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Sit Down and Cheer: A History of Sport on TV
Martin Kelner traces the relationship between sport and TV - the ultimate marriage of convenience. From humble origins at the 1960 Olympics, through the momentous impact of Sky, up to the high-tech gadgetry of our present-day viewing, this is an insightful and very funny exploration of two major national pastimes.
- GenresSportsNonfictionHumor
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 23, 2022
An amusing and light hearted journey through television sport from the early Grandstand days to modern cut throat bidding for sporting rights via Sky and BT Sport.
Martin Kelner is a skilfull and anecdotal writer and those familiar with his Guardian columns will enjoy the extra room he has here to expand his repertoire. All the main suspects are here: David Coleman, Eamonn Andrews, Frank Bough, Dickie Davies, Des Lynam, Steve Ryder. People in their late fifties and sixties will particular enjoy the retelling of the golden days of TV sport from the seventies and eighties. The only shame is that there are not more photos to go along with the stories.
An easy, coffee table book read, that can be dipped into many times.
Martin Kelner is a skilfull and anecdotal writer and those familiar with his Guardian columns will enjoy the extra room he has here to expand his repertoire. All the main suspects are here: David Coleman, Eamonn Andrews, Frank Bough, Dickie Davies, Des Lynam, Steve Ryder. People in their late fifties and sixties will particular enjoy the retelling of the golden days of TV sport from the seventies and eighties. The only shame is that there are not more photos to go along with the stories.
An easy, coffee table book read, that can be dipped into many times.
January 7, 2013
Sorry, I'm a sucker for books on TV and movies. This one is really for the Anglophiles among you as it's largely a history of sport on British TV, but for those of us who remember Dickie Davies, Colemanballs, and the spectacular destruction of Frank Bough's career amid cocaine and vice girls, this is a joy. Oh, and it functions as a pretty good primer for the creation of the BBC too!
October 16, 2017
An interesting history of sport on British TV. Being Irish I am not unfamiliar with most of the characters covered. It’d be great though to see a similar book covering the legends of Irish TV Sport. Reading about Grandstand reminded me of my early memories of Sports Stadium and the ITV panel of Bill, Eamon and Gilesy.
June 4, 2023
I enjoyed Kelner's newspaper column writing on this subject but I don't think it works at book length, at least not here. The premise of a history of sport on TV - the way most of us experience it - is a solid one but the story itself feels pretty uninteresting in this telling. It's got some fun bits, particularly its analysis of different commentators' styles, but it doesn't maintain that level.
February 22, 2015
Like many English sports fans, the majority of the calories I burn are used up by shouting at the TV and occasionally going to the shops for more beer and crisps. Sports books tend to be about the sport itself or biographies of those who expended great effort to reach the top of their chosen sport. But in Martin Kelner's ''Sit Down and Cheer: A History of Sport on TV'', there is finally a book for the less energetic among us.
Kelner's history is certainly comprehensive, mentioning everything from the first radio broadcasts of rugby and football in the 1920s to the BBC's plans for multiple channels to cover the 2012 London Olympics. There is much about how sports coverage helped the fledgling ITV channel and, later, Channel 4 provide services in the early days and how their coverage of certain sports helped the channels grow. Conversely, there is much about how the advent of satellite television changed the futures of certain sports in the increased revenue that they paid for coverage.
I found plenty of memories within these pages, as someone who grew up in a time when sports coverage was fairly well established and I had the choice of BBC's ''Grandstand'' and ITV's ''World of Sport'' on a Saturday afternoon. I am old enough to recall the beginning of Channel 4 and Sky Sports, but was never involved enough to realise the full impact these channels had on the sports world. Many of the commentators mentioned are familiar enough to me that I can hear their voices in my head as I read their names, but I never realised how much was going on behind the scenes between them all.
Many of these commentators and hosts, Des Lynam in particular, became popular because of their relaxed and informative, yet entertaining style. Kelner has clearly picked up much from watching them, as his writing style is very similar. He has all the details at his fingertips and is able to present them in a way that stops the reader turning off or wondering what is on the other side of the page before this one is done. Given the size of the undertaking, this is very much the edited highlights, else it would become unwieldy, but it fits together so well that I felt I was getting if not the whole picture, as much as I needed. In TV terms, this is a ''Match of the Day'' book, containing the important elements and discussion of them, without getting bogged down in the unimportant parts.
