Seasons & episodes
S8 · E1Match of the Day: The Watney Cup 1971-07-31 · 80 min
Match of the Day kicks off with The Watney Cup. Two-match action from the opening round of the Watney Cup. Eight of the highest-scoring teams from the four Divisions of the Football League - Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, Carlisle, Luton Town, Halifax Town, Wrexham, Colchester United and Crewe Alexandra meet in an intriguing pre-season knock-out competition. Barry Davies and Alan Weeks are the commentators at two of today's matches. Halifax Town v Manchester United Colchester United v Luton Town David Coleman introduces news, views, analysis from the tournament which experiments with the controversial off-side law.
S8 · E2Match of the Day: The Watney Cup Final 1971-08-07 · 80 min
Match of the Day features The Watney Cup Final. West Bromwich Albion v Colchester United Action from the final stage of football's pre-season knock-out tournament which has involved the highest-scoring teams from the four divisions of the Football League. Last year's final produced five goals when Derby County defeated Manchester United 4-1.
S8 · E314th August 1971 1971-08-14 · 80 min
Features First Division two-match action to kick off the 1971-72 Football League season. Arsenal v Chelsea Liverpool v Nottingham Forest Action, analysis, interviews and the news which matters on Day One of the Football League season. A season which begins with 12 new managers appointed to league sides in midsummer. Already hundreds of friendly matches and the Watney Cup competition have taken place, but the battle for honours in the four divisions begins today. Will Leeds strike lucky in the First Division this season? What are the pressures on League champions and Cup holders Arsenal? Can Burnley return after one season only in the Second Division? Do Aston Villa fans need more than Third Division football? Many of the answers will be found on Saturdays and shown on Match of the Day.
S8 · E421st August 1971 1971-08-21 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action, presents the Saturday news which matters and talks to the personality player of the day. Birmingham City v Carlisle United Burnley v Luton Town All goals scored in these two matches will be considered for the 'Goal of the Month' competition, the national Saturday-night pastime which attracted a regular 60,000 monthly entry and a final entry of 178,000 for the 'Goal of the Season.'
S8 · E528th August 1971 1971-08-28 · 80 min
Featuring action from two famous Football League grounds in the First Division. Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur Derby County v Southampton David Coleman introduces action, analysis, news and the ' Goal of the Month' competition. The first month's goal parade will include the five Watney Cup matches. Last season the climax to the monthly goal season awards came on Cup Final day when the goal of the season was selected. Mrs Margaret Tumelty from Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, won the £300-worth of Premium Bonds with her 1-2-3 winning selection. There was a postcard entry of 178,000 for this competition final.
S8 · E64th September 1971 1971-09-04 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces one hour of soccer action, news and analysis from the Saturday football programme. Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool Swindon Town v Queens Park Rangers Who will be the first winner in season 1971-72 of the popular 'Goal of the Month' competition?
S8 · E711th September 1971 1971-09-11 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces action, analysis, news and views after one of the most remarkable opening months to any domestic soccer season. Hundreds of players have been 'booked' by referees following new, strict instructions from the governing bodies of the game to clean up match play. Match of the Day action so far has emphasised that more discipline has meant more goals. Crystal Palace v Manchester United Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion
S8 · E818th September 1971 1971-09-18 · 80 min
Two-match action introduced by David Coleman. Everton v Arsenal Leicester City v Sheffield United Today's action goals will be considered for the September 'Goal of the Month' competition.
S8 · E925th September 1971 1971-09-25 · 80 min
Liverpool v Manchester United West Ham United v Stoke City David Coleman introduces the 'Goal of the Month' parade.
S8 · E102nd October 1971 1971-10-02 · 80 min
Four First Division teams in action. The result of September's 'Goal of the Month' competition. News, views and analysis. Manchester United v Sheffield United Southampton v Arsenal David Coleman introduces one hour of match action and the selected 1-2-3 goals during the month of September.
S8 · E119th October 1971 1971-10-09 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action from the First Division plus the news, analysis and views of the day. Derby County v Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool v Chelsea
S8 · E1216th October 1971 1971-10-16 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action, news and views, with the League tables still wide open after two months of a new season with refreshing pace-making by teams like Sheffield United, Notts County, Norwich and Brentford. Leeds United v Manchester City Millwall v Bristol City
S8 · E1323rd October 1971 1971-10-23 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action plus analysis and views from the Saturday soccer scene. Derby County v Arsenal Blackpool v Queens Park Rangers
S8 · E1430th October 1971 1971-10-30 · 80 min
Action from two First Division matches and the Goal of the Month entry for October. Manchester United v Leeds United Wolverhampton Wanderers v Coventry City David Coleman introduces one hour of action, analysis and views.
S8 · E156th November 1971 1971-11-06 · 80 min
Two-match action and the result of the October 'Goal of the Month' competition. Hull City v Norwich City West Ham United v Sheffield United
S8 · E1613th November 1971 1971-11-13 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action which could have a bearing on two championships. Action plus analysis plus views plus the key news from the day's busy Football League programme. Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur Aston Villa v Notts County
S8 · E1720th November 1971 1971-11-20 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces match action from two leading First Division grounds. Goals, news, views from the busy Saturday football scene. Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal West Ham United v Manchester City
S8 · E1827th November 1971 1971-11-27 · 80 min
Two-match action from today's Football League programme and the 'Goal of the Month ' parade from the November matches. David Coleman introduces action, analysis and the 'Goals of the Month': in August Wyn Davies (Manchester City) scored the winning goal; in September Bobby Charlton of Manchester United; last month the honour went to Millwall's Gordon Bolland. Southampton v Manchester United Burnley v Swindon Town
S8 · E194th December 1971 1971-12-04 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action from the First Division and the winning goals from the November 'Goal of the Month' competition. Derby County v Manchester City Crystal Palace v Sheffield United Two-match action, analysis, interviews and the fourth 'Goal of the Month' winner of the season. So far this year, there have been over 60,000 entries a month and a surprisingly high proportion of them have come from women fans.
S8 · E2011th December 1971 1971-12-11 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action, analysis and the top news from the busy Football League fixture list. Southampton v West Ham United Chelsea v Leeds United
S8 · E2118th December 1971 1971-12-18 · 80 min
Two-match action, 'Goal of the Month', analysis and interviews - introduced by David Coleman. Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur Goal parade features the most spectacular scoring efforts from the December matches on BBC1.
S8 · E221st January 1972 1972-01-01 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action and the result of the December 'Goal of the Month' competition. Queens Park Rangers v Burnley Arsenal v Everton
S8 · E238th January 1972 1972-01-08 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces action, analysis and the key interviews from the busy Football League Saturday. Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City Stoke City v Arsenal
S8 · E2415th January 1972 1972-01-15 · 80 min
Match of the Day featuring The FA Cup Third Round. Action highlights from three of the leading FA Third Round Cup ties with commentators David Coleman, Barry Davies and John Motson. Who will triumph at Wembley in 1972, the centenary year of the FA Cup? This time last year Manchester United and West Ham failed to survive the Third Round pressures. Swindon Town v Arsenal Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leicester City Blackpool v Chelsea