Episodes list
Match of the Day begins on 22 August 1964, for coverage of Liverpool versus Arsenal. Kenneth Wolstenholme opens the programme with the words: "Welcome to Match of the Day, the first of a weekly series coming to you every Saturday on BBC TWO. As you can hear we're in Beatleville for this Liverpool versus Arsenal match." The programme began on BBC TWO where it remained until 1966.
Air day
22/8/1964
Season
1
Episodes
37
Vote average
0
Despite attempts by some clubs to prevent its return due to fear over ticket sales, Match of the Day returned to the BBC in October 1965 two months after the start of the new season.
The duration of each programme had been reduced to 45 minutes in length and it could no longer be broadcast before 10.00pm.
Air day
2/10/1965
Season
2
Episodes
33
Vote average
0
In the year that saw England win the World Cup, Match of the Day moves to BBC ONE.
Air day
20/8/1966
Season
3
Episodes
40
Vote average
0
Once again, protracted negotiations during the summer ensured the return of the show. In order to secure the deal the BBC had to agree to broadcast five matches from Division Two and two from Divisions Three or Four as well as the 23 Division One games that they wanted.
Air day
5/8/1967
Season
4
Episodes
42
Vote average
0
Grandstand presenter David Coleman begins regularly presenting Match of the Day.
Air day
3/8/1968
Season
5
Episodes
38
Vote average
0
From 1969, the programme becomes live and studio based, rather than being pre-recorded at the ground of the featured match, and there were now two games seen each week.
Air day
2/8/1969
Season
6
Episodes
40
Vote average
0
1970 saw the introduction of the Goal of the Month competition, which led to thousands of postcards being sent to the BBC.
Air day
8/8/1970
Season
7
Episodes
43
Vote average
0
John Motson makes his debut as a Match of the Day commentator.
Air day
31/7/1971
Season
8
Episodes
43
Vote average
0
The current contractual agreement meant that Match of the Day had to lead with a Division Two fixture, and twice with a match from Division Three.
Air day
29/7/1972
Season
9
Episodes
43
Vote average
0
Match of the Day appoints Jimmy Hill as the new presenter, after signing him from LWT. He was the first to both present the programme and offer expert analysis.
Air day
11/8/1973
Season
10
Episodes
42
Vote average
0
Match of the Day signs a new three-year contract with the Football League.
Air day
10/8/1974
Season
11
Episodes
43
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
9/8/1975
Season
12
Episodes
43
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
14/8/1976
Season
13
Episodes
43
Vote average
0
Match of the Day celebrates its 500th edition, marked with a special Radio Times cover and a new set of opening titles with hundreds of school children holding up cards that depicted Jimmy Hill's face and the Match of the Day logo.
Air day
13/8/1977
Season
14
Episodes
41
Vote average
0
In November ITV signed a secret three year deal with the Football League to show edited highlights on Saturday nights instead of Sundays in an attempt to break away from the joint negotiating strategy and replace Match of the Day.
A ruling by the Office of Fair Trading prevented ITV's exclusive contract being signed but a compromise was reached.
For the duration of the next four year contract it was agreed that the BBC and ITV would have to alternate their programme coverage with Match of the Day switching to Sunday afternoons for the 1980-81 and 1982-83 seasons.
Air day
19/8/1978
Season
15
Episodes
41
Vote average
0
For the first time Match of the Day was allowed to screen additional games, and on 13 weekends there were highlights from three different matches.
Air day
11/8/1979
Season
16
Episodes
46
Vote average
0
After 16 seasons in the Saturday night slot, Match of the Day moved to Sunday afternoons.
Air day
17/8/1980
Season
17
Episodes
40
Vote average
0
The programme returned to Saturday nights. Only two games were allowed to be shown per show.
Air day
22/8/1981
Season
18
Episodes
42
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
29/8/1982
Season
19
Episodes
37
Vote average
0
Match of the Day was back on Saturday nights as a highlights show but was supplemented by live matches on Friday evenings. The BBC and ITV had been allocated seven games each with the commercial channel choosing to broadcast theirs on Sunday afternoons. This was a radical change in strategy by all involved as prior to this new two year contract the only regular live domestic football had been the FA Cup Final, England against Scotland and the European Cup Final. Match of the Day was cancelled from 15 October to 19 November due to strike action at the BBC.
Air day
20/8/1983
Season
20
Episodes
37
Vote average
0
The show celebrated its 20th anniversary and matches were still being broadcast on Fridays. Most other sports were now seen live on television so the production team wanted to continue the football experiment as well. Jonathan Martin, the Head of Sport at the time, recalled that the experiment was disappointing: "We only got six or seven million viewers on a Friday night which was poor for the slot so we moved to Sundays in the following year." This was to be the last time that Match of the Day contained weekly League highlights until the beginning of the 1992-93 season.
Air day
25/8/1984
Season
21
Episodes
39
Vote average
0
In 1985 the television rights came up for renegotiation and BBC and ITV offered £16m for four years. This was in return for 19 live games plus weekend highlights. The Football League met on Valentine's Day and rejected it. Football was, however, in a weak negotiating position as the game was rife with hooliganism and the two sides became deadlocked. The result was a total black-out for the first part of the season which annoyed fans and concerned the sponsors. The Football League finally backed down and agreed a deal that gave them less money per game than before on a short term two and a half year contract. The remaining six months was worth £1.3m with a two year £6.2m extension confirmed in June. The supporters were delighted and Match of the Day resumed in January. It concentrated mainly on FA Cup highlights and the occasional live League match on a Sunday.
Air day
10/8/1985
Season
22
Episodes
14
Vote average
0
With highlights out of fashion there were only 14 editions of Match of the Day all season and the only League action came in the seven live games on Sunday afternoons.
