On This Day – 22nd August
“Welcome to Match of the Day, the first of a weekly series coming to you every Saturday on BBC Two”.
This was the introduction that Kenneth Wolstenholme gave as Match of the Day was broadcast for the first time on this day back in 1964.
Wolstenholme would become famous two years later for his line of “They think it’s all over…it is now!” in the 1966 World Cup Final was in Liverpool to watch the opening game of the 1964/65 season.
Arsenal were the visitors to Anfield that day and the BBC cameras showed a 55 minute highlights show of a 3-2 victory for the home side.
Roger Hunt and Gordon Wallace gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead before Geoff Strong and Joe Baker scored tow goals in a minute to level the game.
Gordon Wallace added his second of the game with three minutes to go to give Bill Shankly’s men a winning start to the season.
20,000 people tuned in for the very first show and within a couple of years viewing figures reached five million.
The iconic theme tune that we know and love today didn’t feature on the show until 1970 but has been used ever since.
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