DAB commentary)
Ramsbottom v Workington John Walsh (by phone)
R/U: Kendal v Blackburn James Clark

It is called local reporting. BBC Radio Leicester and BBC Radio Norfolk carried commentaries for their local areas whilst BBC Radio Five Live carried a neutral commentary across the whole of the United Kingdom. Seems perfectly acceptable to me.

It wasn't Ian Williams, he was covering Leicester City v Norwich City for talkSPORT Live. Full details to follow...

Saturday 27th February - talkSPORT

Adrian Durham presented Matchday Live from the King Power Stadium with Ray Parlour at Vicarage Road, followed by Call Collymore from the Hawthorns

Premier League
West Ham United v Sunderland - Ian Danter
Leicester City v Norwich City - Nigel Pearson and Adrian Durham
Southampton v Chelsea - Laurence Mora
Stoke City v Aston Villa - Simon Humphreys
Watford v AFC Bournemouth - Ian Abrahams and Ray Parlour
West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace - Sam Matterface and Stan Collymore (5.30pm commentary), with Dave Rowe at pitchside and James Dodd producing

Championship
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Derby County - Geoff Peters
Blackburn Rovers v Milton Keynes Dons - Alan Biggs
Bolton Wanderers v Burnley - Derm Tanner
Fulham v Middlesbrough - Tom Ross
Huddersfield Town v Ipswich Town - Graham Courtney
Nottingham Forest v Bristol City - Kev Lawrence
Queens Park Rangers v Birmingham City - Tony Incenzo

Rugby Union: Six Nations
Italy v Scotland - Andrew McKenna
England v Ireland - Russell Hargreaves


talkSPORT Live

Premier League
West Ham United v Sunderland - Dominic Johnson and Rufus Brevett
Leicester City v Norwich City - Ian Williams
Southampton v Chelsea - Adam Bridge and Jason Dodd (featured 3pm commentary on international radio stations)
Stoke City v Aston Villa - Callum Williams
Watford v AFC Bournemouth - Dan Windle
West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace - John Anderson and Matt Lawrence

Bundesliga
VfL Wolfsburg v Bayern Munchen - James Fielden


Absolute Radio

Russ Williams presented Rock 'N' Roll Football Live alongside Tony Dorigo, followed by Ian Wright and Ian Stone on the phone-in

Premier League
Southampton v Chelsea - Jon Champion and Perry Groves (3pm commentary), with Carl Ralley producing


Today FM

Philip Egan presented Premier League Live, joined by Mark Lawrenson from the King Power Stadium between 2-3pm

Premier League
West Ham United v Sunderland - Peter Hood
Leicester City v Norwich City - Ian Beach and Brian Kerr (3pm commentary)
Southampton v Chelsea - Grahame Lloyd
Stoke City v Aston Villa - Alan Tolley
Watford v AFC Bournemouth - Mike Lawrence

Rugby Union: Six Nations
England v Ireland - David Brady

There was no reporter at the late game for Today FM, who from 5pm were concentrating on the Irish general election, as was sister station Newstalk 106-108FM, meaning there was no Off The Ball today.


BBC WM 95.6

BBC WM 95.6 Sport with Mike Taylor from Molineux (12noon-2.45pm), Paul Franks from the Britannia Stadium (2.45-5.15pm) and Rob Gurney from the Hawthorns (5.15-8pm)

Premier League
Stoke City v Aston Villa - Mark Regan and Paul Franks (3pm commentary on 95.6FM)
West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace - Rob Gurney and Tony Brown (5.30pm commentary)

Championship
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Derby County - Mike Taylor and Steve Daley (12.30pm commentary)
Queens Park Rangers v Birmingham City - Richard Wilford (3pm commentary on DAB in Birmingham)

League One
Burton Albion v Walsall - Tom Marlow (3pm commentary on DAB in the Black Country and Freeview channel 722)

Great to see Walsall being the subject of a DAB and Freeview commentary. With this being a local derby and a top of the table clash, the Saddlers sold out their allocation pretty quickly so many fans will have been pleased to be able to listen to the game on WM.