Air day
21/9/1986
Season
23
Episodes
14
Vote average
0
The focus was still on the big clubs and the shows were very irregular. They followed the same format as the previous year with a mixture of live League games on Sunday afternoons and highlights shows for the FA Cup. This was also Jimmy Hill's final season as presenter after a record 15 years in charge of the show.
Air day
29/8/1987
Season
24
Episodes
19
Vote average
0
Match of the Day celebrated its 25th anniversary and had to cope with the fact that, for the first time since its inception in 1964, it couldn't broadcast any League football. Instead, the team settled into the four year contract with the intention of breathing new life into the FA Cup. With the new contract came a totally revamped show.
Air day
20/8/1988
Season
25
Episodes
13
Vote average
0
Des Lynam continued to present the show, joined by Jimmy Hill and Terry Venables as regular pundits.
Air day
12/8/1989
Season
26
Episodes
16
Vote average
0
In the third season of the new contract there were 20 editions of Match of the Day but they were still restricted to covering FA Cup matches.
Air day
18/8/1990
Season
27
Episodes
21
Vote average
0
After several years of speculation it was announced in February that a new, breakaway FA Premier League was going to be formed. ITV were expected to win the TV rights but the BBC and BSkyB combined to place a counter bid and had strong influence within the new organisation. In May 1992 the rights were decided and each club had one vote. BSkyB were awarded live matches on Sundays and Mondays and the BBC gained the Saturday night highlights as part of a five year deal. The two companies also joined forces to sign a new five year deal to cover FA Cup and International matches. ITV would be covering the Football League and the League Cup.
Air day
10/8/1991
Season
28
Episodes
22
Vote average
0
With the new season came a new Premier League, a new contract and a new show, fronted by Des Lynam. Des was joined by new regular pundits, Alan Hansen and Trevor Brooking, and the show reverted to the classic format of extended highlights from three main games. Now, however, as well as all the extra analysis, viewers were also able to see the goals from all the other matches as well.
Air day
15/8/1992
Season
29
Episodes
46
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
7/8/1993
Season
30
Episodes
50
Vote average
0
Match of the Day celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Air day
14/8/1994
Season
31
Episodes
53
Vote average
0
When Alex Ferguson's side were discussed on Match of the Day on the opening day of the season Des remarked that "United were scarcely recognizable from the team we've known over the past couple of seasons, what's going on do you feel?" Alan Hansen famously replied: "You can't win anything with kids... he's got to buy players, it's as simple as that."
Air day
13/8/1995
Season
32
Episodes
53
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
11/8/1996
Season
33
Episodes
53
Vote average
0
A new four year deal secured Premier League highlights on the BBC. Mark Lawrenson joined Trevor Brooking and Alan Hansen as a regular pundit during the second half of the season.
Air day
9/8/1997
Season
34
Episodes
71
Vote average
0
Des Lynam presented 36 of the 45 League and Cup programmes plus eight more UEFA Cup shows. Gary Lineker also fronted five editions with Ray Stubbs hosting the remaining four.
Air day
15/8/1998
Season
35
Episodes
55
Vote average
0
Before the season began, on 2 August, Des Lynam resigned from the BBC and moved to ITV to become their main football presenter. Gary Lineker took over as the main presenter for the show.
Air day
7/8/1999
Season
36
Episodes
90
Vote average
0
ITV won back the Premier League highlights as part of a three year deal. They also obtained Nationwide League rights whilst the BBC regained the FA Cup and England games. It was a major blow to the BBC, but Match of the Day continued to show live FA Cup and European games.
Air day
19/8/2000
Season
37
Episodes
57
Vote average
0
With Saturday night highlights now being shown on ITV's The Premiership, Match of the Day reverted to covering live FA Cup and England matches as well as some UEFA Cup games.
Air day
12/8/2001
Season
38
Episodes
93
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
11/8/2002
Season
39
Episodes
51
Vote average
0
In August 2003, it is announced that the BBC has won back the right to show Premiership highlights from 2004, for three years.
Air day
10/8/2003
Season
40
Episodes
113
Vote average
0
Match of the Day returns to the BBC for the new season, as part of a new football package on the BBC.
Air day
8/8/2004
Season
41
Episodes
81
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
7/8/2005
Season
42
Episodes
136
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
13/8/2006
Season
43
Episodes
82
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
5/8/2007
Season
44
Episodes
72
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
16/8/2008
Season
45
Episodes
59
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
8/8/2009
Season
46
Episodes
132
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
7/8/2010
Season
47
Episodes
63
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
7/8/2011
Season
48
Episodes
93
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
18/8/2012
Season
49
Episodes
83
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
14/8/2013
Season
50
Episodes
108
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
10/8/2014
Season
51
Episodes
41
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
2/8/2015
Season
52
Episodes
74
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
7/8/2016
Season
53
Episodes
46
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
6/8/2017
Season
54
Episodes
45
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
5/8/2018
Season
55
Episodes
48
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
4/8/2019
Season
56
Episodes
50
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
29/8/2020
Season
57
Episodes
59
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
14/8/2021
Season
58
Episodes
48
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
6/8/2022
Season
59
Episodes
44
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
12/8/2023
Season
60
Episodes
46
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
17/8/2024
Season
61
Episodes
40
Vote average
0
BBC's football highlights and analysis.
"The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
Air day
16/8/2025
Season
62
Episodes
75
Vote average
10
Season
(Match of the Day)
Overview: BBC's football highlights and analysis. "The longest-running football television programme in the world" as recognised by Guinness World Records in 2015.
- Countries:
United Kingdom
- Genres:
Talk,
News
- Networks:
BBC One,
BBC Two
- Year:
1964
- Production companies:
BBC Sport
- Actors:
- Crews:
Content ⇀