Below is running on Guardian website - and with that joker probably doing the Channel 5 coverage tonight, it prompted the thought - who is your fave football commentator of all time? Apologies if it's been asked before.

I'd go for Bazza Davies, who expresses his passion for the game and isn't afraid to offer up an honest opinion. And does anyone remember the Tyne Tees guy who used to do Shoot! in the sixties - George Taylor? Seem to remember the camera position was in a corner of the Gallowgate and George used to add a later "voice over" to alert sleepy lads just back from their Sunday gallon that a goal was about to be scored - or is my memory playing tricks?

Guardian:

"ITV is considering legal action against the football magazine Four Four Two after it printed a letter criticising the BBC football commentator, John Motson, from a correspondent who signed off as "Brian Barwick, London".

An ITV spokesman said the letter, which included several disparaging remarks about Motson's abilities as a commentator, had "absolutely, totally" not been written by the ITV controller of sport.

"We have contacted Four Four Two to point this out," he added. "The matter is now in the hands of our lawyers."

The letter was placed prominently beneath a leader by the magazine's editor. It denounced the BBC commentator's abilities, claiming he was inarticulate and unobservant.

"Brian is a former colleague of John's at the BBC and worked with him for many years," the ITV spokesman said. "He's a very big admirer of his and a very, very good friend."

Four Four Two's editor, Mat Snow, said he thought he had been the victim of a hoax. Mr Snow said he had not known who Mr Barwick was when the letter was published.

"We've been hoaxed, presumably by someone in TV land with an axe to grind," he added. "I have apologised to him over the phone and we will also be carrying an apology in the next issue."

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

Answers

Alan Partridge

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

The Editor of 442 doesn't know who the ITV controller of Sport is?

Deserves everything they get then. And 442 is published by Haymarket Publications which is owned by.......

...Michael Heseltine.

Sue!

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

Joint favorites Andrew Gray and Johnathon (fat boy) Pearce. They'd make a canny double act.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

David Coleman.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

Wonder what Coleman makes of Jonathan Pearce?

Forever grateful to Coleman. My dad said the Sportsnight highlights of the Fairs Cup Final first home leg v Ujpest Dosza were on too late. Then Colemanballs comes on the telly and urges parents not to send their kids to bed, but instead let them watch a great match.

3-0. Thanks David - and Bobby Moncur.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

Brian Moore - never has anyone been such an all round twat on the telly. Pompous, self-righteous, oh-so-knowledgable...f**king get! He ruined every single FA Cup final he's commentated on. Didn't he also put KK on the spot about Batty's missed penalty? "Will he put it away, quickly - yes or no?"

Guess this is more anti-hero, but what a tosser...

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

barry davies, total wa%$&er

hates us, loves chelsea

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

I tend to be indifferent to all of them - no dislikes - and not a great fan of any. The funniest I ever heard was Cliff Michelmore way back in the early days of MotD circa the 12th century early 60's. It was the 3rd round of the cup and it seemed as if it was "all hands on deck" in those days as the BBC roped in everybody who knew one end of a microphone from the other (and some who apparently didn't!) to cover as many matches as it could.

The erstwhile presenter of Nationwide (an early evening magazine program - not the Football League sponsors) was clueless. To make matters worse the match was played in a thick fog. So all you could see on your fuzzy black and white screen was a swirling grey mass with possibly the odd shadowy figure drifting into view every once in a while. Valiantly the BBC man struggled to cope. "And it's oh - to oooh - and he's - no - it's a goal! I think it's a goal. I don't know who scored". (Which team would have been nice!)

Quite embarrassed for him at the time. A valiant effort by a man whose claim to fame up till then was "Family Favourites" reading out requests for records from radio listeners.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

Hoy min why are you shouting for my missus?

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

So does no-one remember George Taylor? Is there a website / shrine I can consult?

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

Yeh, I remember George Taylor benton. Bloody mackem sympathiser who always claimed to be a Mag. Tosser!

ps: truly dreadful commentator also.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

..and wot about the corner camera position and "voice over"?

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

PS. clarky , I am all depressed now. Bollix, somethings should remain the way they were. The price of progress is steep if you're reluctant to make the emotional sacrifice.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

I've half an idea that George Taylor works for the Toon as "Player's Liason" or some such thing. A character bearing that name was on the team photo last year or year before. Anyone confirm this?

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2001

Macbeth may agree on this one but Alien Heed Archie McPherson in my opinion is the w.w.w. of the commentating stakes, The game can be up to 10 mins gone before he is into it , still previewing the sides. His biggest cop out is the raising of the octaves and elongating the lyrics in exiting passages of play, it sounds like he is on the ball but in reality by doing this he can be heard as going two ways.

Hard to explain , do my best , Klos rolls it out to Numan, (Normal voice), Nice one two Numan and Nerlinger , Numan finds McCann wide left, (voice quickens), Cannegia makes a run, cross from Mcann (higher Flo attttttttttaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggggg the baaaaaallll fails to connect(voice lower), goal kick to Celtic(normal, I just canna stand the man, oh for a Bill McLaren of football out there.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001

Perhaps you do him an injustice Buff. Mebbes his undies are a bit too tight. Gotta agree 'boot Bill Mc tho. Best ever comentator.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001

"And it's a huge Gary Owen, that one's going to have snow on it when it comes down."

"There's the Western Samoan tight-head. Oldest of 8 boys and obviously first in the queue for breakfast."

A god. Tells you what's happening, not what he thinks is going to happen. Never names the intended recipient of a pass, only who actually gets the bloody thing. A man in control who understands and loves the game he's describing.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001