Name: Match of the Day | Match of the Day 1964
Released: 1964-08-22
Rating: 7.5

Match of the Day begins on 22 August 1964, for coverage of Liverpool versus Arsenal. Kenneth Wolstenholme opens the programme with the words: "Welcome to Match of the Day, the first of a weekly series coming to you every Saturday on BBC TWO. As you can hear we're in Beatleville for this Liverpool versus Arsenal match." The programme began on BBC TWO where it remained until 1966.

Air day

22/8/1964

Season

1

Episodes

37

Vote average

0

Despite attempts by some clubs to prevent its return due to fear over ticket sales, Match of the Day returned to the BBC in October 1965 two months after the start of the new season. The duration of each programme had been reduced to 45 minutes in length and it could no longer be broadcast before 10.00pm.

Air day

2/10/1965

Season

2

Episodes

33

Vote average

0

In the year that saw England win the World Cup, Match of the Day moves to BBC ONE.

Air day

20/8/1966

Season

3

Episodes

40

Vote average

0

Once again, protracted negotiations during the summer ensured the return of the show. In order to secure the deal the BBC had to agree to broadcast five matches from Division Two and two from Divisions Three or Four as well as the 23 Division One games that they wanted.

Air day

5/8/1967

Season

4

Episodes

42

Vote average

0

Grandstand presenter David Coleman begins regularly presenting Match of the Day.

Air day

3/8/1968

Season

5

Episodes

38

Vote average

0

From 1969, the programme becomes live and studio based, rather than being pre-recorded at the ground of the featured match, and there were now two games seen each week.

Air day

2/8/1969

Season

6

Episodes

40

Vote average

0

1970 saw the introduction of the Goal of the Month competition, which led to thousands of postcards being sent to the BBC.

Air day

8/8/1970

Season

7

Episodes

43

Vote average

0

John Motson makes his debut as a Match of the Day commentator.

Air day

31/7/1971

Season

8

Episodes

43

Vote average

0

The current contractual agreement meant that Match of the Day had to lead with a Division Two fixture, and twice with a match from Division Three.

Air day

29/7/1972

Season

9

Episodes

43

Vote average

0

Match of the Day appoints Jimmy Hill as the new presenter, after signing him from LWT. He was the first to both present the programme and offer expert analysis.

Air day

11/8/1973

Season

10

Episodes

42

Vote average

0

Match of the Day signs a new three-year contract with the Football League.

Air day

10/8/1974

Season

11

Episodes

43

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

9/8/1975

Season

12

Episodes

43

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

14/8/1976

Season

13

Episodes

43

Vote average

0

Match of the Day celebrates its 500th edition, marked with a special Radio Times cover and a new set of opening titles with hundreds of school children holding up cards that depicted Jimmy Hill's face and the Match of the Day logo.

Air day

13/8/1977

Season

14

Episodes

41

Vote average

0

In November ITV signed a secret three year deal with the Football League to show edited highlights on Saturday nights instead of Sundays in an attempt to break away from the joint negotiating strategy and replace Match of the Day. A ruling by the Office of Fair Trading prevented ITV's exclusive contract being signed but a compromise was reached. For the duration of the next four year contract it was agreed that the BBC and ITV would have to alternate their programme coverage with Match of the Day switching to Sunday afternoons for the 1980-81 and 1982-83 seasons.

Air day

19/8/1978

Season

15

Episodes

41

Vote average

0

For the first time Match of the Day was allowed to screen additional games, and on 13 weekends there were highlights from three different matches.

Air day

11/8/1979

Season

16

Episodes

46

Vote average

0

After 16 seasons in the Saturday night slot, Match of the Day moved to Sunday afternoons.

Air day

17/8/1980

Season

17

Episodes

40

Vote average

0

The programme returned to Saturday nights. Only two games were allowed to be shown per show.

Air day

22/8/1981

Season

18

Episodes

42

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

29/8/1982

Season

19

Episodes

37

Vote average

0

Match of the Day was back on Saturday nights as a highlights show but was supplemented by live matches on Friday evenings. The BBC and ITV had been allocated seven games each with the commercial channel choosing to broadcast theirs on Sunday afternoons. This was a radical change in strategy by all involved as prior to this new two year contract the only regular live domestic football had been the FA Cup Final, England against Scotland and the European Cup Final. Match of the Day was cancelled from 15 October to 19 November due to strike action at the BBC.

Air day

20/8/1983

Season

20

Episodes

37

Vote average

0

The show celebrated its 20th anniversary and matches were still being broadcast on Fridays. Most other sports were now seen live on television so the production team wanted to continue the football experiment as well. Jonathan Martin, the Head of Sport at the time, recalled that the experiment was disappointing: "We only got six or seven million viewers on a Friday night which was poor for the slot so we moved to Sundays in the following year." This was to be the last time that Match of the Day contained weekly League highlights until the beginning of the 1992-93 season.

Air day

25/8/1984

Season

21

Episodes

39

Vote average

0

In 1985 the television rights came up for renegotiation and BBC and ITV offered £16m for four years. This was in return for 19 live games plus weekend highlights. The Football League met on Valentine's Day and rejected it. Football was, however, in a weak negotiating position as the game was rife with hooliganism and the two sides became deadlocked. The result was a total black-out for the first part of the season which annoyed fans and concerned the sponsors. The Football League finally backed down and agreed a deal that gave them less money per game than before on a short term two and a half year contract. The remaining six months was worth £1.3m with a two year £6.2m extension confirmed in June. The supporters were delighted and Match of the Day resumed in January. It concentrated mainly on FA Cup highlights and the occasional live League match on a Sunday.

