Big Match Revisited / Star Soccer

[upthemaggies]

It’s good to see that ITV4 are repeating regional football highlights during their new daytime schedule (Thursdays at mid-day with a repeat later in the afternoon). They are currently showing programmes from 25 years ago under the title “The Big Match Revisited” although the first show was in fact the 05/Feb/1983 edition of Granada’s “Match Time” (with front and end-caps intact!)
I’ve put together a page that lists most of the games shown in my region on ATV’s “Star Soccer”, I’ve got complete lists for 1968/69-1970/71 but there are some blanks after that, so if anyone can help….
The link is homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/StarSoccer.html

[Phil Leach]

Your Star Soccer is a great bit of research! As you point out in your intro not a lot exists of Star Soccer it's just lucky that LWT had a better archiving policy than ATV.

[lpmoderator]

I seem to remember that the BFI have an episode or two of Star Soccer from the '60s era, when ATV London transmitted it (which was when I recall it; after the franchise change, LWT didn't take it and instead introduced their own version with The Big Match). Anyone know how much of this latter show still exists from '68 onwards? I'm not a football fan myself but i'm interested from an archive point of view.

[hartley967]

Just about the time of Brian Moore's death, some 'The Big Match' were re-run in the middle of night for some fortunate ITV1 regions. IIRC

[upthemaggies]

Practically every edition of “The Big Match” going back to the start of 1969/70 season appears to have survived, there’s also a few from its’ first season 1968/69. Granada’s “Kick Off Match” (later re-titled “Match Time”) is also in pretty good shape although there are big gaps 1974-76 and not much from early on.

The only ATV London version of “Star Soccer” I can see is the highlights of the 1968 FA Cup final. It was reported, about three or four years ago, that LNN (London Network News) had acquired the ATV London Sports archive (which hadn't been looked at since the 1960's), I think LNN were then swallowed up by Granada shortly afterwards, so it's probably all just been forgotten about again.

"The Big Match Replayed" was first shown in the mid 1990's but was then repeated in the middle of the night about 4 years ago.

[Phil Leach]

I rememeber that story about the LNN acquiring the old ATV sport archive but it was the classic case of a press release and then absolute silence!

ATV London used to do a lot of sport including ITV's coverage of Wimbledon and programmes like 'Seeing Sport'. They were also early in the use of portable video for shooting touchline material.

There is the possibility of more Star Soccer material being out there because I remember reading somewhere (an old ITV annual I think) that Star Soccer used to be sold overseas on film via Rank. The BFI's material of Star Soccer listed in their old 1980s printed catalogue is on film including, as you say, the 68 Cup Final plus other later matches like the 70 League Cup Final (West Brom v Man City) and early 70s matches West Brom v Arsenal, Derby v Man Utd and Derby v Liverpool. I've also seen the famous Man Utd v Northampton town match from 1970 (the George Best scores 5 match) on film (although highlights from this do exist on colour VT in The Big Match.

The film copies appear to be around 1,800 to 2,180 feet each which equates to about 50 to 60 minutes each.

[upthemaggies]

I’ve been adding further info to the "Star Soccer" page over the last few days including a few screen shots from 1982/83 season whilst some kind folks have provided missing matches for 71/72, 72/73 and 75/76.
I’ve also been told that “Star Soccer” was sold to Australia around 1973/74 before it was replaced by “The Big Match” in 1975 (so maybe some editions exist down under). Also, Swedish TV took live feeds from ATV for broadcast on Saturday afternoons starting with 1969/70 season.

[wanderersno10fan]

do you have similar listings for the other regions, especially granada 'Kick Off' ?

[upthemaggies]

I'm currently working on a Yorkshire page.....
homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/YTVfootball.html

I'll tackle Granada next. An LWT page will be pretty straightforward but beyond that.... I'm not going to commit myself as the other regions could be a bit of a headache. 0-0 draws tend to be the elusive one's and matches from lower divisions.

[wanderersno10fan]

hey upthemaggies, I've seen your recent work on your website, including Granada, great work ! Out of interest where did you get your info, have you got an official listing or something ?