Match Of The Day returns to BBC1 after a controversial period where ITV1 tried and failed to make football an early evening fixture. Steve Pratt reports on the rise of Gary Lineker, the striker who keeps the Beeb on the ball.

AS a lad of nine, young Gary Lineker was allowed to stay up late on special occasions - to watch the BBC's Match Of The Day. Forty years on he presents the soccer show, which returns to BBC screens on Saturday nights with highlights and analysis of the Premiership League.

The long-running programme has also given birth to Match Of The Day 2, which begins over on BBC2 on Sundays, as well as a re-vamped Football Focus and an interactive score service, Score Interactive, throughout the afternoon for digital viewers.

Lineker, who took over as presenter in 1999, says: "It's such an iconic programme and one that viewers associated with BBC1. I started watching when I was about nine. Back then it was the only chance you had to see the main players."

The series has been the scene of fierce battles by rival TV companies to secure the rights to football action. Lineker is glad it's back on the BBC. "I was in the car with my kids when the news came and they all cheered," he recalls.

He promises that Match Of The Day will be "totally about football" (well, it would hardly be about ballroom dancing, would it?). For the first time, there will be commentators at every ground and a guarantee of a fair showing for every club. Joining him in the studio will be analysts including Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson and Peter Schmeichel.

They usually get into the Match Of The Day studio by 2.30 in the afternoon, settling down in front of a large bank of TV screens to watch the matches, accompanied by chocolate and crisps.

"After the games are finished I sit down with the editor and work out a running order. The script is finished by about 7pm, and the pundits normally go out and take a break for a couple of hours. I stay at the BBC and get a bite to eat at the canteen," says Lineker.

"We rehearse at 10pm, with the pundits deciding on what analysis they want to do, before going live at 10.30pm."

How different it all was back in 1964 when the first Match Of The Day covered a Liverpool v Arsenal match. Presented by Kenneth Wolstenholme, it was shown on BBC2.

The series returned for the 1965-66 season despite attempts by some clubs to prevent it because they feared it would affect ticket sales. But the programme was cut to 45 minutes and couldn't be shown before 10pm.

A big change was the switch to BBC1 in 1966. But, in order to secure a new deal for the 1967-68 season, the BBC had to broadcast five Division Two matches and two from Divisions Three or Four in order to get the 23 Division One matches they wanted.

Grandstand presenter David Coleman began regularly presenting Match Of The Day in 1969. The Goal of the Month competition was introduced and John Motson made his debut as a commentator in 1971.

More contractual restrictions meant that the programme had to lead with a Division Two fixture, and twice with a match from Division Three.

Jimmy Hill took over as presenter in 1973. New titles, introduced to mark the 500th edition four years later, featured hundreds of schoolchildren holding up cards that depicted his face and the show's logo.

The battle between the BBC and ITV for football rights came to a head in November 1978 when ITV signed a secret three-year deal with the Football League to show edited highlights on Saturday nights instead of Sundays.

A ruling by the Office of Fair Trading prevented the contract being signed. A compromise led to the BBC and ITV having to alternative their programme coverage.

Arguments over contracts have prompted regular crisis. One time it led to a total blackout after the Football League rejected a BBC and ITV offer. Annoyed fans and sponsors caused the league to back down.

One of the biggest upheavals resulted from the launch of satellite TV in 1987. British Sky Broadcasting bid £9m a season for ten years of football rights - more than the BBC and ITV joint bid. At the last minute, Greg Dyke, then chairman of ITV Sport, negotiated directly with the League. The BBC and BSB were left with the FA Cup and England internationals.

Match Of The Day's 25th anniversary in 1989 had little to celebrate as, for the first time, it couldn't broadcast any league football, causing the revamped show to be sub-titled The Road To Wembley.

In 1991-92 it was back round the negotiating table as the FA Premier League was announced. The bidding began again, with the BBC gaining Saturday night highlights.

Come the new millennium and yet more changes came into force. ITV won back the Premier League highlights as part of a three-year deal. The BBC was left with the FA Cup and England games. But ITV's bid to put football highlights on Saturday peaktime failed to attract viewers, although Des Lynam had been poached from Match Of The Day to present the Premiership show.

Now Match Of The Day returns to the BBC as part of a new football package. The programme may yet prove that life begins at 40.

* Match Of The Day: Saturday, BBC1, 10.30pm.

* Match Of The Day 2: Sunday, BBC2, 10pm.

* Match Of The Day Live - England v Ukraine: Wednesday, BBC1.

Published: 12/08/2004