Match of the Day - Opening Titles 1970

Match of the Day Opening Titles from August 15th 1970, the first time the now familiar theme tune was used. The BBC must have wiped the colour tapes as this black & white version is all that survives.

[@maxmccann5323]

“We hope you like the new music” Understatement of the century

[@yuenkentsang9446]

We hoped? I think u mean you ❤️

[@peterkehoe1984]

Still the greatest sports theme 52 years later.

[@peterwilliamskelhorn6675]

@@peterkehoe1984 it wouldn't be Match Of The Day without this music

[@G6JPG]

@@peterwilliamskelhorn6675 I am not a fan of football. But if this comes on, I don't turn off until it's over! Also - nice to have it in full as broadcast, but without the middle bit. (I'm sure it's a good piece of music, but I like this short version.)

[@peterkehoe481]

54 years on and still one of the most iconic sports themes there is.

[@daviddwyer8272]

Thanks David. I am sure we will get used to the new music eventually.

[@timmeekings3492]

The best theme tune ever composed. Still going 46 years later to prove it.

[@otaviofrn_adv]

Fifty and counting

[@uncleloves9375]

Its still got that kick. Its kinda like im winning im winning music

[@uncleloves9375]

Couldnt agree more. It makes me think and feel like im winning in whatever im doing lol

[@caseyfalconer7347]

The theme song for motd is so iconic. Should never be changed. Everyone loves it

[@yuenkentsang9446]

It's very addictive

[@hypnotics7886]

“Think we got used to the theme, David 😉” -Football fans, 52 years later 😂

[@peterrossall9399]

Brilliant music, brilliant action. Bobby's thunderbolt to kick us off, Ian Hutchinson's long throw in, Franny not fighting with Norman, Bremner taking a tumble, Joe Royle showing how to take a penalty, Bally getting a reprimand from the Ref, Bestie ending in the mud and that sublime volley from Tony Brown of the Baggies at the end. Superb stuff.

[@MitchJenkz]

0:38 - Look at the smile on his face, he knew that it was going to be a classic

[@CameronInglis1999]

One of the best theme tunes ever made, 48 years later it is still going strong.

[@pliosaw]

Today is the 50th Anniversary of this song 15th August 1970 - 15th August 2020

[@uncleloves9375]

This theme always has a kick to it...

[@GeorgeSlaysTheDragon-ll8op]

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVOURITE SUNDAY MORNING SHOW 🥳🥳🥳🎉🎉🎉

[@beesknees91]

Tony Brown scored for West Bromwich Albion vs Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Brilliant goal!!

[@johnrobertson8263]

English football totally ruined by money, sky, i will not pay for sky...and bloody lineker on loads...sshhh cric for me

[@Georgiahulse]

My team (Derby County) were to play Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday 15th at 12:30, but Sky wanted to televise it and it's now been moved to the following Monday at 19:45 making it inaccessible for many people. They are ruining the sport like they did when they took Cricket.

[@AH-be6bu]

Georgiahulse aye, I’m a Forest fan and wasn’t able to go and watch as a direct result of Sky’s fiddling with the schedule. The fans are the absolute last priority in modern football.

[@West.Ham1964]

That goal at the end was technically brilliant, it wasn't even a diagonal long ball.

[@danferguson9830]

Yeah, that was a fantastic goal. Who scored it?

[@YeOldeFootballChannel]

2 years later; but the goal was scored by Tony Brown, for West Bromwich Albion, against Sheffield Wednesday on an FA Cup 3rd Round game.

[@ourandy]

Unreal technique!

[@alamosh]

@@YeOldeFootballChannel 5 years later, exactly the answer I was looking for. Thanks for that.

[@rodlytton765]

When I played as a kid back in 70s it was with a leather ball which became really heavy in the damp. These guys back then were kicking sacks of concrete, not like the lightweight balls of today amazing what they could do.

[@blaggercoyote]

Immediately started humming the music. Without hearing it.

