Barry Davies to return to football commentary!

With Jon Champion contracted to cover the rugby world cup on ITV, Absolute Radio needed somebody to cover for their live Saturday 3.00pm kick-offs, and against all expectations they've announced that a few weeks before his 78th birthday the legendary Barry Davies will be returning to the microphone for the next three weeks!

Some of you will be too young to remember him, but for those of us who grew up in that era Barry and Motty were the BBC's voices of football for a generation. Barry retired from MOTD in 2004 after 35 years although he made a guest reappearence on the 60th anniversary programme last year.

He debuts with Swansea v Everton this Saturday afternoon.

Absolute is on 1215 kHz AM (105.8 FM in London/SE only), Freeview 727, Freesat 724, Sky 0107, Virgin 915

^ His finest hour imho is still the 43rd World Staring Championships for the comedy "Big Train".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkI85Kt10e4

I like Barry Davies - he's always been a good and fair commentator however having heard him commentate on Channel 4's The Jump programme it seemed like age is catching up on his voice and was rather strained. I hope he can manage a full match commentary.

(15-09-2015 14:21 )biggles Wrote:  I hope he can manage a full match commentary.

He managed to do some three-hour plus matches at Wimbledon this summer without any problem!

I know what you mean, though, the voice is starting to show its age, but even a 50% fit Davies could still wipe the floor with most of today's squawk-merchants.

John Motson made a rare appearance on MOTD last Saturday night and even though he's now 70 himself and not the force of old he was head and shoulders above the rest.

(14-09-2015 18:28 )M-L-L Wrote:  ^ His finest hour imho is still the 43rd World Staring Championships for the comedy "Big Train".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkI85Kt10e4

would love to see big train return along with the World Stare - out championships!!

Barry was probably a touch more my favourite MOTD commentator as he wasn't as big on stats as Motty was back then...

(15-09-2015 14:21 )biggles Wrote:  I like Barry Davies - he's always been a good and fair commentator however having heard him commentate on Channel 4's The Jump programme it seemed like age is catching up on his voice and was rather strained. I hope he can manage a full match commentary.

Not only that he has also cover both the Summer & Winter Olympic opening/Closing ceremonies as well over the last few years years, as well as the skating....surprised he wasn't be part of the BBC's Davis Cup commentary team, if we reach the final, would they consider him for it?

I thought he was dead lol. Glad he isn't, obviously. Although, he will die some day, of course. We all will. No matter how rich, famous or successful you are, you are on an inexorable march toward oblivion.

(15-09-2015 14:21 )biggles Wrote:  ....surprised he wasn't be part of the BBC's Davis Cup commentary team, if we reach the final, would they consider him for it?

10-15 years ago without a doubt as he was doing the major finals in those days (as late as 2012 he did the Men's Singles Final at Wimbledon for the opt-out "3-D" coverage) but now he has been relegated to the outer courts and IIRC only got one match on Court One at this year's tournament.

As for yesterday, it wasn't brilliant but it was ok. The voice is getting frail and despite being in his 53rd year at the microphone he sounded a bit nervous at first. He also had problems with player recognition but considering how long he's been out of the loop that's probably to be expected and at times clearly had to remind himself that he was doing a radio, not TV commentary.

It wasn't helped that Barry has always been a "the better the match, the better the commentary" type and it wasn't a particularly inspiring game, but during the few moments of excitement that there were the old Barry shone through and his analysis and reading of the game were as sharp as ever.

I've got to say well done to co-commentator Perry Groves who carried a lot of the workload and showed what a good co-comm he can be when he puts his mind to it. I've listened to Absolute in the past and listening to Champion and Groves' puerile attempts at being a comedy double act has always infuriated me, but Groves was on his best behaviour and (like most of the Absolute team) clearly in awe at being in the presence of greatness.

Next week Barry's doing Liverpool - Villa so let's hope it's a six-all draw!