Thanks, Liam Fisher fights back! It lead me to read the original Ian Ladyman article praising 5Live and it's presenters. Since when has Phil Williams ever presented a Sports show on the station? He once went to Wimbledon when he was Showbiz Reporter, and commented on the Fashion, in the way that 5Live do. Take the whole station and it's dog to Wimbledon fortnight, thereby wasting money. Also a rather nasty comment about Ian Wright who is still on the station, I thought. Wright is 100% better on 6-0-6 than Savage, who escaped Layman's jibes.


I don't know about the rest of the UK, but BBCLondon provides "neutral" commentary, as if the London team are playing poorly they will say so and praise the opposition. Doesn't every region? They have no problems covering a match with 2 London teams either. They just report what's happening. In BBC London's case, with Nick Godwin and Bradley Allen, extremely well and fairly, and much better than 5Live.

I personally would've much preferred to hear BBCLeicester's commentary today, if it's anything like BBCLondon's it would've been much better informed.
IMO when 5Live come to White Hart Lane they seem to get their information on the club from the back page of the Sun, and it's noticeable how not "in the know" they are, even with the Spurs style of play. Eg. All season Spurs have been stronger in the 2nd half. A few weeks ago when it was 0-0 at HT, the 5Live commentator was talking it up like it was a terrible problem. It took an ex Gooner, Martin Keown to provide some balanced sense and perspective and yes, Spurs went on to score in the 2nd half and win. No local knowledge 5Live, unless it's MUFC!
Incidentally I know practically every commentator hates the Spurs commentary position low down, and BBCLeicester described it as "the worst in the PL", but it was so refreshing to hear Keown say how excited he was to be sat there, and that it was "like being in the dugout again!" That's what we want to hear, not Alan Green moaning!

BBC Radio Sheffield-27/02/16

On FM:-Andy Giddens Commentating with Keith Edwards, on Rochdale v Sheffield United (Presented Football Heaven Build-up before, from 14:00-15:00)
On DAB/MW:-Adam Oxley Commentating on Crewe Alexandra v Barnsley

Jonathan Buchan reporting on Rotherham v Brentford. (Presented Praise and Grumble after until 18:30).
Mike Miney Reporting on Doncaster v Millwall
Phil Tooley Reporting on Gillingham v Chesterfield

It's still the same match being broadcast three times. It sounds as if you're suggesting that what you call the "neutral" commentary of 5 Live isn't suitable for the local areas concerned.

In reality it simply amounts to a jolly day out for the "away" commentators when the "home" commentary could be perfectly acceptably carried by both stations whilst also cutting out excessive expenditure.

BBC Radio Scotland Sportsound, 27/2/16

Presented by Richard Gordon from Pittodrie (football) and Dougie Vipond with Tom English from Stadio Olimpico (rugby).

Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen v St Johnstone - Liam McLeod and Willie Miller (103.5-105FM commentary) with Chris McLaughlin pitchside

Six Nations Rugby Union
Italy v Scotland (2.30pm) - Bill Johnstone, Peter Wright and John Beattie (810MW commentary) with Phil Goodlad pitchside

Open All Mics (92-95FM)

Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen v St Johnstone - Scott Davie (Chris McLaughlin conducting post-match interviews)
Dundee v Inverness CT - Rob Maclean (Richard Wilson)
Hearts v Kilmarnock - Allan Preston (Brian McLaughlin)
Motherwell v Partick Thistle - Chick Young (Alasdair Lamont)
Ross County v Dundee Utd - Barry Wilson (Martin Dowden)

Scottish Championship
Dumbarton v Hibernian - Derek Ferguson (Kenny Crawford)
Falkirk v Queen of the South - Jonathan Sutherland

BBC local radio commentaries offer a vital service, it's the only way some clubs can broadcast their games. It's not excessive expenditure, it's about providing a service to different audiences, 5Live are there to bring it to a national audience and obviously do different games each week.

Local stations provide the coverage every week, have local presenters/commentators who know the clubs inside out. They have different audiences.

Do you complain about having national & local news? As sometimes they may cover the same story in both bulletins but giving different perspectives.

Radio 4 and Radio 5 both offer news shows, should we close one of them down because they cover the same news? No, because they cover it differently and for different audiences.