Perhaps where the book falls down slightly is where Kelner talks a little more about himself. He has been involved in some sports broadcasting on both TV and radio, but he's not been as much to the fore as most of the people mentioned here. When he talks about the minor role he played, things seem to drift away from the history a little and he gives these parts more weight and time than they seem to deserve. He does mention in his afterword that this is a memoir as well as a history, but as this isn't made clear on the cover or early on, I found myself disappointed by these sections.
The majority of the book is very engaging. The politics as well as the sport are very well covered and there are memories as well as new information for the average couch sports fan. I found I was able to overlook the autobiographical parts which, whilst slightly intrusive, were only a small part of the book and had a generally enjoyable reading experience. Although, as the credits roll at the end of the book, I can't help but wonder how an audio book version read by some of the commentators listed here might sound. This was an engaging read for me, if more for the memories than some of the content.
This review may also appear, in whole or in part, under my name at any or all of www.ciao.co.uk, www.thebookbag.co.uk, www.goodreads.com, www.amazon.co.uk and www.dooyoo.co.uk
Kelner's history is certainly comprehensive, mentioning everything from the first radio broadcasts of rugby and football in the 1920s to the BBC's plans for multiple channels to cover the 2012 London Olympics. There is much about how sports coverage helped the fledgling ITV channel and, later, Channel 4 provide services in the early days and how their coverage of certain sports helped the channels grow. Conversely, there is much about how the advent of satellite television changed the futures of certain sports in the increased revenue that they paid for coverage.
I found plenty of memories within these pages, as someone who grew up in a time when sports coverage was fairly well established and I had the choice of BBC's ''Grandstand'' and ITV's ''World of Sport'' on a Saturday afternoon. I am old enough to recall the beginning of Channel 4 and Sky Sports, but was never involved enough to realise the full impact these channels had on the sports world. Many of the commentators mentioned are familiar enough to me that I can hear their voices in my head as I read their names, but I never realised how much was going on behind the scenes between them all.
Many of these commentators and hosts, Des Lynam in particular, became popular because of their relaxed and informative, yet entertaining style. Kelner has clearly picked up much from watching them, as his writing style is very similar. He has all the details at his fingertips and is able to present them in a way that stops the reader turning off or wondering what is on the other side of the page before this one is done. Given the size of the undertaking, this is very much the edited highlights, else it would become unwieldy, but it fits together so well that I felt I was getting if not the whole picture, as much as I needed. In TV terms, this is a ''Match of the Day'' book, containing the important elements and discussion of them, without getting bogged down in the unimportant parts.
Perhaps where the book falls down slightly is where Kelner talks a little more about himself. He has been involved in some sports broadcasting on both TV and radio, but he's not been as much to the fore as most of the people mentioned here. When he talks about the minor role he played, things seem to drift away from the history a little and he gives these parts more weight and time than they seem to deserve. He does mention in his afterword that this is a memoir as well as a history, but as this isn't made clear on the cover or early on, I found myself disappointed by these sections.
The majority of the book is very engaging. The politics as well as the sport are very well covered and there are memories as well as new information for the average couch sports fan. I found I was able to overlook the autobiographical parts which, whilst slightly intrusive, were only a small part of the book and had a generally enjoyable reading experience. Although, as the credits roll at the end of the book, I can't help but wonder how an audio book version read by some of the commentators listed here might sound. This was an engaging read for me, if more for the memories than some of the content.
This review may also appear, in whole or in part, under my name at any or all of www.ciao.co.uk, www.thebookbag.co.uk, www.goodreads.com, www.amazon.co.uk and www.dooyoo.co.uk
January 18, 2016
Kelner is always entertaining without ever hitting the high notes of comedy. He's like a genial, well-informed, but more than slightly opinionated, fellow down the pub, who you enjoy a few pints with on a regular basis but whose bombast has got you into a habit of going home at 9.30. Lots of laughs, shared memories, a little more meaningful and thought out than laddishness, a little bit wider-ranging than geekism. An entertaining friend but blimey, it feels nice to get back into the fresh air for the walk home.
I enjoyed the first half of this book. It's a simple nostalgia wallow for those of us who made Grandstand the highlight of Saturday and who spent chunks of the summer with curtains drawn to keep the sun off the screen while the cricket was on. Kelner may not always be able to deliver the killer line himself but he is a good enough researcher to include a lot of first class quotations; many from Clive James. In addition we get Wolstenholme "and it's a goal! Yes, it's a goal!", Coleman; "Clarke, Lorimer; One-Nil!", Barry Davies; "Interesting. Very interesting." and so on. Predictable: very predictable.
