Amazing 'graphics' for the period. Go well with the music - which of course the other ITV companies used for each of their versions of "The Big Match" but with varying title sequences. I think the problem with modern TV graphics is that there's so much on the screen, none of it actually sinks in. Perceptibility and directness were the aim of the game in the 70s/80s, not "brand image", "market positioning" and "creative execution". It worked.
Whenever I hear any of his calls, it brings back great memories of Italia '90, USA '94, as well as countless European/English Premier matches from the 90's.....
The stupid tv execs need to bring back themes like this rather than the tuneless stuff of today. This is one of those tunes that reminds you of... well, football!
Thank you so much for posting this. Brings back very warm memories of me and my late Father taking our puddings, after a hefty Sunday lunch, into the lounge for a fine afternoon of football. I know it can never be properly explained to young people, but football today is souless, without the grit, humour, earthiness and honesty it was back in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Happy days well remembered.
I don't know but they look ACE for 1980! Nice guitar too. Just a shame it was spoiled by the bad news of Gary Birtles signing for United - bad for United that is.
fukin bril classic footy just how me dad remembered it! any one here heard of the old footy author Jack Rolin? aye he made the guinnes book of football hes got very old ones aswell his wife also writes em aswell bloody good they are if any one wants to know to get a book deliverd to em contact me!
Used to love The Big Match. Great theme tune here. Why don't ITV repeat The Big Match Revisited? Great to hear and see Brian Moore again. Excellent commentator.
What a legend Brian Moore was. R.I.P. Spot on that ITV should repeat The Big Match Revisited. Seeing this and all the old Match Of The Day on ESPN Classic makes you realise how good football was then.
Apparently Big Match Revisited will be returning to ITV4 from January. I believe they'll be showing the 78/79 season. I enjoyed watching the last run of BMR, just shows how much the game has changed in 25 years.
The music is called "Jubilation" and was composed by Jeff Wayne. It was also used, around the same time, by BBC Scotland as the theme for their Reporting Scotland news programme.
A perfect clip to show that ITV are rubbish at sports coverage.
fullonred1 1 week ago
What was the first thing the Iranian hostages asked after being released from captivity after 444 days?
Has Birtles scored for Manchester Uited yet?
TomSanderson100 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
christ..birtles leaves behind league title and european cup winning nottingham forest and joins man utd lol.
peterpeterxxo 3 months ago
this was in the days when you could watch live football for nothing now you have to pay to sky or espn to watch live premiership football
robblueboy67 4 months ago
That classic LWT intro brings back so many memories of loved ones no longer around all watch TV together.
jghatora1 4 months ago
this was a classic football theme dont get them like this anymore.
222ergin 5 months ago
granada soccer night elton welsby
8492grob 7 months ago
Brian Moore was the best commentator of them all. He just said enough & let the game breathe instead of being a motormouth like the Motson brigade.
whitbyjet65 7 months ago
Does anyone know if this theme were used by a program in the US, possibly on PBS? It sounds strangely familiar?
KNS1996DFS 8 months ago
Amazing 'graphics' for the period. Go well with the music - which of course the other ITV companies used for each of their versions of "The Big Match" but with varying title sequences. I think the problem with modern TV graphics is that there's so much on the screen, none of it actually sinks in. Perceptibility and directness were the aim of the game in the 70s/80s, not "brand image", "market positioning" and "creative execution". It worked.
BizMarkUK 1 year ago 2
Brian Moore is the greatest commentator ever.
Whenever I hear any of his calls, it brings back great memories of Italia '90, USA '94, as well as countless European/English Premier matches from the 90's.....
nevmiles 1 year ago
1.5 million pounds......A kings ransom back then.....Pocket change today.
capokhatpin 1 year ago
The stupid tv execs need to bring back themes like this rather than the tuneless stuff of today. This is one of those tunes that reminds you of... well, football!
ooeyb 1 year ago
Thank you so much for posting this. Brings back very warm memories of me and my late Father taking our puddings, after a hefty Sunday lunch, into the lounge for a fine afternoon of football. I know it can never be properly explained to young people, but football today is souless, without the grit, humour, earthiness and honesty it was back in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Happy days well remembered.
Zeldapete 1 year ago
Tune!
mave19671 1 year ago
Everything was big back then! Grand openings, memorable soundtracks and all done in a way to shout "watch me". Now its so boring.
FugginBarstod 2 years ago 2
Garry Birtles! Ha ha...fantastically mediocre striker.
I think in the early 80s 25% of all footballers had to be called Garry, by law.
KaitainCPS 2 years ago 4
Excellent clip,thanks.
TheWillsy 2 years ago
The last match that Brian Moore commentated on was the England 5-1 Germany game.
january301973 2 years ago
No it wasn't - he actually died that day.
The last match he commentated on was the 1998 World Cup Final in Paris.
BelfastGav 2 years ago 15
Remains up there with Motty and Kenneth Wolstenholme as a footballing legend in his own right.
Sadly missed :-(
retroreds 2 years ago 2
I don't know but they look ACE for 1980! Nice guitar too. Just a shame it was spoiled by the bad news of Gary Birtles signing for United - bad for United that is.
wungabunga 2 years ago
@wungabunga Got worse when Peter Davenport went there!
nigvilla 1 year ago
Best theme ever - really fires me up for anything. Totally uplifting. Miss Brian Moore's commentary too. RIP Brian
Winstonwhip 3 years ago 2
fukin bril classic footy just how me dad remembered it! any one here heard of the old footy author Jack Rolin? aye he made the guinnes book of football hes got very old ones aswell his wife also writes em aswell bloody good they are if any one wants to know to get a book deliverd to em contact me!
yanksgridironcunts 3 years ago 2
I have met Jack Rolin, when i used to design and set the Programme for Aldershot Town in the late 90's
lingo75 3 years ago 3
The pictures come from Granada Television and Gerald Sinstadt is your commentator ...
admiralhanson 3 years ago 6
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Gay!
Chelsea1ManU0 3 years ago
here here, hope itv4 do show it again, loved watching the last run of it too
stvitv79 3 years ago
Used to love The Big Match. Great theme tune here. Why don't ITV repeat The Big Match Revisited? Great to hear and see Brian Moore again. Excellent commentator.
andrezang 3 years ago 3
What a legend Brian Moore was. R.I.P. Spot on that ITV should repeat The Big Match Revisited. Seeing this and all the old Match Of The Day on ESPN Classic makes you realise how good football was then.
Gare80 3 years ago 11
Apparently Big Match Revisited will be returning to ITV4 from January. I believe they'll be showing the 78/79 season. I enjoyed watching the last run of BMR, just shows how much the game has changed in 25 years.
steviegTVreturns 3 years ago 4
Great tune - loved it when I was a kid
The graphics are another thing however...
Cujo101 3 years ago
Marvellous music, but those opening titles were about as good as Garry Birtles was at Manchester United.
crazyclive 3 years ago
Brian moore r.i.p
allyplumb 3 years ago
The music is called "Jubilation" and was composed by Jeff Wayne. It was also used, around the same time, by BBC Scotland as the theme for their Reporting Scotland news programme.
StevieO1974 3 years ago
cool.......have u got the rest of this or any 70's versions?....thanks if u have.
keefybaby2007 3 years ago
This is from Saturday 4th October 1980.
RobinCarmody 3 years ago