In fact, radio news shows & TV news shows are talking about the same stuff at the same time, should we close radio or TV down?

well said Cole. i'm the first to moan about 5Live and their 2 commentator set-up they use on big games but complaining about local radio commentaries is just ridiculous.

A jolly up is leaving at the crack of dawn, driving for hours and then getting to a ground, setting up in the freezing cold, doing the job the best you can, and then driving home again. Is it? Is it really?

Don't get me wrong I'm sure it's a great job and they're in an enviable and privileged position but it's not a "jolly up" to go and be paid to watch football. It's still a lot of hard work.

Take yesterday's Leicester v Norwich game. Do you think the BBC Leicester team could provide the level of knowledge and insight into Norwich that their supporters warrant? They'd get by but that wouldn't be enough for BBC Norfolk's listeners. The whole point of local radio is that the team in place knows the club, its players etc inside out. It's their expertise. It's the whole point of local radio commentaries.

Sorry, but it is terrible. You get no sense of perspective, shape of each team and it's difficult to see anything on the far side.

I take it you are not a sports fan. If England (or whichever nationality you are) plays another country in any sport, you would be happy with a neutral commentary rather than the partisan commentaries we would normally get.

How much do you think it costs to send BBC staffers to cover a football match?

Play-offs here we (slowly) come....

BBC Radio Wales (Saturday)

Vincent Tan FC v Preston North End - Ian Hunt (host) Rob Phillips and Daniel Gabidon (SE Wales FM & DAB / Swansea area FM & DAB / SW Wales FM & DAB / M Wales FM / Digital TV)
Newport County v Mansfield Town - Mark Poyser and Ian Walsh (MW)
Macclesfield Town v Wrexham - Dylan Griffiths and Andy Legg ( N Wales FM / NE & NW Wales DAB / Online)
The New Saints v Airbus UK Broughton - Alun Williams
Llanelli v Merthyr (SWALEC Cup Round 2 - still) - Alun Jenkins

Everyone's third favourite chairman Peter Risdale was also a guest at the CCS (there as an advisory for Preston NE) and was interviewed on Radio Wales. Didn't hear many boos though

BBC Radio Cymru (Saturday)

Vincent Tan FC v Preston North End - Rhodri Llewellyn (host) Owain Llyr and Marc Lloyd Williams (nationwide commentary)
Newport County v Mansfield Town - John Hardy
Macclesfield Town v Wrexham - Waynne Phillips
The New Saints v Airbus UK Broughton - Alun Williams
Llanelli v Merthyr (SWALEC Cup Round 2 - still) - Alun Jenkins

We also had an interview with cyclist Owain Doul about his preperations for the spring season and Rio2016.

BBC Bristol / Somerset (Saturday)

Nottingham Forest v Bristol City - Andy Howard and Adam Baker (94.9FM / 104.6FM Somerset DAB / Freeview?)
Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol Rovers - Ed Hadwin and Keith Brookman (Bristol & Bath DAB)
Dagenham & Redbridge v Yeovil Town - Chris Spittles and Tom Seymour (95.5FM)

BFBS Radio (Saturday)

Italy v Scotland (RBS 6 Nations) (1425GMT) - Andrew McKenna
England v Ireland (RBS 6Nations) (1650GMT) - Russell Hargreaves
Watford v Bournemouth - Andrew Cheal (predicted 2-1)

Hopefully when the new stadium is built, it'll be an improvement for the commentary position, high up with an overview.


It doesn't really apply to England sporting teams though, does it? For decades we've had Scotsman Bill McClaren, Welshman Eddie Butler, and now Ireland supporter Nick Mullins commentating on England Rugby matches, and that's just on TV! On Radio it's Ian Robertson, another Scot, who's reported/commentated on England Rugby since the 80s - very fairly, I hasten to add. The same applies in Football. England must be the only National team in the world that has non-English Celtic commentators covering their matches.