[@uncleloves9375]

It makes me think that im winning lol

[@uncleloves9375]

That im kicking arse lol

[@TheMikeyReilly]

Match of the Day is what makes an evening.

[@weekendwarriorprospecting817]

Critic's said they hated the new music and it would never last. Oh how wrong they were 🤣😂😂

[@merseydave1]

Saturday night on B.B.C. 1 after the 10 o'clock news .... and Parkinson following it ..... wonderful memories

[@kisbie]

Match of the Day is nearly starting It's nearly on the box Match of the Day is nearly starting They're wearing shorts and socks

[@gkavner]

Yes. We like the new music. And the new program. Grew up with this on the ABC in Australia. I hate what money is doing, but the game, oh this wonderful game...

[@roysrodzinski6544]

God I miss those magical days Packed terraces Scarves British players Real entertainment Before it became big business and like basketball

[@DavidThomas-fb8bq]

I was looking forward to the match.

[@oasis4life014]

When football was proper football

[@philipbarker1896]

the original music used in 1964 was called Drum Majorette. This is called '' Offside '' but curiously this version of it has never been released despite its great popularity

[@deepfryblue]

yes I believe it was originally called 'Drum Majorette' and recorded by the Irish Guards conducted by Lt. Col. C H Jaeger, although the 'guards could have just done a version of it ??

[@itfcdhill]

Wrong, it was released on iTunes in 2014 as part of MOTD’s 50th anniversary. Match of the Day Theme (The Original Complete Release) - Single by Barry Stoller itunes.apple.com/gb/album/match-of-the-day-theme-the-original-complete-release-single/917254558

[@creynolds094]

They better use it on the new Champions League MOTD!

[@caseyfalconer7347]

Don’t think they will be allowed. Think every country who shows Champions League has to use the official song. I love both tbh

[@davidgbarron]

Hopefully the BBC can use the chromadots system to restore the entire episode to colour.

[@aidanlunn7441]

Yup, I think Christa joined around 1988/89. I can't actually remember who the CEO was. I'm not actually employed by ITV anymore, it's Technicolor services (who they contract engineering and transmission out to), but I'm stationed there. When Granada took over Yorkshire-Tyne Tees, they sold off their transmission and engineering department.

[@Whoami691]

When a legend was born. :D

[@aidanlunn7441]

Well I also call time on this debate apart from one point. The BBC have lost enough sports rights due to their restrained powers in bidding for them, also due to the fact that companies like $ky can outbid them on practically anything. That's probably the other reason why the BBC bid so much in a blind auction, they probably thought that Sky were bidding against them. Another reason why I think something as undemocratic and un-transparent as blind auctions should be scrapped.

[@dlamiss]

Just think how much sport could have remained had the Corporation bid 1/3 of the Match of the Day budget for other sport. The Open championship will be the next to go..Cant understand your argument that once the licence fee goes 2 the BBC it becomes their money- of course it does the corporation then just chooses to waste it...just as the exchequer once it takes my taxes spends that how it sees fit.As we are not seeing much common ground here sir i will bid you good day.The debate has been fun

[@jamesbroughton7081]

The game nowadays needs the good humour that embodies this intro. Seeing all the weird and wonderful aspects of football has completely gone as the ultra-professional ponces have ushered their way in their place.

[@andrewswift8139]

Barry Stoller also did the early to mid-70's Grandstand theme that virtually no-one remembers.

[@aidanlunn7441]

You said you can't understand my point, then you state the very obvious at what I was saying, suggesting that you agree with my point, therefore backtracking on your earlier point that the BBC uses "our" money. Hypocritical is an understatement! And they can't spend it how they wish. They are bound by their Royal Charter and various other rules in how to spend it.

[@RyanBromhead503]

0:11 His arms did a 360, when he did the throw-in

[@JohnAnderson-ms2cn]

Ian Hutchinson…it was his long throw that won Chelsea the FA Cup in 1970 (headed in by David Webb)

[@dlamiss]

The Independent TV franchises a few years ago were also done in a blind auction with the highest bid winning, Central Television as was bid £2000 per year to continue to run their region whereas Carlton tv bid £43 million to win the franchise from Thames. That suggests to me Central knew they were bidding alone..........Which begs the question the "intellegence" the BBC employs should have known NO ONE else was bidding.

