Idwal Robling
Encyclopedia
James Idwal Robling was a Welsh
sports commentator, who worked for the BBC in Wales
for almost 40 years.
Robling was born in Ynyshir
in the Rhondda Valley, where he attended the local grammar school. His education was interrupted by the Second World War, and upon being called up was accepted for service in the Royal Navy
. However, he was selected by ballot to become a Bevin Boy so instead of going to the Navy he was conscripted to work in the coal mines. After the war, he resumed his education and qualified as a teacher after attending Caerleon College and Loughborough University
, although instead of teaching he decided on a different career and became a manager at the Lovell's sweet factory in Newport
, Monmouthshire.
Robling was an outstanding amateur footballer, and was part of the Great Britain squad for the 1952 Summer Olympic Games at Helsinki. He won 13 caps as an amateur international for Wales, and captained the team on one occasion. He also played for "Lovell's Athletic", his company's works team which played at a high level in the amateur Southern League. As his playing career wound down he became involved in sports reporting, and in the 1960s he worked part-time for both BBC Wales Radio as a sports commentator as well as writing reports for The Times
, but he was still working as a sales manager in 1969, when he won the BBC competition to find an extra person for the BBC's 1970 World Cup commentary team. Ten thousand people entered, and Robling's rivals in the final six included Ed Stewart
, Ian St John and Gerry Harrison
. In the final round of judging Robling was tied with Ian St John, and the casting vote went to the then England football manager Sir Alf Ramsey
. It was sometimes mischievously said that the reason Robling won was because Ramsey would never consider voting for a Scotsman.
After his victory Robling joined the BBC football Match of the Day
team, covering matches in the South and West of England area during a short-lived experiment at covering regional matches, and did indeed go to the 1970 World Cup, commentating on a number of first round games although none of them were broadcast live in the UK. At the start of the 1970/71 season he replaced Wally Barnes as the regular TV football reporter and commentator on BBC Wales, a role he held for the next sixteen seasons, as well as occasionally covering Boxing and Rugby League
In those days of limited football coverage he was largely restricted to the occasional Match of the Day opt-out, Welsh Cup game or international friendly, but Cardiff City and Wrexham's exploits in the European Cup Winners Cup in the 1970s saw him commentate on some memorable European games against the likes of Real Madrid
, Hadjuk Split and Anderlecht
. He commentated on many Welsh internationals, including Wales' home defeat in the 1978 World Cup Qualifier against Scotland when a controversial refereeing decision saw the Scots being given a late penalty. In the 1976 European Championship Qualifier he had seen Wales become the first team in 30 years to beat Hungary in the Nep stadium, declaring almost incredulously as John Mahoney
scored the second goal, "and it's 2-0 to Wales...IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT!" (probably his most remembered line of commentary for Welsh fans), and in his final major international he commentated on Mark Hughes' “wondergoal” in a 3-0 win in the 1986 World Cup Qualifier against Spain. It was probably fitting that he lived to see Swansea City win promotion to the Premier League of English football in the spring of 2011, as they started their previous top-flight campaign with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Leeds Utd on the opening day of the 1981-82 First Division season, a game covered by Robling and which gave him a rare top-billing on the network Match of the Day
.
With his 60th birthday approaching Robling retired from commentating at the end of the 1984/85 season but he continued covering football as a reporter with a local news agency. He returned to the BBC in an off-screen role as a producer on the Scrum V
and Sport Wales programmes, and was still working there until a few months before his death.
He died in Newport
, aged 84, following a short illness. He was married with a son and two daughters.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
sports commentator, who worked for the BBC in Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
for almost 40 years.
Robling was born in Ynyshir
Ynyshir
Ynyshir , meaning "Long Island" in English, is a village and a community located in the Rhondda Valley, within Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The village takes its name from a farm in the area, falling within the historic parishes of Ystradyfodwg and Llanwynno . The community of Ynyshir also...
in the Rhondda Valley, where he attended the local grammar school. His education was interrupted by the Second World War, and upon being called up was accepted for service in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. However, he was selected by ballot to become a Bevin Boy so instead of going to the Navy he was conscripted to work in the coal mines. After the war, he resumed his education and qualified as a teacher after attending Caerleon College and Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
, although instead of teaching he decided on a different career and became a manager at the Lovell's sweet factory in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Monmouthshire.
