The Big Match theme music 1980-86 (Jubilation - Jeff Wayne)

[@davidhurford573]

The chances of anything coming from Sky are a million to one. If you're here you remember when football had a soul.

[@Rentaghost76]

Lovely nostalgia trip...brings tears to the eyes. English football truly sold its soul to the devil in 1992...

[@TB.....]

Rentaghost76 Fully agree with you there.

[@lennymadhavan3361]

Couldn't agree more!

[@eyebrowes1886]

Absolutely

[@dylanedwards4881]

Oh now come on, it sold its soul to big business media, there's a real difference. The difference being that one is about the soulless destruction of values and worth in pursuit of utter world domination...and the other is the devil

[@davidmorton2630]

Absolutely agree. I’m just wondering if the montage was put together by a Watford Fan or Someone who really liked John Barnes., Being a Watford Fan myself, John Barnes was my hero and broke my heart when he signed for Liverpool. Needless to say he became a better player under Kenny Dalglish, just a shame he could never repeat for country what he did for Both Watford and Liverpool. Greatest English left footed player ever in my opinion.

[@jje5878]

Very under-rated theme tune..

[@capokhatpin]

Football in the 80's was special.

[@seanwheeldon9315]

pure gold

[@mrkipling2201]

The best in my opinion

[@geoffclarke3796]

Brings back some very happy childhood memories. takes me back to the early 80's and being 11 again.

[@crispendaysh3401]

Brings back so many great memories back great days not knowing till the weekend what matches were live. Brilliant days the 1980s were

[@capokhatpin]

Boy this was a tune and a half. From an era when football WAS football. Played with passion and zeal.

[@andrewc4612]

Great tune, brings back some memories. The Big Match, compulsive viewing for all fans of the game back in the 80s

[@jcn639]

This one really takes you back. What a fantastic tune..so many great memories!

[@nabeelthabet3238]

It took me back to the 80s.It brings good memories.

[@markrouse1540]

I loved the big match tunes even now they make me feel like an excited 10 year old boy.A time when football was not a ruthless money making business with wall to wall hype.

[@AndrewCook-rw7bo]

Dont know why but when i hear this brings proper tears to my eyes , reminds me of when football was watchable, and was the theme tune when we lost my dad in 1982, big Cloughie and Derby County fan

[@Bewareofthedog69]

I really miss these days, wish I could time travel back

[@abbaszaidi8371]

This was the theme for The Big Match I remember from my childhood. I love the fcukin eighties!!

[@slayernephilim2344]

1st time in 30 years I've heard that tune. Never knew it was Jeff Wayne, maybe squeeze it into the next War of The World's Jeff! I was there at Wembley for Everton v Liverpool in the FA Cup Final shown at the end. I played for Everton Youth Team at the time and we were all taken to Wembley by EFC. Most of us supported Liverpool so we had to pretend to be unhappy on the coach home or the Youth Team Coach Colin Harvey would not have been happy!

[@davidmorton2815]

John Barnes wonder goal in the Mericanna stadium in Rio. I remember him scoring it and thinking Wow!! Just Wow!! Went on to be my football hero For Watford and Liverpool

[@davideeyore2002]

Live matches on a Sunday afternoon. Rocking.

[@bluemoon6868]

memories of gettin ready on a saturday 3pm (kick offs then) all excited watchin tiswas then waitin for my pals to call,and off to maine road to watch man city 75p to get in them days ,bovril and a pack of salt n shake at halftime,listenin to the other scores on the radio ............... still follow the blues now and tell my son you dont know how lucky you are..I was there when we was crap...!!!! :)

[@mrkipling2201]

Football was better then though you can't even tackle now and getting in to watch a match is like a military operation.

[@patcom1013]

Andy, everything was better back then.

[@bobacrey1068]

Great theme. Has Jeff Wayne's distinctive signature.

[@danielsellers8707]

Yes it's a bit like Thunder ⚡ Child!

[@SlickGinoRomano]

Reminded me of Brave New World from War of the Worlds for a moment. xD Classic Jeff Wayne!

[@hairynews1973]

Proper footy tune. Unlike the crap served up in recent years.

[@StuartVallantine]

This piece is also the theme music for BBC's "Reporting Scotland" in the early 1980s.

[@scottishwildcat]

Hmm, don't think it was. I remember the tune you're thinking of and I'm sure it wasn't this one, but I can't find a clip on KZbin. (They also used ELP's Fanfare for the Common Man for a while in the 80's, but I don't think it's that you're thinking of either...)

[@what-uc]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGnRpGaPiKykZ9E I don't know if the visuals match the music here, but as they changed things so often, it's difficult to remember.

[@what-uc]

They could use it because The Big Match was not broadcast in Scotland

[@statto74]

Sunday afternoon just before Sunday Lunch, happy memories

[@melissanewton7462]

Got the record. Love this theme anything with some oomph is always a good theme tunes for me.

