Does anybody know anything about Jimmy Armfield's state of health at the moment? He was at the end of last season being treated for throat cancer.

Jimmy is an excellent summariser IMHO.

Radio Derby will do full commentary as they always do

If RAM FM do what they've did last year - it will be music and updates every 10 minutes or so, plus goal flashes etc, from their reporter Phil Matthews live from the game......a really good service for people who want to be up to date without hearing ball by ball commentary

Having said that, RAM FM did commentary on the playoff final at Wembley which was very well received - so that might pull full match commentery out of the bag - we'll find out next Saturday - then it will be on the local BBC and commercial!

FA Community Shield: Chelsea v Man Utd (Wembley)

BBC Radio Five Live - Ian Brown, John Murray and Mark Lawrenson (commentary)

Talk Sport - Andy Clarke and Mike Parry

BBC London 94.9FM - Nick Godwin, Clive Walker and Andy Rowley (commentary)

BBC Radio Manchester - Steve Wyeth (I think) and Arthur Albiston

Real Radio London - Gary Taphouse and Kerry Dixon (commentary)
Last edited by IanFergus : 05-08-2007 at 15:09

BBC Radio Five Live

Hearts v Hibs - Darren Fletcher, ? (possibly Dave Woods, to be confirmed) and Pat Nevin (commentary)

DF has been busy this weekend in Scotland reporting from Motherwell (Gretna v Falkirk) and Celtic already this weekend.

I know that from this season, the Pulse have moved Bradford City games to its classic gold station on AM

Tonight Zeta v Rangers Radio Clyde has commentary from Peter Martin, Darrell King and Derek Johnstone. Hugh Keevins presenting in the studio.

BBC Radio Five Live had half-time and full-time reports from Roddy Forsyth.

I can confirm that Dave Woods was the other commentator at Tynecastle on Monday.

Archie204, did Radio Clyde broadcast Superscoreboard on Saturday and Sunday last weekend?

Yes but the BBC still have exclusive commentary rights. Clyde have the best reporters and pundits though in my opinion.

Thanks for the updates Ian.

DF totally cocked up the calling of the Hibs winner. In fact he completely missed it as he was droning on about the teams' style of play instead of actually commentating. That's when I gave up listening!

In terms of this weekend it will be very interesting to see who TalkSport use for their 3pm Premiership commentary.

Also it's interesting from your update above that Real Radio London appear to be still doing Chelsea commentaries. It seems a terrible waste to put them all on DAB or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

talkSPORT's regular Saturday afternoon team will be Adrian Durham with Alan Brazil and then commentary from 3:00pm with Nigel Pearson and Alvin Martin. Plus, updates and reports from around the grounds from the Premiership and Football League with their team of reporters.

On non-commentary Saturdays, it'll be similar to how it has been for talkSPORT in the past with their around the grounds show with Adrian Durham, Alan Brazil and Alvin Martin.

Not that interesting then

In terms of local radio, Afan FM in Port Talbot is covering:

Port Talbot Town FC, Neath Athletic FC, Afan Lido FC, Swansea City FC, Aberavon Wizards RFC, Neath RFC and Neath-Swansea Ospreys RFC.

Ram FM are doing live commentary this afternoon from 3pm with Phil Matthews and Roger Davies - not sure about the other games or whether this is just a one off.

Interesting that 5 Live have Dave Woods at the Falkirk v Celtic match today. Last weekend Darren Fletcher was at 3 matches so i wonder if this is a change of policy and there will be less of Roddy Forsyth (who i guess will be at Ibrox today) Andy Gillies and Ian Turner this season.

I have been out but have picked up the following reporters on BBC World Service:

Sunderland v Tottenham - Conor MacNamara
Bolton v Newcastle - Jonathan Legard
Derby v Portsmouth - Arlo White
Everton v Wigan - Peter Slater
Middlesbro v Blackburn - Juliette Ferrington
West Ham v Man City - John Murray
Rangers v Falkirk - Roddy Forsyth
German Football - Roy Fairbairn

I hear Alan Green and Graham Taylor at Aston Villa v Liverpool but,as yet, do not know the other commentator.

