Happy 50th Birthday Match of the Day...
If you asked most people how they spend their Saturday nights then you'll probably hear the same answers.
Cinema, drinks with friends or swimming with an octopus seem to be the most popular answers that we have been given but JOE has never changed our routine.
Match of the Day has become an institution in our life and the theme song is just as important to us as the national anthem, The Sunday Game theme tune and Johnny Logan's Eurovision winner 'Hold Me Now'.
The 2014/15 season marks the 50th anniversary of this holiest of holy shows and to celebrate this landmark event we have decided to take a look at some of the show's best opening titles through the decades.
1964
The very first programme was shown in black and white on BBC2 in 1964 and featured highlights from just one game. The programme's audience was estimated at only 20,000 which was less than half the attendance at the ground for Liverpool v Arsenal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIHPVNWqPPw
Clip via - thebiggestcloud
1970
The first time that the famous music was used and it hasn't changed since. See if you can spot Billy Bremner getting absolutely taken out of it. Irony eh?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZSU7bdSGVU
Clip via - neiljungtv
1978
Terry McDermott's chip at the start is absolutely stunning as is Pat Jennings finger tip save over the bar. The fans mural to Jimmy Hill at the end is a nice touch also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCPz9zygKEo
Clip via - evoxy's channel
1980
All we can say about this very 80's-tatsic opening sequence is... take a bow Justin Fashanu!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY0LQCfrjFA
Clip via - Middlesbrough Supporters South
1984/85
Ronnie Moran smiling, Neville Southall clapping and Peter Beardsley working his magic. Just wonderful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV-FBondzDw
Clip via - cestrian81
1994/95
Substitution: Des Lynam for Jimmy Hill as host but the goals get better. Shearer, Cole, Cantona and an absolute pearler from Matt Le Tissier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvReEEwA8bI
Clip via - Ryanlcfc1
1995/96
Tony Yeboah... that is all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U0keSN_g9A
Clip via - Ryanlcfc1
1997/98
Sol Campbell is probably the most intense person to ever tighten his studs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cglVfJgt4Mw
Clip via - whyayetv
2000/01
Ignore the fact that Hamilton Ricard is in these titles because there are some amazing goals from Paolo Di Canio, Paul Scholes and a Steven Carr rocket.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJs6feopmto
Clip via - cestrian81
2010/11
We love the new style MOTD titles and this one is probably still the best. Bobby Moore, David Beckham, Charlie George, Sir Matt Busby, Steven Gerrard and of course the iconic Paul McGrath.
Yes, we saw Rory Delap there also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dakiPvRyVN8
Clip via - Intro
2012/13
If it ain't broke then don't fix it and this is the title sequence that Man City fans have been waiting for since 1968.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDKYu81Nixw
Clip via - DragonQ
2013/14
Poignant, timeless and just perfect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcezYicllxU
Clip via -
fanaticepl
Happy birthday Match of the Day and here's to 50 more years of brilliant Saturday night highlights.