[@wakokid2]

I remember my brother getting buying this single, it had a picture of Paul Mariner on the front cover. Those were the days! Brilliant tune.

[@lavsmate]

Epic.. Goosebumps

[@vassa929]

I bought this tune in the early 80s and must have played it continuous for about a month, still a fantastic tune and certainly brings back some memories, thanks for the upload.

[@danielhowe7362]

For me, the best ever sports programme theme by a Mile!!

[@mrkipling2201]

The best big match theme music by a mile!! Reminds me of watching the highlights on a Sunday afternoon and if you were lucky it would be the game you went to the previous day!! The first time that happened to me was United v Spurs in 84/85.

[@De1966Laney]

The Big Match switched to Saturday evenings in the very early 80's, I'm pretty sure

[@mrkipling2201]

@@De1966Laney I definitely remember watching it on a Sunday afternoon in 1984/85.

[@De1966Laney]

@@mrkipling2201 that might have been a cup match, or a league match on a Sunday, which MOTD started doing in the 80's

[@matthewwright7831]

You'd only know it was on tv from the trucks and cameras in and around the ground...waiting for the full time results from rivals will never be done again

[@mrkipling2201]

@@De1966Laney definitely a league match United v Spurs 1984/85, Martin Tyler was commentating.

[@andyj639]

Love that Hoddle goal against Arsenal, still one of my favourite league goals of all time.

[@robinwebster7218]

I bought this on 7". What a tune.

[@JoeScaramanga]

Excellent stuff... And God bless you Ricky Villa!

[@pickledegg1989]

"The chances of West Ham winning the cup are a million to one, he said."

[@antster1983]

But still they come...

[@bobacrey1068]

Ironically they were the FA Cup holders when this new theme was broadcast in 1980, but not won it since!!

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

@@bobacrey1068 but still the last club outside of the top tier to win it. Previously it had been Southampton in 76 & Sunderland in 73.

[@shugaroony]

Ironically listening to this vid here the night West Ham win a European trophy.

[@pickledegg1989]

​@@shugaroony I knew this comment would backfire on me one day. Congrats Hammers.

[@KaitainCPS]

This was done by Jeff Wayne? Ha, I had no idea. Always loved this theme as a kid.

[@motormouthalmighty]

JEFF WAYNE? WAR OF THE WORLDS AND ALL THAT? AW.MISTER WAYNE.THIS IS SUPERB STUFF!

[@kevintheshedend1976]

This ultra modern (!) theme tune was introduced when TBM was shown on Saturday nights for the first time, with MOTD being shown at the extremely wierd 4pm Sunday slot

[@antster1983]

Start of the 1980-81 football season. Initially only shown in the London region, along with whichever regional ITV companies didn’t have a football highlights programme. All change from the 1983-84 season as highlights were networked along with the odd live match, introduced with this legendary theme.

[@leondrake2704]

The best itv theme tune

[@mrkipling2201]

Definitely.

[@garybuller5656]

Keith Burkinshaw...Best manager we had, post Billy Nick....great days...at least, I can remember them..🤔

[@Ashfaq1999]

Classic 🎶

[@scottmallory298]

Always remember that Grobelaar save. Not just getting back to deflect it over the top but the whole athleticism to land safely...

[@davidmorton2630]

I still watch it to this day and I’m still in awe of it . Has to be one of the best saves in the world .

[@scottmallory298]

I don't even think keepers would attempt that save now for risk of injury..

[@wideernie]

You've got to get the full version of this it's bloody brilliant. It's on soulseek!!

[@martynthomas7486]

This is the theme I remember most from my childhood, even more so than Match of the Day as that was on past my bedtime on a Saturday night and The Big Match was on Sunday afternoons. The image of the team coach departing for Wembley is so iconic for that era as was the always brilliant commentary by Brian 'and it's in there!' Moore.

[@De1966Laney]

The Big Match switched to Saturday evenings in the very early 80's, I'm pretty sure

[@bobacrey1068]

@@De1966Laney From season 80/1 they alternated. Big Match Saturday. MOTD Sunday, then MOTD Saturday and BM Sunday season 81/2 and then back again for 82/3

[@De1966Laney]

@@bobacrey1068 Ok, cheers

[@Smudgeroon74]

Brian Moore was by far the most outstanding commentator that ITV ever had. Always enjoyed listening to his analysis.

[@danielsellers8707]

Plaxton Paramounts were posh coaches back then!

[@andyj639]

The very first Big Match theme was the best, this comes a close second.

[@PaulaJGriffin65]

Match of the Day was always the same with the odd tweak here and there but the Big Match could always be pinpointed to an era. So 80s this Jeff Wayne version, the kits, the crowds, the shorts - definitely camp football at its peak.

[@davidmorton2630]

Nothing camp about the football back in the day. Tackles were hard and hurt. Players jus got back up and carried on.

