The BBC has marked the end of an era by discontinuing its classified football results service on Radio 5 live.
Results have been read out on Sports Report, the world’s longest-running sports radio programme, on Saturday evenings since the early 1950s. First presented by John Webster, James Alexander Gordon took over in 1974 and went on to become one of the most recognisable voices in British broadcasting – distinctively altering his tone of voice to indicate a home win, an away win or a draw – before passing the torch to Charlotte Green in 2013.
While Sports Report began in 1948, the classified results were not included in the first running order and only started several years later. They soon became a staple for football fans across the country, however, and will for ever be associated with the programme’s famous theme tune, Hubert Bath’s Out of the Blue.
Unsurprisingly, given its iconic status, the loss of the classified results service has been widely mourned. “Can’t believe the BBC have dropped the Reading of the Classified results on Sports Report,” tweeted Mark Lawrenson, the former Liverpool defender and longtime BBC pundit. “Talk about an OG..!! WTF”.
Before the smartphone era, fans returning home from 3pm kick-offs would first find out about results elsewhere by rushing back to the car and tuning in to Sports Report. Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme, it was aired on BBC Radio 2 from 1970 until 1990 before switching to BBC Radio 5 in 1990 and, finally, in 1994, BBC Radio 5 live.
Explaining the decision to ditch the classified results service, a BBC statement said: “With the addition of the 5.30pm live Premier League match to our coverage, Sports Report has been condensed into a shorter programme.
“We will still offer a comprehensive goal service throughout the day on air and on the BBC Sport website as well as Final Score on BBC One. We would like to thank everyone who has read the classified football results on 5 live over the years.”
