Harbidge
Mar 26, 2002, 05:40 AM
Legendary football commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme has died aged 81.
Wolstenholme was most famous for uttering the words "they think it's all over, it is now" at the end of England's 1966 World Cup final win at Wembley.
BBC football correspondent Mike Ingham
But he was the "voice of football" for more than 20 years with the BBC.
He died on Monday at a private hospital in Torquay with his daughter by his side.
In all he commentated on 23 successive FA Cup finals and five World Cups before leaving the BBC after the 1970 World Cup to make way for David Coleman.
Wolstenholme was one of the pioneers of sports broadcasting, who ushered in a new era in football coverage when he became the first commentator on BBC's Match of the Day.
BBC football correspondent Mike Ingham paid tribute to Salford-born Wolstenholme.
"He was an inspiring character," said Ingham. "He was the voice of my youth who will always be associated with the 1966 World Cup final.
"But I will also always remember his coverage of the first ever Match of the Day and the great FA Cup and European finals."
Wolstenholme was a bomber pilot during the Second World War, flying more than 100 missions for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.
He joined the BBC in 1948 and claimed to have never watched a television programme before his first commentary, a Southern versus Northern counties football match.
In recent years Wolstenholme returned to TV commentary with Channel Four's Italian football coverage, though ill health eventually forced him to give that up.
His last television appearance was on a football special of the BBC's Weakest Link programme.
His passion for England's football team was clearly undiminished and he was optimistic about the chances of Sven-Goran Eriksson's side in Japan this summer.
But for Wolstenholme nothing could eclipse Sir Alf Ramsey's England team of 1966.
"It wasn't just a team," he used to say. "Alf Ramsey formed a football club in 1966. I have always felt privileged to be part of it."
------------------
Paul is Dead - The Conclusive Evidence (http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/paulisdead) - "The biggest and most informative website on the internet about the biggest rock 'n' roll conspiracy of the 20th century."
The Definitive Introducing the Beatles Authentification Guide (http://introducing.cjb.net) - "Fantastic site. One of a kind in this subject and a site that all collectors can refer too."
TVGhosts (http://tvghosts.cjb.net) - Exploring the fantastic phenomena known as TVGhosts. Faces that appear in turned off televisions in photographs.
Wolstenholme was most famous for uttering the words "they think it's all over, it is now" at the end of England's 1966 World Cup final win at Wembley.
BBC football correspondent Mike Ingham
But he was the "voice of football" for more than 20 years with the BBC.
He died on Monday at a private hospital in Torquay with his daughter by his side.
In all he commentated on 23 successive FA Cup finals and five World Cups before leaving the BBC after the 1970 World Cup to make way for David Coleman.
Wolstenholme was one of the pioneers of sports broadcasting, who ushered in a new era in football coverage when he became the first commentator on BBC's Match of the Day.
BBC football correspondent Mike Ingham paid tribute to Salford-born Wolstenholme.
"He was an inspiring character," said Ingham. "He was the voice of my youth who will always be associated with the 1966 World Cup final.
"But I will also always remember his coverage of the first ever Match of the Day and the great FA Cup and European finals."
Wolstenholme was a bomber pilot during the Second World War, flying more than 100 missions for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.
He joined the BBC in 1948 and claimed to have never watched a television programme before his first commentary, a Southern versus Northern counties football match.
In recent years Wolstenholme returned to TV commentary with Channel Four's Italian football coverage, though ill health eventually forced him to give that up.
His last television appearance was on a football special of the BBC's Weakest Link programme.
His passion for England's football team was clearly undiminished and he was optimistic about the chances of Sven-Goran Eriksson's side in Japan this summer.
But for Wolstenholme nothing could eclipse Sir Alf Ramsey's England team of 1966.
"It wasn't just a team," he used to say. "Alf Ramsey formed a football club in 1966. I have always felt privileged to be part of it."
------------------
Paul is Dead - The Conclusive Evidence (http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/paulisdead) - "The biggest and most informative website on the internet about the biggest rock 'n' roll conspiracy of the 20th century."
The Definitive Introducing the Beatles Authentification Guide (http://introducing.cjb.net) - "Fantastic site. One of a kind in this subject and a site that all collectors can refer too."
TVGhosts (http://tvghosts.cjb.net) - Exploring the fantastic phenomena known as TVGhosts. Faces that appear in turned off televisions in photographs.