I would appreciate any Talk Sport and IRN information. I shall be back on duty next Saturday.

Aston Villa v Liverpool (5:15pm) - Ian Danter
Bolton 1-3 Newcastle - Nigel Pearson & Alvin Martin (commentary)
Derby 2-2 Portsmouth - Kevin Lawrence
Everton 2-1 Wigan - Simon Humphries
Middlesbrough 1-2 Blackburn - Tim White
Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham (12:45pm) - Graham Courtney
West Ham 0-2 Man City - Ian Abrahams

Bristol City 2-2 QPR - Gareth Williams
Burnley 2-1 West Brom - Eammon Watson
Charlton 1-1 Scunthorpe - Paul McDowell
Southampton 1-4 Crystal Palace - Andy Clarke
Wolves v Watford (5:20pm) - Dave Rowe

Cricket: England v West Indies - Jack Bannister
Rugby Union: Scotland v Ireland - Mark Donaldson
Rugby Union: England v France - Mike Bovill

Jack Dearden was indeed back on Radio Manchester today covering the Bolton v Newcastle game although commentary on FM was the West Ham v Man City game. Not sure if they did full commentary on the Bolton game on DAB.

Some more of Five Live today

Darren Fletcher and Steve Stone were with Conor McNamara at Sunderland

Mark Bright was the summariser for West Ham v Man City

Ian Brown was the other commentator at Villa Park

Sunday

BBC Radio Five Live

Arsenal v Fulham - Alistair Bruce-Ball, Ian Brown and David Pleat (commentary)
Chelsea v Birmingham - John Murray and Terry Butcher with John Southall (second-half commentary)


Talk Sport

Arsenal v Fulham - Andy Clarke


BBC London 94.9FM

Arsenal v Fulham - Emma Jones
Cricket at The Oval - Kevin Hand

Bit of an update from here in the West Midlands.

Beacon Radio 97.2 FM are now carrying Wolves and West Brom commentary, with Gold 990 AM being used in the event of clashes.

Unlike last season, Beacon Radio 103.1 FM are not carrying the Wolves commentary, although yesterday, when a Wolves scoreflash was read out, listeners were told "for full commentary, tune to DAB Digital Radio". (Beacon's DAB output of 97.2 FM covers Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford. The BBC have both BBC WM and Radio Shropshire carried on this multiplex).

Yesterday, with West Brom playing at 3pm and Wolves at 5.15pm, both matches were carried on Beacon 97.2 FM. Gold 990AM took Nicky Horne's Gold network Sports Saturday programme.

BRMB's Goalzone was carried on BRMB FM and Gold 1152AM. Tom Ross mentioned at the start of the show that "every Birmingham City, West Brom and Villa match would be live and kick-by-kick" this season. This is an improvement from last season, where BRMB were restricted in the amount of Villa matches they could do commentary on.

This afternoon, BRMB are doing Chelsea v Birmingham, and Gold 1152 AM are sticking with the Gold Network output.

The only other change to report this season is that on digital radio, LBC 97.3 FM have dropped their Saturday afternoon sports show from 3-6pm.

Not a great start to the season for Alistair Bruce-Ball on Five Live today, he gave David Healy's first goal for Fulham to Brian McBride.

It was Conor McNamara, Mark Lawrenson and Alan Green for Man Utd v Reading.

I wonder where Mike Ingham is, strange for the chief football correspondant not to do a game on opening weekend.
Last edited by shaun_d : 12-08-2007 at 19:41

I am ready to be corrected but did Mark Saggers present Five Live Sport from the Reebok Stadium despite commentary coming from Upton Park?

If so, presumably this was to attempt to counter TalkSport's commentary rights. TS carried live commentary of Bolton v Newcastle.

From a brief listen yesterday, it seems that it has been dropped from both the FM and MW stations in London as well.

Yes Saggers did anchor from the Reebok, i don't know if that will be the norm in future or if it was a one off for the start of the season. Was at Harlech on Saturday, was wonderful to hear Ron Jones on Irish radio doing the Sunderland game, what a wonderful voice he has, reminds me of his late great namesake Peter, shame 5 live don't use him anymore.