Arthur Montford
Encyclopedia
Arthur Montford is a former Scottish
television
sports journalist
, best known for his 32 year tenure as the presenter of Scotsport
. Although he was most associated with football, he covered a number of other sports for ITV, notably Golf
.
Montford was raised in Greenock
. He is a lifelong supporter of local football club Greenock Morton
, where he even served as a director for several years under close friend and Morton chairman Douglas Rae's tenure. Though no longer a director, Montford is still affiliated with the club as an Honorary Vice-President.
Montford worked as both a print journalist and radio broadcaster before joining Scottish Television
in August 1957 as a continuity announcer. He was then chosen to present STV's new sports programme, Scotsport
(originally Sports Desk), where he remained the anchorman until his retirement in 1989. In all, he hosted over 2,000 editions of the programme. During his time on Scotsport, Montford became famous for his trademark checkered pattern sports jackets
, and some classic lines of football commentary, including What a stramash
! and Disaster for Scotland
!.
In 1974, Montford was elected as Rector of the University of Glasgow, the first sports journalist to receive the honour. He remained in the position until 1977.
During the 1978 World Cup, a technical fault with the feed from Argentina prevented ITV from broadcasting Hugh Johns
commentary on the Scotland-Peru game so Montford's commentary, originally only intended for Scottish viewers, was used on the entire network (the same fault affected the BBC
in reverse, with Scottish viewers having to listen to David Coleman
instead of Archie MacPherson
).
Since his retirement, Montford has continued to comment on Scottish Football, both in the national press and in the matchday programme at Morton
. In 1990 he narrated the film documentary Scotland: The World Cup Story. In late 2010 Montford served as an occasional commentator on the Greenock Morton webcast.
In May 2010, Montford received the SPFA
Special Merit award for his services to football broadcasting and journalism alongside fellow broadcaster Archie Macpherson
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sports journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, best known for his 32 year tenure as the presenter of Scotsport
Scotsport
Scotsport was a Scottish sports television programme, broadcast on STV in northern and central Scotland, as well as on Border Television in southern Scotland. It was recognised as the world's longest-running sports television magazine....
. Although he was most associated with football, he covered a number of other sports for ITV, notably Golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
.
Montford was raised in Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
. He is a lifelong supporter of local football club Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
, where he even served as a director for several years under close friend and Morton chairman Douglas Rae's tenure. Though no longer a director, Montford is still affiliated with the club as an Honorary Vice-President.
Montford worked as both a print journalist and radio broadcaster before joining Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
in August 1957 as a continuity announcer. He was then chosen to present STV's new sports programme, Scotsport
Scotsport
Scotsport was a Scottish sports television programme, broadcast on STV in northern and central Scotland, as well as on Border Television in southern Scotland. It was recognised as the world's longest-running sports television magazine....
(originally Sports Desk), where he remained the anchorman until his retirement in 1989. In all, he hosted over 2,000 editions of the programme. During his time on Scotsport, Montford became famous for his trademark checkered pattern sports jackets
Sportcoat
A sportcoat, sports coat or sports jacket, is a tailored jacket for men. Though it is of a similar cut and length to a suit jacket there are many differences. First, it is less formal. Also it is designed to be worn on its own and does not come as part of a suit...
, and some classic lines of football commentary, including What a stramash
Stramash
A stramash is a chiefly Scottish word for a disturbance, racket, or crash. It is pronounced and was first recorded in 1803.In football it is a term for a "goalmouth scramble", an example of footballing jargon. It refers to an incident where there are several players in the 6-yard box, either...
! and Disaster for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
!.
In 1974, Montford was elected as Rector of the University of Glasgow, the first sports journalist to receive the honour. He remained in the position until 1977.
During the 1978 World Cup, a technical fault with the feed from Argentina prevented ITV from broadcasting Hugh Johns
Hugh Johns
Hugh Richard Lewis Johns was best known as a football commentator for ITV. During his career, he covered a thousand matches including four FIFA World Cup finals. - Early life and career :...
commentary on the Scotland-Peru game so Montford's commentary, originally only intended for Scottish viewers, was used on the entire network (the same fault affected the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in reverse, with Scottish viewers having to listen to David Coleman
David Coleman
David Coleman, OBE is an English former sports commentator and TV presenter who worked for the BBC for almost fifty years. In 2000, he was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest honour of the Olympic movement....
instead of Archie MacPherson
Archie Macpherson
Archibald "Archie" Macpherson is a Scottish football commentator and author.He has been commentating on Scottish football, via both radio and television, for over four decades.- Early life :...
).
Since his retirement, Montford has continued to comment on Scottish Football, both in the national press and in the matchday programme at Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
. In 1990 he narrated the film documentary Scotland: The World Cup Story. In late 2010 Montford served as an occasional commentator on the Greenock Morton webcast.
In May 2010, Montford received the SPFA
Scottish Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association Scotland is the association for professional footballers in Scotland. It was formerly known as the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association , but that organisation was dissolved and replaced by PFA Scotland in 2007. PFA Scotland is affiliated to the ...
Special Merit award for his services to football broadcasting and journalism alongside fellow broadcaster Archie Macpherson
Archie Macpherson
Archibald "Archie" Macpherson is a Scottish football commentator and author.He has been commentating on Scottish football, via both radio and television, for over four decades.- Early life :...
.