Kenneth Wolstenholme

Kenneth Wolstenholme DFC & Bar (17 July 1920 – 25 March, 2002) was the original football commentator for BBC television in the 1950s and 1960s. Born in Worsley, Lancashire, Wolstenholme flew for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

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• Some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over [Hurst scored England's fourth goal] It is now!
  • Commentary on BBC 1 during the closing seconds of the 1966 World Cup final.

• Oh, that was sheer delightful football!
  • After Carlos Alberto's memorable fourth goal for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final

• There's the man who's really fighting for his Cup medal – can he score the winning goal now?
  • On Stanley Matthews, seconds before the veteran winger set up the winner in the 1953 FA Cup final

• And a great tackle, almost on the line!
  • Ironic quote after a policeman grabbed pitch invader Eddie Kavanagh and forced him to the turf at Wembley during the 1966 FA Cup final

• Yes, yes, yes - no! The linesman says no! The linesman says no... It's a goal! It's a goal! Oh, and the Germans go mad at the referee! This linesman, at the linesman, who can only speak Russian and Turkish...
  • Describing the immediate debate as to whether Geoff Hurst's shot had crossed the line or not in the 1966 World Cup final. Note that the linesman, Tofik Bakhramov, was actually from Azerbaijan.

• Are we going to see a dramatic ending? Yes we are!
  • Seconds before and after Ronnie Boyce scored a last-minute winner for West Ham United in the 1964 FA Cup final.

• A Bobby Charlton goal is always one of the most popular sights at Old Trafford, Manchester.
  • Summarising after Charlton had scored for Manchester United during a League game in 1969.

• That was a goal good enough to win the league, the cup, the Charity Shield, the World Cup and even the Grand National!
  • After another Bobby Charlton goal, this time in the 1967 Charity Shield.

• And the Liverpool fans are all saying "If only he'd done it two minutes ago!
  • Assessing the reaction of Liverpool supporters after Steve Heighway scored two minutes into the extra-time period during the 1971 FA Cup final

• It's only twelve inches high, solid gold, and it means that England are the world champions!
  • Describing the scene as Bobby Moore collected the Jules Rimet trophy from the Queen and showing it to the Wembley crowd after England's World Cup win.

• Oh, what... what genius!
  • After Pelé audaciously dummies Uruguayan goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkiewicz in the 1970 World Cup semi-final.