Mike Ingham
Encyclopedia
Mike Ingham, MBE
(born 1950 in Cheshire
) is a British
football
commentator
and broadcaster
.
(home to Brian Clough
), and attended The Herbert Strutt School (became the comprehensive Belper School
in 1973) in Belper
, then a grammar school
. He gained a Bachelor of Law degree.
in 1973, later joining the BBC
in London
in 1979.
For some years he regularly hosted the Saturday afternoon sports programme Sport on Two, and around 1984 he also became a match commentator, working alongside Peter Jones
and Bryon Butler
. In 1991 he took over from Butler as the BBC's football correspondent. He regularly files reports on the game which are heard mainly on BBC Radio 5 Live
.
's principal commentating pair, working on FA Cup Final
s, World Cup finals, European Cup
finals and virtually all the biggest matches in Britain and throughout the world, with many of his commentaries also being heard on the BBC World Service
. He is noted for his measured, eloquent style, often seen as something of a throwback to earlier days of sports broadcasting. He also commentated on the BBC's coverage of Princess Diana
's funeral in 1997.
In 2004 Ingham was promoted to the post of chief football correspondent. He has become renowned with fans for "thinking aloud" when offering his opinion on the soccer matters of the day.
district of Buckinghamshire
with his wife Lorna and two sons George and Marshall Ingham. He is a keen record collector and music fan, and occasionally hosted Andy Peebles
' show on Radio 1
during the early 1980s.
Ingham was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1950 in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
and broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
.
Early life
He grew up in Duffield and QuarndonQuarndon
Quarndon is a linear village in the English county of Derbyshire.It is due north of, and essentially contiguous with, the City of Derby's suburb of Allestree. Formerly it was notable for its chalybeate springs that were at the well and in the grounds of neighbouring Kedleston Hall...
(home to Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
), and attended The Herbert Strutt School (became the comprehensive Belper School
Belper School
Belper School and Sixth Form Centre is a comprehensive school located in the town of Belper, Derbyshire, England. It has Foundation School status and is a specialist Technology College. In 2007, Ofsted reported that it was a 'good' school, while in 2009 it was deemed 'satisfactory' due to a dip in...
in 1973) in Belper
Belper
Belper is a town and civil parish in the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England.-Geography:Belper is situated eight miles north of Derby and is centred in the valley of the River Derwent...
, then a grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
. He gained a Bachelor of Law degree.
Career
He began his career working for BBC Radio DerbyBBC Radio Derby
BBC Radio Derby is the BBC Local Radio station for the English county of Derbyshire, covering all but the northern tip of the county, and also serves eastern Staffordshire, mainly Uttoxeter and Burton upon Trent. The station broadcasts from its studios in Derby on 104.5, 95.3 and 96.0 FM and 1116...
in 1973, later joining 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 London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1979.
For some years he regularly hosted the Saturday afternoon sports programme Sport on Two, and around 1984 he also became a match commentator, working alongside Peter Jones
Peter Jones (broadcaster)
Peter Jones was a Welsh-born broadcaster, best known as a sports commentator on BBC radio in the United Kingdom, although many of his commentaries were also broadcast internationally on the BBC World Service...
and Bryon Butler
Bryon Butler
Ewart Bryon Butler was an English writer and broadcaster, best known as the BBC's football correspondent from 1968 to 1991....
. In 1991 he took over from Butler as the BBC's football correspondent. He regularly files reports on the game which are heard mainly on BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
.
Five Live
Since 1990 Ingham has worked alongside Alan Green as BBC Radio 5BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
's principal commentating pair, working on FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
s, World Cup finals, European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
finals and virtually all the biggest matches in Britain and throughout the world, with many of his commentaries also being heard on the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
. He is noted for his measured, eloquent style, often seen as something of a throwback to earlier days of sports broadcasting. He also commentated on the BBC's coverage of Princess Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
's funeral in 1997.
In 2004 Ingham was promoted to the post of chief football correspondent. He has become renowned with fans for "thinking aloud" when offering his opinion on the soccer matters of the day.
Personal life
Mike Ingham lives in the ChilternChiltern (district)
Chiltern is one of four local government districts of Buckinghamshire in south central England. It is named after the Chiltern Hills on which the region sits.The main towns in the district are Amersham and Chesham...
district of Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
with his wife Lorna and two sons George and Marshall Ingham. He is a keen record collector and music fan, and occasionally hosted Andy Peebles
Andy Peebles
-Early life:The son of a head postmaster, Peebles attended Bishop's Stortford College, Hertfordshire before training in hotel management.After DJing at a college dance he was offered a job at Samanthas in Bournemouth.He worked at Chelsea Village,The Scotch of St James in London and at the Hardrock...
' show on Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
during the early 1980s.
Ingham was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours.
External links
- Mike Ingham biography on BBC Radio website
- BBC World Cup 2006 Press release (PDF file, 4MB)