JGL07
Well-Known Member
There were very few if any highlights on TV in the 1960s and early 1970s.Wrong decade, but Cardiff City away in the old 2nd Division in the 80s was the closest I've probably been (actually, Geographically Southend United away is closer to main land Europe isn't it!).
Seriously, too young to have done such trips so it was the TV and radio for me in the late 70s.
Funnily enough, I don't remember seeing too many of our highlights on the box ,maybe on 'Sportsnight'? (though there was a lot less football on TV back then. ) However, I do remember the radio commentaries as Peter Jones or Bryon Butler (who were proper quality commentators) always sounded like they were commentating with a sock on the microphone at the away games.
Match of the Day was the highlights for one match (later two matches). Most football on TV was of International matches. I recall ITV covering an England match and managing to edit out the winning goal (for the opposition). Until reading the papers the next day I was not aware of the winning goal.
The editing was also a bit dubious. I recall a 1-0 away win over Stoke in the 1966-67 season where they managed to edit out a whole string of near misses and goalmouth incidents.
Most Club Chairmen appeared very sceptical about televised matches and really believed that people would not attend if they thought that there would be 30 minutes of highlights on TV. There was always secrecy about which match would be covered.
Bob Lord, Chairman of Burnley, banned TV cameras from their ground for five years. Lord thought is was a ‘Jewish plot’ to put football on TV.