Famous faces return to Sportscene to celebrate iconic football show’s 50th anniversary

BBC Scotland will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sportscene with a special edition featuring famous presenters and commentators from down the decades.

Dougie Donnelly will be back in the Sportscene presenter’s chair on Saturday 9 August while Archie Macpherson, Rob Maclean and Jock Brown will be on commentary duties around the grounds.

Veteran commentator and presenter Archie Macpherson - who appeared on the inaugural Sportscene in 1975 - will be providing commentary at the St.Mirren v Motherwell match and Jock Brown, who was a commentator on the show in the 1990s, will be behind the microphone for the Livingston v Falkirk match. Rob Maclean, who has had two spells with the programme as commentator and presenter covering a total of more than 25 years, will be commentating on the Rangers v Dundee game.

Dougie, who’s a Sportscene veteran of 32 years, will be joined in the studio by current presenter Steven Thompson who’ll be providing analysis of the day’s action along with Gordon Smith, another well-known face from the programme’s past and returns as a pundit for this special edition.

The programme will also feature archive footage stretching back to the black and white television era and recollections of Sportscene highlights from the seasoned broadcasters.

The Sportscene veterans reflected on their highlights and the programme’s significance as they looked forward to the anniversary show.

Dougie said: ‘It was a great time for Scottish football and the Saturday night sports programme was absolutely required viewing.

‘I did 33 consecutive Scottish Cup Finals – what a privilege to have been in the hot seat for so many of the big occasions, including all the World Cups and everything else. I was hugely lucky and very much appreciate that.

‘I’m looking forward to going back on the show. Fortunately, I’m still working in broadcasting, so it’s not going to be as intimidating as it might have been. It’s live TV, what I’ve done my whole career, and it’ll be fantastic to go back again and talk about Scottish football.

‘I look forward to seeing the reaction from the Scottish footballing public.’

Rob Maclean had his first spell as presenter and commentator from 1990 to 2004, returned in 2009 and still works for Sportscene as a freelance.

He said: ‘It’s an iconic football show that has long been part of the vocabulary of our national game. It’s something I would have never contemplated as a youngster being involved in, having watched it. I feel privileged and honoured to be part of the Sportscene story.

‘It’s difficult to pick out a highlight because there have been so many, but one of the most memorable moments was being the tv commentator for Scotland against Brazil on the opening day of the 1998 World Cup in France.

‘It was a ‘pinch me’ moment to be part of that occasion – while trying not to think about how massive the audience was. And of course, for a spell Scotland were level with Brazil – we dreamed at that point that we might beat the World Champions.’

Jock Brown, who was with Sportscene for seven years from 1990, said: ‘I was absolutely delighted to have been on the show. I go back a long time – having started on BBC Radio Scotland in 1977 – and I was in and around the Sportscene studio back then. I knew that was the place to be.

‘During my time on Sportscene I did live commentary for the Cup Finals, internationals, and European club matches. Sadly, I didn’t do a World Cup tournament for the Beeb because we didn’t qualify in 1994.

‘The big stand out game for me was the first Cup Final, because it was probably one of the best Cup Finals there had ever been. Motherwell 4 Dundee United 3 after extra time and the teams were managed by the McLean brothers – both of whom I knew very well! The game was an absolute cracker.

‘I’ve done a lot of broadcasting since leaving Sportscene and I’m really looking forward to going back on the show. It’ll be good fun. It’s an iconic programme that has a big place in the story of sports broadcasting in Scotland.’

Prior to his 15 years with Sportscene, Archie Macpherson had spent 13 years on another BBC Scotland show which had paved the way – Sportsreel.

He said: ‘I started in 1962 with Sportsreel – on Black Saturday, the weekend of the Cuban missile crisis. My first report was Hamilton against Stenhousemuir at a time when the world was worried about nuclear warfare.

‘Programmes rely on the events they cover – and I was lucky enough to cover a succession of World Cups for Sportscene. They gave the programme a great status in the public eye.

‘The World Cup provided one of my career highlights – Archie Gemmill’s goal in Mendoza. It was a stand–out for me, and of course it went on to be featured in Trainspotting – although I had to record another commentary for the film because the sound quality of the original wasn’t strong enough.

‘I’m very grateful for this opportunity to go back on the show. It’s quite a gesture after all this time away from commentating on Sportscene.’

Tom Connor, Executive Editor, Sport, BBC Scotland, said: ‘We’re delighted that these Sportscene legends have agreed to come back and celebrate this milestone with the programme team and our audience.

‘Sportscene has been a cornerstone of broadcasting in Scotland since it kicked off fifty years ago, keeping its place as a fans’ favourite during a period of remarkable change in the game.

‘I’m sure our audience will enjoy the return of Dougie, Archie, Jock and Rob to the Saturday Sportscene team for this anniversary special.’

JG2

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