Robling was an outstanding amateur footballer, and was part of the Great Britain squad for the 1952 Summer Olympic Games at Helsinki. He won 13 caps as an amateur international for Wales, and captained the team on one occasion. He also played for "Lovell's Athletic", his company's works team which played at a high level in the amateur Southern League. As his playing career wound down he became involved in sports reporting, and in the 1960s he worked part-time for both BBC Wales Radio as a sports commentator as well as writing reports for The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, but he was still working as a sales manager in 1969, when he won the BBC competition to find an extra person for the BBC's 1970 World Cup commentary team. Ten thousand people entered, and Robling's rivals in the final six included Ed Stewart
Ed Stewart
Ed Stewart is a radio broadcaster from England. His real name is Edward Mainwaring but he is known by the nickname Ed Stewpot Stewart.-Early life and career:...
, Ian St John and Gerry Harrison
Gerry Harrison
Gerry Harrison was a leading football commentator on British television in the 1970s and 80s, working for ITV. In the latter part of his career he was a senior television executive with production company TWI, who produce coverage of Premier League football, international golf and tennis among...
. In the final round of judging Robling was tied with Ian St John, and the casting vote went to the then England football manager Sir Alf Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
. It was sometimes mischievously said that the reason Robling won was because Ramsey would never consider voting for a Scotsman.
After his victory Robling joined the BBC football Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
team, covering matches in the South and West of England area during a short-lived experiment at covering regional matches, and did indeed go to the 1970 World Cup, commentating on a number of first round games although none of them were broadcast live in the UK. At the start of the 1970/71 season he replaced Wally Barnes as the regular TV football reporter and commentator on BBC Wales, a role he held for the next sixteen seasons, as well as occasionally covering Boxing and Rugby League
In those days of limited football coverage he was largely restricted to the occasional Match of the Day opt-out, Welsh Cup game or international friendly, but Cardiff City and Wrexham's exploits in the European Cup Winners Cup in the 1970s saw him commentate on some memorable European games against the likes of Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Hadjuk Split and Anderlecht
Anderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:...
. He commentated on many Welsh internationals, including Wales' home defeat in the 1978 World Cup Qualifier against Scotland when a controversial refereeing decision saw the Scots being given a late penalty. In the 1976 European Championship Qualifier he had seen Wales become the first team in 30 years to beat Hungary in the Nep stadium, declaring almost incredulously as John Mahoney
John Mahoney (footballer)
John Mahoney is a former Welsh international footballer who played as a midfielder between the 1960s and 1980s. He attained 51 caps for Wales.-Career:...
scored the second goal, "and it's 2-0 to Wales...IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT!" (probably his most remembered line of commentary for Welsh fans), and in his final major international he commentated on Mark Hughes' “wondergoal” in a 3-0 win in the 1986 World Cup Qualifier against Spain. It was probably fitting that he lived to see Swansea City win promotion to the Premier League of English football in the spring of 2011, as they started their previous top-flight campaign with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Leeds Utd on the opening day of the 1981-82 First Division season, a game covered by Robling and which gave him a rare top-billing on the network Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
.
With his 60th birthday approaching Robling retired from commentating at the end of the 1984/85 season but he continued covering football as a reporter with a local news agency. He returned to the BBC in an off-screen role as a producer on the Scrum V
Scrum V
Scrum V is the brand used by BBC Wales for its rugby union programmes. The brand extends to BBC Wales' live coverage, Scrum V Live, highlights programmes, radio discussion and website.-Television:...
and Sport Wales programmes, and was still working there until a few months before his death.
He died in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, aged 84, following a short illness. He was married with a son and two daughters.