BBC Radio Manchester - Sunday 28th Feb

League Cup Final - Liverpool v Manchester City - Ian Cheeseman and Fred Eyre - commentary
Manchester United v Arsenal - Bill Rice - reports

i almost hesetate to post this, as it'll get those moaning about BBC over staffing in to a towering temper but...
5Live sport presented by Jonathan Overend from Wembly.
Capital 1 Cup Final: Manchester City v Liverpool commentary from John Murray, Alan Green and Robbie Savage with extra analysis from Gary Monk and Juliet Farrington interviewing after the penalties.
premier league: bloody Spurs v Unlucky Swansea Alistair Bruce-Ball and Pat Nevin (commentary).
Man United v Arsenal Conor McNamara and Trevor Sinclair (updates).

Sunday 28th February - talkSPORT

Mark Saggers presented Sunday Exclusive from Wembley Stadium alongside Ray Wilkins, followed by Call Collymore from Wembley Stadium

Capital One Cup Final
Liverpool v Manchester City - Jim Proudfoot and Stan Collymore (4.30pm commentary), with Ray Wilkins providing in-game analysis, Ian Abrahams at pitchside and James Dodd producing

Premier League
Manchester United v Arsenal - Sam Matterface and Michael Gray (2.05pm commentary), with Dom McGuinness at pitchside and James Savundra producing
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City - Dave Rowe

Last night...

Boxing: IBF and WBA World Super Bantamweight Championship
Carl Frampton v Scott Quigg - Dom McGuinness


talkSPORT Live

Capital One Cup Final
Liverpool v Manchester City - Phil Blacker and Paul Mortimer

Premier League
Manchester United v Arsenal - Richard Connelly and Rhys Weston (featured 2.05pm commentary on international radio stations)
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City - Tim Long

Bundesliga
FC Augsburg v Borussia Monchengladbach - Chris Parrott
Mainz 05 v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - James Fielden
Eintracht Frankfurt v Schalke 04 - Toby Gilles


Newstalk 106-108FM

Joe Molloy presented Off The Ball alongside Richie McCormack

Capital One Cup Final
Liverpool v Manchester City - Callum Leslie (as IRN)

Premier League
Manchester United v Arsenal - Dave McIntyre and Kevin Kilbane (2.05pm commentary)
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City - Nigel Bidmead (as IRN)

It was a shorter Off The Ball today given Newstalk's Irish general election coverage and after going on-air at 2pm they were unable to pick up their line to Old Trafford for the first few minutes of the match, which Joe attributed to the multitude of other phone lines they had connected to counts across the country.

I know I say this every year, but I think Newstalk should approach the Football League to try to get the same sort of League Cup rights deal that talkSPORT held for that competition for much of the 2000s - which would allow them to do commentary on just the final. Not being able to commentate on the final leaves a big hole in this show each year.

Don;t suggest that the BBC also sent technical staff as well. The outcry will be immense.

A note on BBC WM's coverage of Burton Albion v Walsall yesterday - apparently Tom Marlow had a technical nightmare with his ISDN line from the Pirelli Stadium yesterday (which he mentioned on Twitter here), although he received help from his producer James Brackpool, Saddlers Player's Dale Moon (who commentated on the game for Walsall's website with Mick Kearns) and Final Score's reporter Peter Slater.

In his absence, I'm told BBC WM's DAB and Freeview platforms took at least part of BBC Radio Derby's live commentary, which came from their regular Burton Albion commentary team of Joe Shennan and Tony Bentley.

I've also heard the staff are allowed to drink water, use toilet paper AND are given pens/paper to make notes on

no, due to cut backs, they have to use their own pens and have to make their way on foot to all grounds to cut down on expenses. in fact, I am also told that from next season, the commentators will have to pay their own salaries and use the work experience to co-commentate as Robbie Savage is now too expensive. (I'd be in favour of this if it got him of air lol)

It's got nothing to do with not being a sports fan. I'm a huge sports fan, that's why I'm contributing to a thread about sports coverage.

There is another factor which I have neglected to mention yet. If three teams of commentators weren't all unnecessarily covering the same game (regardless of the cost element) then those commentators or pundits could be out covering another local football match or another sport entirely. Football doesn't just begin and end with the Premier League, despite what most of the broadcasters would have us believe.

Not on 5 Live or 5 Live Sports Extra, neither of which are broadcasting live sport.

BBC Radio Leeds
Katherine Hannah, Adam Pope and Noel Whelan

[b][i]Radio Yorkshire
Mark Wilson and Greg Abbott