[@jackthegamer4019]

At the start of 1970/71 season.

[@frankiethefish73]

The fact that the Brits think this is a great opening theme song and would continue to use it for half a century is the most British thing ever. In comparison, Hank Williams Jr's - "Are You Ready For Some Football" is the most American thing ever.

[@makamanb]

This is the greatest fucking tune known to man, timeless since before England even won the World Cup.

[@dlamiss]

Yorkshire television in the mid 80s so that would have been the days of Whiteley and Geoff Druett then and presume Fox was still the boss. Christa Ackroyd "came" the network a bit later didnt she ?

[@Werneckiryan]

Who remembers when Darby county was a threat? Not me I’m FAR too young 😅😅😅😂😂😂

[@aidanlunn7441]

That was 23 years ago when those ITV companies - which no longer exist - were fighting for their very survival. The regulations regarding blind auctions have changed in that near quarter century and were different to bidding for sports rights back then anyway. The organisations deciding who should get the contracts were different and had different rules.

[@aidanlunn7441]

Yes, because the news anchors have many years of skill and training to present more comprehensive reports - even, occasionally complete news programmes - than simple reporters. You can choose to pay the BBC - you don't have to watch or record as-transmitted television. Commercial channels on the other hand . . . Yup, engineer at the Croydon ITV 405-line TV transmitter in the early 1980s, then once the knife was dug in to that TV system in 1985, I moved North To Yorkshire TV studios in Leeds.

[@stigoftdump]

lol at the freeze frame for man u vs leeds being someone getting clattered

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

Lol, the usual story at a MU v LU game

[@james9311]

Billy bremner being clattered I reckon

[@wd4020]

@@james9311 Looks like Bremner

[@uncleloves9375]

True football..

[@bodieofci5418]

Arise for the national anthem.

[@arsenaldailytransfernews]

0:22 When Chelsea VS Derby county was match of the day!

[@jzc3011]

0:04 A man believed to be Man United legend Sir Bobby Charlton

[@jasonfury1]

can someone please upload a whole programme from the early seventies

[@poonpoon37]

This is a lovely and memorable music 😘😘😘

[@creynolds094]

Saturday 15th August 1970

[@KaitainCPS]

Fucking state of those grounds.

[@aidanlunn7441]

They spent 25million on The Voice because that is the exact point of the BBC - to take risks. The commercial sector is much less willing to do so because it will cost them sectors of their profits. You can't advance in a sector without taking risks. Otherwise we would not have had digital TV, NICAM stereo, teletext, PAL colour in Britain, interactive services, 3D, HD etc etc. The Voice can't have been that much of a failure, it has returned for series since then.

[@G6JPG]

Anyone know who was performing - Barry Stoller's own orchestra perhaps? (Nice to have a "clean" copy - no crowd noises [or underwater sequence!], no sound effects, and without the middle bit you get on "theme music" collections. Just as broadcast.)

[@florencemwele2744]

Best theme song

[@bluezboy865]

First time ever this Yank has heard ever theme... I mean, really? ...this sounds like a real bad Herb Alpert knockoff

[@BoccanNino]

was that the great Jack Charlton breaking down at 0.19 ? anyone knows why?

[@wd4020]

This is what I came to look for. Was he okay??

[@dlamiss]

Maybe my grammar wasn't good so ill try again2keep the debate going. I get your point clearly that once i give the BBC my £145 it is the Corporations to use it how they see fit. However the BBC were outbid by around £7m by Channel 4 for the horse racing contract. 1%of the budget of media city. The BBC still has MORE than enough funds to bid for sport, it chooses2spend cash on cookery, property & antique shows which probably get about and ill be kind 1/2 the audience of a decent sports show

[@michaelmurphy07]

Why can't we ever find that 'new' theme music anywhere ?

