Barry Davies Reflects on Match of the Day

Barry Davies, the legendary commentator, recently shared his thoughts on his time with Match of the Day as it gears up to celebrate its 60th anniversary. His debut came in a rather hectic way back in 1969, where he was rushed from his breakfast at Queens Hotel to commentate on a thrilling match.

He was set to call the game between champions and their opponents at Elland Road. However, due to the last-minute illness of other commentators, Davies had to navigate through traffic and fans to ensure he was there in time. Despite the chaos, he delivered a flawless commentary of the 2-2 match.

Now at 86 years old, Davies reflects fondly on Match of the Day, stating that “taking it out of Saturday nights would make our lives feel emptier.” He highlighted how watching the action in highlights form has been enjoyable, especially when some matches can be tedious to sit through in full.

During his impressive 35-year run on the show, Davies often found himself in competition with fellow commentator John Motson. They had different styles but ultimately shared a mutual respect for one another, where rivalry was not the focal point.

Diving into his favorite moments, Davies recounted some remarkable goals, including Jimmy Greaves’ debut achievement and Francis Lee’s title-winning goal. He remains particularly fond of Justin Fashanu’s incredible volley for Norwich, which still stands out to him.

Despite his love for the game, he expressed concerns about its modern developments, particularly with relentless possession play and the impact of VAR on the match dynamics. He feels that the essence of the game is being overshadowed by technology and over-acting by players.

As this new season of football kicks off, Davies looks back on his commentary experiences with fondness, while also recognizing the potential issues that the game faces today.