The Big Match - Opening Titles Compilation (1968-83)

The most comprehensive video covering the biggest number of Big Match opening titles during its 15-year history. Here, you can see almost all montages LWT used for thir flagship Sunday football show.
Despite the completeness, there are a few caveats:
a) The titles for the first weeks of the 1976-77 season are missing (the one used on Revisited a few years back has footage from matches played that day or even a month after).
b) The 1979-80 season montage seems to be complete, although I would be very happy to be corrected.
c) The opening months of the very last season - 1982-83 are nowhere to be seen in the archives (Revisited only started from February onwards). If anyone has a pictorial evidence, let me know.

[@edwardburek1717]

What a fantastic compilation. For me, the absolute definitive opening titles are from the 80-81 and 81-82 seasons - never mind that overblown double album tribute to HG Wells, that theme tune remains Jeff Wayne's magnum opus.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Pretty weak compared to the previous tune though and the visuals at the start are just a Superman The Movie rip off. It doesn't work for me. Oh well. Cheers. ✌️

[@TennisLegends-j7k]

Best football channel on KZbin!

[@garydon19]

Brilliant. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@ΕψιλονΚαππα-μ6θ]

The best is 1978-79,showing Liverpool,Nottingham,Clough and Teylor.The ending is amazing,with music and visuals.

[@SuperLaurie78]

Fantastic compilation brings back great memories,I’ve been trying to find the opening music to a footie training show that use to come on Saturday mornings early 80s featuring Kevin Keegan,,all I know is it was composed by Elton John ,,I even contacted the BBC but they don’t have it on their archives.

[@merseydave1]

The London Weekend Television intro and That Theme Tune in the 1970s ... those Wonderful Feelings of Nostalgia ... I wish I could Bottle It !!!

[@jameshope398]

the early one was the best (1968/72)

[@andyf750]

Excellent compilation. Do you have any more clips of its predecessor, Star Soccer. ATV London 1965-68? Always enjoy your posts.

[@YeOldeFootballChannel]

Star Soccer editions are extremely hard to come by (I only found the one I have in my channel) - but I have seen that an early edition from the ATV Midlands era has surfaced - check Derby County v Tottenham in 1969 and a long video of 40 minutes is there.

[@davidhamilton1981]

Keith Mansfield was a genius - Young Scene was the one that always stuck out for me. Honourable mention to Soiree.

[@gingerladyaubern]

I remember the late 60's TV theme very much. Brian Moore was the best commentator of all time in my opinion. I didn't really like the very early 70's 2nd theme until it changed again in Aug 73 to 'La Soiree' by David Ordini which was really good. In fact the long version of La Soiree is a great piece of music. They changed the orchestration of La Soiree in Aug 77 but it wasn't as good as its predecessor. 1980 saw the change to the 'electronic' era and each viewer will have their fav version(s). Great upload and many happy memories watching TBM with my parents on Sunday afternoons. Thank You :)

[@Sydneyslotsking]

Great stuff. I remember as a kid how inspirational the openings we're, bring back the 70s please

[@adrianip101]

Brian Moore : And Welcome to the Big Match! Today we will bring you highlights from yesterday's three exciting games! For our main match……

[@GregzVR]

Born in ‘73, but don’t really remember much before 1980. That 80s Big Match theme is gold.

[@Chebab-Chebab]

I'm from '73, too. May. I remember the tune, but not the programme. I do remember bits of the '70s.

[@lyonnesse100]

Excellent collection. I'm sure football was more fun in those days, players used to smile when scoring instead of today's aggressive snarl. The other rarity in these clips, goalkeepers actually catching the ball!

[@jimbo6059]

There was not as much diving and cheating either and the players respected the ref a lot more too.

[@darren2514fv]

Do you have the Black & White titles from the November 1970-January 1971 colour strike

[@Sydneyslotsking]

I remember a highlights package with the song i get a kick out of you by gary shearston,if you could dig that up I'd be speechless

[@YeOldeFootballChannel]

Christmas 1974 fun spots - it's on my channel.

[@jimbo6059]

Best thing LWT had in their locker. Shame it morphed into ITV sport. It was always a toss up between the big match and grandstand, whoever showed the best game, we would watch in the 70s and 80s. Iconic river theme and iconic music, told you what was about to happen. I missed the 81-83 titles as I was out of the country, and it was all gone when it was replaced by the match in 1983-84.

[@DavidPayn-p6j]

So who did Paddy Crerand smack with the ball in the 1971-72 titles, and who were the two wrestlers a few seconds before??

[@YeOldeFootballChannel]

Crerand smacked Alan Hinton of Derby County in the Watney Cup final in 1970 and the two wrestlers are actually footballers: from Stoke and Hull City in the FA Cup 6th Round tie. Both incidents were shown as "fun spots" during the season.

[@DavidPayn-p6j]

@@YeOldeFootballChannel Excellent! Thanks for the info!

[@rajnirvan3336]

31:46 was 1st time I heard this time. As being 4 years old in 1981 and slowly following football

[@nskinternet]

Un JJ jijijiji No 😂 en😂😊😂😊😊😊😂

[@angelmedia9051]

I don't remember that many comb overs tbh

[@anthonyjohnson8672]

lol bought jubilation by jeff wayne when it came out in 1980

[@mrraoulandtheking11]

If I suddenly hum this out of nowhere I’m blaming you lol no seriously proper intro music not just the latest chart topper

[@tsr207]

When we realised that Jeff Wayne could only really do one melody................

[@Mrbrbusby]

The George #Best years of our lives. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

15:43

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

26:22

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

20:30

[@arwelp]

Ah, streakers! Why don’t we have them these days? :)

[@of_doom_and_steel477]

09:26