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The BBC has decided to discontinue the reading of the football results just after 5pm on “Sports Report”.
When I was growing up, thousands of people would tune in to listen to the results read out by James Alexander Gordon in his distinctive voice.
Charlotte Green took over a few years ago but he could never really be replaced.
I suppose the decision is understandable in the era of smartphones and instant access to information but I can’t help feeling a bit sad and nostalgic.
Just as long as they do not get rid of the Shipping Forecast next…
I get the nostalgia but as you say, it is something of an anachronism. Perhaps we should applaud the BBC for not wasting money on something that isn’t needed for once.
I’d bet many of those lamenting this hadn’t listened to it for years. A bit like when Woolworths closed and everyone said how said it was. Maybe if you’d actually visited in the last 15 years…
The Shipping Forecast is on at a time when many are trying to sleep, so is perhaps safer. Don’t know if any ships actually rely on it any more but even if a few do I’d say it’s worth it.
It has certainly caused controversy. This writer in the I newspaper likens the decision to “cultural barbarism”. Which is perhaps getting a bit carried away but I know what he means:
The decision does make logical sense. But does everything have to be logical? Is there no room for anything a bit quirky or unusual? It reminds me of Oscar Wilde’s quip about knowing the price of everything but the value of nothing.
Then again, I expect it is right to say that a lot of people making a fuss about it will not have listened for years. I haven’t very much since James Alexander Gordon retired.
Perhaps the surprise is the reading out of the results lasted so long. I can remember when some local newspapers used to print a “Football Special” on a Saturday evening at about 6pm. The Liverpool Echo’s was on pink paper, like the “Financial Times”. Of course, modern technology rendered it obsolete and it ceased to be published about twenty years ago. It was a pity because it was quite a good paper to read on the train but sales had dwindled and it made no sense to continue.
I do not know how many people actually listen to the football results now. I expect the audience has declined. Its heyday coincided with the golden era of the Pools but that was overtaken by the National Lottery.
As for the Shipping Forecast, it is broadcast four times a day. I am not sure if it is strictly necessary nowadays but I assume it is there as back up just in case. I expect the 12.48am broadcast preceded by “Sailing By” is listened to by more insomniacs than people actually interested in maritime weather conditions.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/jun/03/shipping-forecast-radio-4-long-wave-broadcast
“Don’t know if any ships actually rely on it any more but even if a few do I’d say it’s worth it”
Modern technology on ships/fishing boats means it is not essential anymore.
I find it very relaxing whilst consuming my bowl of porridge in the morning.
School term I normally pick my son up from his drama club at that time so hopefully they won’t be axing it from the bbc radio 5
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I grew up in Sheffield and have fond memories of the Sheffield Star’s Saturday sports paper. Printed on light green paper it was known appropriately enough as The Green ‘Un. It ceased publication as late as 2013 but there’s still a Green ‘Un website, which is nice
Just read the link. It is the radio
I’ll switch over to talksport
Or wait till I get homeGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Here’s a thought. Maybe it is all a cynical ploy by the BBC to get some free publicity for “Sports Report”. Then they will restore the results service in response to customer demand and look like the good guys.
A bit like when Heinz announced it was stopping making salad cream, which caused a boost in sales and a “reprieve”.
It doesn’t make sense not to read the full time results out..
If people are out driving, will they all pull over to check their phones
They go through all the scores about two or three times a half so just as when let listeners know what the full time scores areGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Do we still get racing results on the radio?
I had to keep quiet when they were being read out.We had a couple of Evening Papers in our area, known as The Pink ‘Un and Green ‘Un.
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highwaysI put betfair radio on went out working on a Saturday, purwell
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You shouldn’t listen to the radio when you are ‘at wheel’.
Nanny State tells you so
and I agree .
You’re a blatant danger to other road users Hughes like many other potential granny killers and risk takers.
No defence – particularly as you write about it as a normal
accepted practice.
I would ban all car radios and
discy things. A car is a lethal weapon – thank God the puters are taking over one day.
Your ignored jail term will have likely finished then !!“You’re a blatant danger to other road users Hughes like many other potential granny killers and risk takers.”
How very dare you,
I’ve not had a crash for least 3 weeks…
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Got to agree with Nathan. What is BBC radio for? Why would you not want to broadcast the facts as opposed to more no-mark’s opinions? As for saving money
I would do it for 50 quid. Alhough no one could match Len Martin.
Par for the course I’m afraid with the BBC these days. Last time I heard a horse racing commentary on R5 it was absolutely dreadful despite John Hunt. Peter Bromley would be turning in his grave.
They can do what they want but what I object to is paying 159 quid a year or whatever it is for the “privilege”. The sooner that is abolished the better.I rather like Ian McMillan’s tweet:
“RIP the beautiful and profound sound poem of the classified football results on Sports Report. Now we have all lost at home.”
“Do we still get racing results on the radio?”
I doubt it. I remember my father listening to them when I was young and nothing them down in his paper.
I was on a bus in Ireland a few years ago and the bus driver was listening to RTE radio. I was quite pleased to hear the latest racing results read out after the hourly news summary.
I hope it is still done. I don’t see why not. After all, RTE still plays the Angelus at 6pm every night, which is a bit of an anachronism in modern, secular Ireland but I can’t help liking that it still happens.
‘The decision does make logical sense. But does everything have to be logical? Is there no room for anything a bit quirky or unusual?’
Fair point, it is only 10-15 minutes a week. I’m sure they could find something else to cut instead. No doubt there’s plenty of inane chatter and ‘analysis’ that could be trimmed.
I’ll undercut yeats and do it for £40. I was once told I had a good voice for radio.
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