Air day

10/8/1985

Season

22

Episodes

14

Vote average

0

With highlights out of fashion there were only 14 editions of Match of the Day all season and the only League action came in the seven live games on Sunday afternoons.

Air day

21/9/1986

Season

23

Episodes

14

Vote average

0

The focus was still on the big clubs and the shows were very irregular. They followed the same format as the previous year with a mixture of live League games on Sunday afternoons and highlights shows for the FA Cup. This was also Jimmy Hill's final season as presenter after a record 15 years in charge of the show.

Air day

29/8/1987

Season

24

Episodes

19

Vote average

0

Match of the Day celebrated its 25th anniversary and had to cope with the fact that, for the first time since its inception in 1964, it couldn't broadcast any League football. Instead, the team settled into the four year contract with the intention of breathing new life into the FA Cup. With the new contract came a totally revamped show.

Air day

20/8/1988

Season

25

Episodes

13

Vote average

0

Des Lynam continued to present the show, joined by Jimmy Hill and Terry Venables as regular pundits.

Air day

12/8/1989

Season

26

Episodes

16

Vote average

0

In the third season of the new contract there were 20 editions of Match of the Day but they were still restricted to covering FA Cup matches.

Air day

18/8/1990

Season

27

Episodes

21

Vote average

0

After several years of speculation it was announced in February that a new, breakaway FA Premier League was going to be formed. ITV were expected to win the TV rights but the BBC and BSkyB combined to place a counter bid and had strong influence within the new organisation. In May 1992 the rights were decided and each club had one vote. BSkyB were awarded live matches on Sundays and Mondays and the BBC gained the Saturday night highlights as part of a five year deal. The two companies also joined forces to sign a new five year deal to cover FA Cup and International matches. ITV would be covering the Football League and the League Cup.

Air day

10/8/1991

Season

28

Episodes

22

Vote average

0

With the new season came a new Premier League, a new contract and a new show, fronted by Des Lynam. Des was joined by new regular pundits, Alan Hansen and Trevor Brooking, and the show reverted to the classic format of extended highlights from three main games. Now, however, as well as all the extra analysis, viewers were also able to see the goals from all the other matches as well.

Air day

15/8/1992

Season

29

Episodes

46

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

7/8/1993

Season

30

Episodes

50

Vote average

0

Match of the Day celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Air day

14/8/1994

Season

31

Episodes

53

Vote average

0

When Alex Ferguson's side were discussed on Match of the Day on the opening day of the season Des remarked that "United were scarcely recognizable from the team we've known over the past couple of seasons, what's going on do you feel?" Alan Hansen famously replied: "You can't win anything with kids... he's got to buy players, it's as simple as that."

Air day

13/8/1995

Season

32

Episodes

53

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

11/8/1996

Season

33

Episodes

53

Vote average

0

A new four year deal secured Premier League highlights on the BBC. Mark Lawrenson joined Trevor Brooking and Alan Hansen as a regular pundit during the second half of the season.

Air day

9/8/1997

Season

34

Episodes

71

Vote average

0

Des Lynam presented 36 of the 45 League and Cup programmes plus eight more UEFA Cup shows. Gary Lineker also fronted five editions with Ray Stubbs hosting the remaining four.

Air day

15/8/1998

Season

35

Episodes

55

Vote average

0

Before the season began, on 2 August, Des Lynam resigned from the BBC and moved to ITV to become their main football presenter. Gary Lineker took over as the main presenter for the show.

Air day

7/8/1999

Season

36

Episodes

90

Vote average

0

ITV won back the Premier League highlights as part of a three year deal. They also obtained Nationwide League rights whilst the BBC regained the FA Cup and England games. It was a major blow to the BBC, but Match of the Day continued to show live FA Cup and European games.

Air day

19/8/2000

Season

37

Episodes

57

Vote average

0

With Saturday night highlights now being shown on ITV's The Premiership, Match of the Day reverted to covering live FA Cup and England matches as well as some UEFA Cup games.

Air day

12/8/2001

Season

38

Episodes

93

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

11/8/2002

Season

39

Episodes

51

Vote average

0

In August 2003, it is announced that the BBC has won back the right to show Premiership highlights from 2004, for three years.

Air day

10/8/2003

Season

40

Episodes

113

Vote average

0

Match of the Day returns to the BBC for the new season, as part of a new football package on the BBC.

Air day

8/8/2004

Season

41

Episodes

81

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

7/8/2005

Season

42

Episodes

136

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

13/8/2006

Season

43

Episodes

82

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

5/8/2007

Season

44

Episodes

72

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

16/8/2008

Season

45

Episodes

59

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

8/8/2009

Season

46

Episodes

132

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

7/8/2010

Season

47

Episodes

63

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

7/8/2011

Season

48

Episodes

93

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

18/8/2012

Season

49

Episodes

83

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

14/8/2013

Season

50

Episodes

108

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

10/8/2014

Season

51

Episodes

41

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

2/8/2015

Season

52

Episodes

74

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

7/8/2016

Season

53

Episodes

46

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

6/8/2017

Season

54

Episodes

45

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

5/8/2018

Season

55

Episodes

48

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

4/8/2019

Season

56

Episodes

50

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

29/8/2020

Season

57

Episodes

59

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

14/8/2021

Season

58

Episodes

48

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

6/8/2022

Season

59

Episodes

44

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

12/8/2023

Season

60

Episodes

46

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

17/8/2024

Season

61

Episodes

40

Vote average

0

BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.

Air day

16/8/2025

Season

62

Episodes

26

Vote average

0

(Match of the Day)