1973: The MUHAMMAD ALI of MARBLES | Nationwide | Classic BBC Sport | BBC Archive

Len Smith is quite possibly the most dominant sportsperson on the planet. The Crawley resident is crafting perfect porcelain spheres from discarded toilet bowls, as he prepares to defend his world title at the 1973 British and World Marbles Championship on the hallowed concrete circle at Tinsley Green. If he wins, Len will claim the twelfth world title of his marbling career - and his sixth in successive years - a frankly astonishing and possibly unsurpassable sporting feat.
Nationwide's Bernard Falk quizzes the fleet-thumbed marbling legend about how it feels to be the greatest marbler who ever lived, and whether he feels his achievements are somewhat overlooked due to the relative obscurity of his sport.
Originally broadcast 12 April, 1973.
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[@SimonJohn67]

This could almost be a Monty Python sketch. Personally, I lost my marbles years ago.

[@jessicatorretto159]

Your marbles just rolled of somewhere. 🤣🤣🤣

[@kilimmosh]

Eric Idle at 4:17

[@thebat7048]

"Not a day goes by that he's not quietly manipulating his marbles" 😯

[@BraveLittlePixel]

"he's preparing for another championship final" *absolutely hammers a toilet*

[@gobblenater]

For anybody wondering like I was, Len Smith did win the championship 8 days later then never won again after 1973

[@SteveEngledow]

I lost it at "the up and coming 'wrist flickers'" 💀

[@natalieWould]

I came down to say the same thing. That was hilarious.

[@daniellamcgee4251]

6:18

[@OlafProt]

I went to the marble championships at Crawley in about 1993. And a strange, rain soaked experience with men in funny hats, it was.

[@michaelmcdonnell5998]

Well, that was marbleous!

[@daniellamcgee4251]

Your joke had me rolling! 🤣 🙃 🙂

[@ChickenNugNugz2]

"Len lovingly hammers his piece of lavatory into shape"

[@yanikkunitsin1466]

"Grinding down the toilet has taken years of training to perfect" (yea, like polishing a you-know-what) "...hang up your marbles for good" Perfect script work.

[@precumming]

For those curious, Len did win, but it was his last win

[@mostawesomecomment6553]

What do you mean his last win? Did he lose, retire, die, or something else?

[@RatRacer]

@@mostawesomecomment6553 yes

[@spartan.falbion2761]

@@RatRacer To which of the four options are you answering in the affirmative?

[@kristopherdavidson2097]

Funniest thing I've seen in ages. Many thanks for uploading this (porcelain) gem

[@jaymac7203]

With not a hint of irony 😭😭😭 lol 😂

[@rohielshah1779]

3:00 the most confident man in the world

[@hensonlaura]

My dad was born in 1932 & I still have his marbles!

[@douglasdearden4879]

RIP -- the legendary Sam Spooner.

[@msilva1359]

he's not dead, he's just resting

[@Andrew_Erickson]

There are no people on earth as British as the British are.

[@heresjohnny602]

As English as the English are......British is a completely meaningless term mostly used by individuals who spent so long here they don't know how to culturally identify themselves.

[@thewotsit]

It all started going downhill when health and safety policies were enforced and marblers were required to don safety goggles before launching their glass orbs around. The spirit of Britishers has been diminished somewhat because of it.

[@heresjohnny602]

@@thewotsit "britishers".....🤨 that is not and we'll never be a valid term of anything....when you refer to the spirit of the culture it is "the English spirit" because that is something regardless of background that applies to anyone who lives in this country and health and safety had no relevance on the game, when it became to vitriolic on schools they were banned.....temporal Tom more temporal lobe dysfunction.

[@thewotsit]

@@heresjohnny602 Oh sorry, I used an archaic word. This sometimes has the effect of confusing the vocabulary challenged. Soz.

[@heresjohnny602]

@@thewotsit No you used a word that doesn't exist in context. 😂 because being British isn't synonymous with being English or more importantly the cultural concept of English spirit though it's interesting you think that it makes you the height of intellectual prowess....someone must have really demeaned poor little Thomas to think that his skills in intellectual or linguistic comprehension are far greater than they are based on the objective merit of the facts...."look everyone I learned something special from the 1800s look how special a big boy I am". 😜🤪 Begone pond dweller. 😘🤭 how adorable.

[@daniellamcgee4251]

Wow, the reporter's sarcasm was eviscerating!

