Brian Moore (commentator)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Moore (February 28, 1932 - September 1, 2001) was a British sports commentator.
Moore was born in Gillingham, Kent and educated at the Cranbrook School, Kent and began his career in newspapers, working for The Exchange Telegraph and The Times. He started broadcasting with the BBC in 1961 and became a commentator, and the Corporation's first football correspondent, in 1963. He was behind the mic for BBC Radio when England won the World Cup in 1966 and also covered the FA Cup Final from 1964 to 1967, and European Cup Winners' Cup victories for Tottenham Hotspur (1963) and West Ham United (1965), and Celtic's European Cup triumph in 1967.
Shortly after that Moore moved to London Weekend Television, which was building up to its launch on the ITV network in 1968. Enticed across by head of sport Jimmy Hill, Moore would become synonymous with ITV Sport over the next three decades. Although ITV had covered League football before, the launch of The Big Match in 1968 began to garner the network a reputation as a respected alternative to the BBC.
Moore's first big ratings success came in 1970 as he chaired ITV's highly innovative World Cup coverage. Although a panel of football experts was not entirely new, Moore and Hill presided over a month of football debate - and glorious action - that bristled with controversy and charisma. Malcolm Allison, Derek Dougan, Pat Crerand and Bob McNab were dubbed the "Midnight Cowboys" by the press, due to the late night kick-offs and viewers deserted the BBC in droves, the only time ITV have beaten the BBC when the two have gone head to head with the same live event. It set the standard for all TV football panels of the future.
Although he'll primarily be remembered as a commentator, Moore presented a number of flagship ITV Sport shows including Saturday lunchtime preview On The Ball and Midweek Sports Special. After flirting with a return to the BBC (he admitted to being tempted by the Corporation's offer that he could also commentate on cricket, which he loved) in the late 1970s he was also offered a six-part documentary series Brian Moore Meets... which featured the likes of Kevin Keegan, Niki Lauda and Björn Borg.
In his prime as a commentator Moore produced many magic moments. Perhaps his most quotable line was the famous "it's up for grabs now!" during the dramatic League decider between Liverpool and Arsenal in 1989. His greatest gaffe was telling millions as Nottingham Forest captain John McGovern lifted the trophy that Hamburg had won the European Cup in 1980.
During thirty years at ITV, Moore commentated on European triumphs by Arsenal, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United, Everton and Aberdeen. He also covered the FA Cup Final on ITV every year from 1969 to 1988 and again in 1998. Brian was also at the mic at four European Championships between 1980 and 1996 - missing 1984 due to England's absence.
Strangely he was not always at the heart of the action at the World Cup, working solely as presenter in 1970, 1974, 1978 and 1982. In 1986 he presented the coverage from London for most of the tournament, before flying out to commentate on the final. From 1990 to 1998 he commentated throughout the tournament, including the infamous England vs Argentina second round match where the world saw David Beckham sent off for flicking a leg at Diego Simeone. Michael Owen also scored a wonderful solo goal in that match to equalise.
He retired as a commentator in 1998 after describing France's World Cup final victory on home turf against Brazil, but he continued to broadcast, presenting an interview programme for Sky Sports in 1999, and hosting programmes for BBC Radio Five Live and TalkSport.
Moore married his wife Betty in 1955.
He was also a supporter of Gillingham FC, and was a director at the club for many years. As a consequence he was the most popular choice to have a new stand at the club's Priestfield Stadium named after him. A fanzine devoted to the club is also named in honour of Moore, called Brian Moore's Head Looks Uncannily Like London Planetarium, a line from 'Dickie Davies' Eyes' by the cult indie band Half Man Half Biscuit.
He died on the same day that England beat Germany 5-1 in Munich.