[@derekthesec]

Lovely theme tune

[@alternativefm328]

Will also be part of TM&Erics Show next season in March

[@hairynews1973]

I prefer this to the Match of the Day tune.

[@karldyke5029]

Great save at the end by Grobs

[@davidmorton2630]

Never forgot that Save. My brother and I watched it and both started laughing but I got emotional and actually started to get tearful.

[@danielhowe7362]

The best tv theme!

[@mohammedalisharif835]

Most sweet beautiful

[@markknight3391]

My ringtone

[@saints473]

Love this

[@KaitainCPS]

It sounds like a reworking of the penultimate track of "The War of The Worlds", after the Martians have been defeated. Trademark Jeff Wayne jangly guitars.

[@antster1983]

Which itself was a partial reworking of "Brave New World" from the same album. I bet a lot of musicians from WOTW played on this too - particularly Ken "Prof" Freeman on synths, Chris Spedding on guitar, Herbie Flowers on bass and Barry Morgan on drums.

[@MrGazMac]

Only the proper people know that this is superior to the 'Match of the Day' theme 😏👌

[@mrkipling2201]

Absolutely!!

[@curtisalleyne3710]

Memories

[@garrysimpson1395]

CLASSIC!

[@glasbarry]

Brilliant!

[@williammackie4816]

It was also the music to reporting Scotland

[@bganonimouse2754]

Thats right, they can't have all been sitting in executive boxes, they weren't that many even at Arsenal. I liked the bovril and burger refreshments, although some grounds were in dire condition. But yeah as a Chelsea supporter we have seen more fair weather supporters than most talking as if they were fans for years. I don't remember seeing them chip in when the Save the Bridge Fund bucket came round at half time. In fact I bet that most 'supporters' haven't a clue. I watch but don't pay..

[@marksnaith7265]

This was a year

[@davidnesbit45]

I'm still not convinced Whiteside was onside there. You can't see him at the exact moment when Stapleton played the ball through and the linesman was ahead of the play and not level with Norman.

[@mrkipling2201]

My dad was there and he said it was onside. I totally agreed with him!! Although I’m still gutted that he never got me a ticket…….

[@AglishWD]

@afuzzyduck I have never come across one, it may just have only ever existed within ITV, I'm afraid

[@erique82]

Can someone tell me the FA cup theme song back in those days? late 80's to 90's I think. I was still small, but I remembered listening to the band marching into Wembley stadium playing a wonderful and dramatic tune, but until today I still couldn't find out the name of it or any videos posted... :(

[@bganonimouse2754]

Hated you guys as a kid, you always seem to beat us, although when I was most active as a fan we didn't cross swords much. Yeah, even today our away support is good. Home support sometimes makes me ashamed. They all creep out of the woodwork, sometimes I get too wound up going to the pub listening to prats so I'll stream online or download later - the radio is still good. That reminds me, I was convinced I was at that 2-3 match you won, but can't have - must have been listening on the radio!

[@happydude6713]

ITV football in the 80s were obsessed with creating generic football clips for their opening titles, whereas the BBC used real clips from real games

[@davidmorton2630]

John Barnes greatest and most skilled left footed English player .

[@danielsellers8707]

Sounds a bit like Thunder ⚡ Child.

[@MrMcap70]

Excellent - can you send me this theme tune as well? Well done for posting it!

[@bganonimouse2754]

I'm guessing that what fluffy means is that after Hillsborough all seater stadiums were mandatory and that this killed the atmosphere at football matches. Of course its no fault of those fans that suffered at Hillsborough but it gave clubs the excuse to charge higher prices and passion went downhill...

[@ariehaan6353]

Great theme, but why couldnt JW make a longer version of the tvversion.? This is a different and inferior arrangement to the tv version.!

[@soccer1970-f5f]

what was ruined by Hillsborough ?

[@SeventiesMania]

@Fromthemanor00 And unintentionallly, in this sentence, you've put the finger on why terraces will never come back to English football :-(

[@stephencorbett2862]

Still hear hints of WOTW in this

[@danielsellers8707]

I agree - it sounds like epic battle music rather than a football song!

[@eddisonfoncette9103]

Happy, happy days, before Sky and the Premier League, vastly improved and ruined football at the same time.

[@mrraoulandtheking11]

It’s good but it ain’t match of the day good

[@seannolan2454]

Joy to play football not for mega money now

[@davebrown9465]

Great days of football till premier league greed took all the fun from football so sad it was allowed to happen

[@AglishWD]

@uptheglassboys Sure, send me your email!

[@adriantownsend6964]

...When football was played on semi bare pitches by real men, not like today where we'll manicured overpaid preening layabouts play on well manicured surfaces and go down as if they have been hit by a sniper's bullet at the first suggestion of a challenge. When they are'nt making adverts for moisturiser and flouting their lifestyles on social media!

[@AglishWD]

Sure, can you send me your email?

[@WillCamx]

I hate this tune. The previous one was much better.