[@MrShuttz]

Len you star, well done that man. God bless Len 👍🏻

[@hhhhhjhhh2902]

he’s my great grandad lol

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

England is the Muhammad Ali of Oddballs. I love it.

[@jock2109]

Is this a euphemism “Twiddling his marbles” oooooh matron

[@rooneye]

1:55 that little grassy bit round the circle is now all concrete parking spaces.

[@starofcctv94]

Love the guys working with glowing metal in t-shirt and jeans

[@FoxWife]

Len won that year. But he doesn’t show up on the list of winners after that. What happened to Len???

[@Trigger_000]

*Lost his marbles.*

[@heresjohnny602]

A fun game and beautiful art work at the same time.

[@jordanbennee1]

This is straight out of an episode of Documentary Now!

[@FreeOnGoal]

looked it up...the world championship still going!

[@campbellgraham1979]

Never miss it!

[@IAmSoMuchBetterThanYou]

Poor old Bernard Falk (the reporter here) died at the age of 47.

[@Natemire]

Of boredom shortly after filing this report?

[@jessicatorretto159]

What from?. If you don't mind me asking

[@terrytibs1977]

This also could be an Alan Partridge episode

[@fizzer11]

I see the pub has built a carpark across the marble area but Google maps shows they've left the marble pitch in place only its a square now. Or there's something odd looking in the middle of the car park at least.

[@useitwice]

Indeed! If you look at the street view photos, you'll see that the circle is in fact still there! Only now it has a square, gravel filled (?) curb around it. Still looks playable.

[@mikebutler3263]

Was this broadcast on April 1st ? !

[@heaveauhu1335]

🤣 Len Smith a True people’s Champ

[@3ggg334]

I wish it was back then!

[@vicmcquire9077]

I need to share this with people

[@350125GOW]

Bonkers!

[@duneideannaer5990]

The up and coming wrist flickers......

[@DemonetisedZone]

grinding down the toilet!😮

[@demcrusher7086]

Ohh boy!

[@ResistanceQuest]

Yes of course, the money is the ONLY difference between being a marble champ and a boxing champ

[@campbellgraham1979]

Watching that just the once isn’t enough. I’m gonna play it again 🤣🤣🤣 fooking wrist flickers?! Is this for real? 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@BrawnyBuddha]

I've found my new favorite KZbin channel. (not british btw)

[@Neil-Aspinall]

All these BBC clips come straight out of the family of Monty Python. There really is no difference?

[@ianofliverpool7701]

I was the top player in the 5 times wining team "For flick sake"

[@Take_Me_Back_To_The_1980s]

In Britain the line between comedy and absolute seriousness is a thin one

[@j.d.4697]

😆 And the best thing is, I can't even tell whether this is satire.

[@secretagentbloke]

And apparently he did win that year! Wonder if he got keepsies? 🤔

[@bsport131]

In the best of English tradition

[@mineown1861]

Fact or fiction? Brightened the day either way . Was that a chaney that he made ?

[@Tekknorg]

Before Silly Walks

[@MeiGunner]

4:55 This is ridiculous

[@heaveauhu1335]

🤣

[@j.alambertmetalator7417]

It's pure comedy.

[@Natemire]

Uhhhhhh. I can't tell if this was a joke or England being a bunch of weirdos again lol. Either way, it's hilarious.

[@jungefrau]

My maiden name is Marble and this makes this sketch even funnier for me. Fiddling with his marbles has a different meaning for me 🤣

[@markeyhendrix]

It is Monty Python. Hang up your marbles for good haha you'll have to find the fkers first haha 😂

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

Wait a minute,a SHEFFIELDER who works in a metal factory.....no way

[@winklestiltskin]

How many gargled marbles through the years, do you reckon?

[@jaymac7203]

Loool 😭😭😭😭😂😂😂😂😂

[@matthewfarmer6830]

There talking about the legendary boxer Ali he from were I was born and raised here in the states Louisville Kentucky.

[@Cheapskate6]

Did he win?

[@jeepdude7359]

Can we exchange curling for marbles in the next Olympics?

[@mrn13]

I do not understand the title?

[@Samouraii]

He is to marbles what at the time Muhammad Ali was to boxing. I assume the world champion

[@hc6525]

I wonder where Len was from originally. Definitely a north of England accent.

[@samsuuddin9731]

They've all lost their marbles.

[@solidsoup5027]

This feels like a bit lop

[@solidsoup5027]

The reporter is meaning to be funny aye ?

[@esvegateban]

Is this a parody account?

[@a34rwl]

Cheat...