Football commentary – changes in style

Nearly every Englishman has an opinion about football and is more passionate about the game than any other nationality. Football commentators are of the same ilk, and once you listen to them you will soon understand that they each have a very distinctive style of commentating.

One of the more famous English football commentators was Kenneth Wolstenholme, who commentated on BBC in his much clipped English accent, and was there when England lifted the World Cup in 1966. Gone are those days and the posh accent that always remained calm no matter how exciting the on-field action was.

David Coleman was another famous English football commentator whose commentary in the seventies was typified by being very restrained. But then along came John Motson whose knowledge of football trivia as well as frequent references to fried breakfasts ushered in a change that has made one miss the earlier staid and sober English commentary styles.

The sad truth is that because a commentator can provide a sideshow that can help grab the attention of the listener, the new breed seem to have forgotten how to entertain and can only inform. As a result so much of the fun has disappeared from the commentary.

Most British followers of the beautiful game believe and expect more entertainment. Can anybody not fail to get excited when the commentator yells “Gooooooooooooooooooooal” every time a team sends the ball into the back of the net? You can guarantee that viewers and listeners will go wild with such excited intonation!