[@thal68]

Our memories those days

[@aidanlunn7441]

If it was a blind auction - which it sounds like - then there was no way that they could have known if anyone else was bidding.

[@GaryNumanfan-uo3nz]

This is obviously the music if you’re a pure football fan

[@andrewcarroll678]

Anyone know if this ain't the pop charts.when it first came because it deserves a one time place

[@grimTales1]

What music was used before this? Also they'd never show the goals from the games in the title sequence like that if it was first made now.

[@frankiemooney8206]

Rip David's

[@Losmescalitos]

When English football had English people in it.

[@mclarenguy22]

It's sad that there are so little English players in the PL. The PL for me is really the IPL. Not the Indian Premier League (Cricket), but what I like to call the International Players' League. The FA, PL and England have done nothing about our long drought of international glory. It's a pity. I bet you the next TV deal will be more than double the previous.

[@scottjennings2060]

my point exactly, English football should have english players still. i mean name English players that play for English teams right now?

[@mclarenguy22]

And the only ones I know are ones that have never delivered Euro/World Cup success.

[@scottjennings2060]

mclarenguy22 so can you name any foreign footballers that are in the EPL now because i can think of millions

[@mclarenguy22]

Oh crumbs... Cech, Hazard, Benteke, Fellani... the list is totally countless.

[@mclarenguy22]

I wonder if the DMI failure is the reason why they're axing BBC Three.

[@gftyhify]

We certainly do like the new music. How else would it still be in use 50 years later?

[@jonathansullivan9799]

seems you dont know much about their years in the lower divisions shortly after this.

[@vishesnarayan5148]

It’s amazing how they’ve kept to the same theme tune since then!

[@charlesstilesmysterydinersfn]

Quite remarkable. Astonishing.

[@niallhogan1565]

I remember this so well from Saturday night football on tv

[@frcluc]

This theme sounds exactly like mariachi music (from Mexico)

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

No it doesn't

[@The84Michelle]

Iconic music and just amazing in general

[@cuibono6872]

"Those were the days my friend we thought they'd never end"

[@iandickson1940]

Just Brilliant!!!..Is all you can say ⚽⚽⚽

[@conorgeraghty4178]

52 anniversary 2022 August

[@josephgemin171]

Ian Hutchinson’s throw in :)

[@georgebroad1481]

its coming home.

[@carolinecoulton1238]

11 people are offside

[@JackTheSlayer-ok5eq]

Hello there

[@jamesgorman8402]

It’ll never catch on

[@jonnyj1492]

Cool!!!

[@nickmilicic1593]

Does anyone know who scores the last goal in the clip, its a beauty!!

[@Shaytime6]

Yup. It was Tony Brown for West Brom in 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, 3 January 1970.

[@dlamiss]

The music and programme is so tired and to think the BBC have just by the sound of it blown virtually its whole sports budget renewing it for a further three years judging by the sports contracts lost in the last 12 months

[@cbak12sg]

RODNEEEEEEEEEEE!

[@clarencebrown8471]

60 Years Later And They Still Use It.

[@beatz7190]

Clarence Brown what you living in 2030?

[@dlamiss]

The BBC Have just spent £180 million pounds (no one else made a bid) on renewing a highlights programme for a further three years. First of all, with no one else bidding the BBC should have paid much less and the cash saved could have been used to have renewed European tour golf, French open tennis and the biggest loss of all the Grand National which delivered an audience probably twice as high as MOTO.....At least freshen the show by getting some new pundits

[@G6JPG]

Isn't the Grand National only once a year? (And mostly popular based on gambling?) Not that I'm supporting spending lots in this way, but surely losing the GN isn't much of a disaster.

[@granchard]

UP THE O's

[@aussieletts5313]

Yep sad to say English football is going the same way as the country

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

Expand please

[@michaelrobotham9897]

* v

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

Bobby !!

[@mcfcguvnors]

ace upload m8 i hate the new one with the overdubbed sound effects