Kenneth Wolstenholme

Kenneth Wolstenholme DFC & Bar (July 17, 1920 - March 25, 2002) was the football commentator for BBC television in the 1950s and 1960s, responsible, during the closing moments of the 1966 World Cup final, for the sport's most famous commentary phrase.

Early life

Wolstenholme was born in Worsley, Lancashire, on July 17, 1920. He attended Farnworth Grammar School, where Alan Ball, Jr. on whom Wolstenholme commentated in the 1966 World Cup Final was also a pupil some years later.

World War II

Wolstenholme started his career as a journalist with a newspaper in Manchester, before joining the RAF as a bomber pilot who flew 100 missions over Germany and won the DFC and bar.

Career

After the war, he became a freelance journalist, working for BBC radio before moving to television in 1948.

While most sports commentators gain some recognition if their career is long enough, Wolstenholme is almost entirely remembered for his commentary of the 1966 Football World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, specifically the words he used as the match came to a conclusion during injury time, as a small pitch invasion took place just as Geoff Hurst scored to put England 4-2 ahead:

"'Some people are on the pitch ... they think it's all over ... it is now!'"

These have become arguably the most famous words in English football, and a well known phrase in modern English. Wolstenholme always said that it was just a natural verbal piecing together of the situation before him and it took years before he realised just how well it fitted.

Wolstenholme commentated on English domestic football's most famous games of the 1950s and 1960s, including the first ever game featured on "Match of the Day" in 1964. He covered every FA Cup final between 1949 and 1971 (the year of Arsenal's "double"). He was the BBC presence at Wembley as Manchester United defeated Benfica to capture the 1968 European Cup and also the BBC's main man at the 1970 World Cup, commentating with panache on the final between Brazil and Italy.

He left the corporation in 1971 after David Coleman was installed as the BBC's top commentator, his final BBC commentary being on the 1971 European Cup final between Ajax Amsterdam and Panathinaikos at Wembley Stadium.

Wolstenholme later commentated for Tyne Tees Television in the mid to late 1970s. After this, he went into semi-retirement, but re-appeared on TV to provide reports and occasional features for Channel 4 when they earned rights in the early 1990s to show Serie A games from Italy. He also took on an acting role, appearing in the BBC Radio 4 comedy series "Lenin of the Rovers" as football commentator Frank Lee Brian.

Legacy

His most famous phrase was used as the title for the sports quiz programme "They Think It's All Over", on which he once appeared as a guest.

Bill Oddie wrote a song about Wolstenholme for the BBC radio comedy show "I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again" which includes the lines: "I'm going Wolsten-home/And you can't get Wolsten "(worse than)" him!"

Quotations

"And here comes Hurst, he's got... (notices invaders) ...some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over! (Hurst shoots and scores) ...It is now! "

"Oh, that was sheer delightful football!"" - after Carlos Alberto's memorable fourth goal for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final

"There's the man who's really fighting for his Cup medal - can he score the winning goal now?"" - on Stanley Matthews, seconds before the veteran winger set up the winner in the 1953 FA Cup final

"And a great tackle, almost on the line!"" - ironic quote after a policeman grabbed pitch invader Eddie Kavanagh and forced him to the turf at Wembley during the 1966 FA Cup final

"Yes, yes, yes - no! The linesman says no! The linesman says no... It's a goal! It's a goal! Oh, and the Germans go mad at the referee! This linesman, at the linesman, who can only speak Russian and Turkish... "" - describing the immediate debate as to whether Geoff Hurst's shot had crossed the line or not in the 1966 World Cup final

"Are we going to see a dramatic ending? Yes we are!"" - seconds before and after Ronnie Boyce scored a last-minute winner for West Ham United in the 1964 FA Cup final.

"A Bobby Charlton goal is always one of the most popular sights at Old Trafford, Manchester"" - summarising after Charlton had scored for Manchester United during a League game in 1969.

"That was a goal good enough to win the league, the cup, the Charity Shield, the World Cup and even the Grand National!"" - after another Bobby Charlton goal, this time in the 1967 Charity Shield.

"Best... oh he's got a great chance! Oh he must...! He has!"" - describing the action in the 1968 European Cup Final, as George Best puts Manchester United 2-1 up.

"And the Liverpool fans are all saying "If only he'd done it two minutes ago!"" - assessing the reaction of Liverpool supporters after Steve Heighway scored two minutes into the extra-time period during the 1971 FA Cup final

"It's only twelve inches high, solid gold, and it means that England are the world champions!"" - describing the scene as Bobby Moore collected the Jules Rimet trophy from the Queen and showing it to the Wembley crowd after England's World Cup win

"Oh, what... what genius!"" - after Pelé audaciously dummies Uruguayan goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkiewicz in the 1970 World Cup semi-final.

Bolton Wanderers

Kenneth was a boyhood supporter of Bolton Wanderers and was present as a guest for the final game at Burnden Park in April 1997. As an encore at the club's former home he re-created those words which had made him famous some 31 years earlier only using words which encorporated a Bolton theme.

He also narrated the clubs "End of an Era" video which was released as part of Bolton's move from Burnden Park to the Reebok Stadium.

ee also

*Football World Cup 1966
*They Think It's All Over