As with all nostalgia fests it begins to fade as it comes up to date and the author, rather than condemning the commercial and corrupting forces surrounding modern sport on telly, (FIFA was a disgraced organisation long before the US courts started taking an interest) he becomes an apologist for Rupert Murdoch, satellite-multi-channel-broadcasting, the on-line gambling that has undermined the probity of competitive sport, and the sponsorship that has taken it away from the people it belongs to and given it to those who put profit before everything.
By page 150 I was ready to order copies to give as Christmas presents for all my sports loving friends and brothers. By page 300 I'd changed my mind.
Sit Down and Cheer by Martin Kelner! Yeah, not bad but something of a wasted opportunity. Imagine if Clive James had written this book! Pass the John Lewis catalogue would you?
I enjoyed the first half of this book. It's a simple nostalgia wallow for those of us who made Grandstand the highlight of Saturday and who spent chunks of the summer with curtains drawn to keep the sun off the screen while the cricket was on. Kelner may not always be able to deliver the killer line himself but he is a good enough researcher to include a lot of first class quotations; many from Clive James. In addition we get Wolstenholme "and it's a goal! Yes, it's a goal!", Coleman; "Clarke, Lorimer; One-Nil!", Barry Davies; "Interesting. Very interesting." and so on. Predictable: very predictable.
As with all nostalgia fests it begins to fade as it comes up to date and the author, rather than condemning the commercial and corrupting forces surrounding modern sport on telly, (FIFA was a disgraced organisation long before the US courts started taking an interest) he becomes an apologist for Rupert Murdoch, satellite-multi-channel-broadcasting, the on-line gambling that has undermined the probity of competitive sport, and the sponsorship that has taken it away from the people it belongs to and given it to those who put profit before everything.
By page 150 I was ready to order copies to give as Christmas presents for all my sports loving friends and brothers. By page 300 I'd changed my mind.
Sit Down and Cheer by Martin Kelner! Yeah, not bad but something of a wasted opportunity. Imagine if Clive James had written this book! Pass the John Lewis catalogue would you?
January 18, 2013
As a committed listener of BBC Radio 5live's 'Fighting Talk' I've known of Kelners humor for some time. However although I watch a lot of sport on tv, I've never been that interested about the inner workings/history of sports broadcasting.
Kelner clearly has a love for this subject and as well as being his profession it also appears to be his hobby. I often find when someone explains in-depth about something they love you often find yourself get drawn in (Lorraine Pascale once got me interested in baking for 5 or 10 minutes between surfing channels) and this applies here. This isn't however a comedy, it's a comprehensive look at sports broadcasting from the Berlin Olympics to Ray Winstone telling us about "the latest in-play markets" with a touch of humor thrown in.
Truthful, informed and light-hearted, this is definitely worth a read.
DT 18/2/2013
Kelner clearly has a love for this subject and as well as being his profession it also appears to be his hobby. I often find when someone explains in-depth about something they love you often find yourself get drawn in (Lorraine Pascale once got me interested in baking for 5 or 10 minutes between surfing channels) and this applies here. This isn't however a comedy, it's a comprehensive look at sports broadcasting from the Berlin Olympics to Ray Winstone telling us about "the latest in-play markets" with a touch of humor thrown in.
Truthful, informed and light-hearted, this is definitely worth a read.
DT 18/2/2013
December 4, 2013
One of the best sports books you'll ever read. The worst bit was it was too short!
Kelner has a way, like in all his columns, to make sure you feel like you're watching sport with him. Going back through history felt like a slightly bizarre Back To The Future moment, but it came across wonderfully in the book.
Kelner has a way, like in all his columns, to make sure you feel like you're watching sport with him. Going back through history felt like a slightly bizarre Back To The Future moment, but it came across wonderfully in the book.
September 3, 2013
Not the belly laughs I had hoped for. He has a good turn of phrase and can deliver a funny line, but I suppose there was little to get the pulses racing. It did evoke some good memories of growing up.
July 9, 2014
An enjoyable yarn about sport on television with quite a few amusing anecdotes.
Some of the stories about the early days were quite hysterical. A good book for
reading on a summer's day in the deckchair.
Some of the stories about the early days were quite hysterical. A good book for
reading on a summer's day in the deckchair.
October 14, 2012
The best book I have read this year bar none, Just superb history of TV sport and the people involved. All done with Martin Kelner's humour
March 25, 2013
Excellent reading for any armchair sports fan. Well worth the time to find out where the characteristics of sports coverage we now take for granted and love, actually came from
May 6, 2013
A very funny book full of fond memories, but also well-researched with some interesting arguments on both the development and future of sport on British TV.
July 16, 2013
As much a memoir as a history. Thoroughly readable and highly entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews