Match of the Day: Season 1979/80
For the first time Match of the Day was allowed to screen additional games, and on 13 weekends there were highlights from three different matches.
Season 16 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Match of the Day Season 15.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
For the first time Match of the Day was allowed to screen additional games, and on 13 weekends there were highlights from three different matches.
Episode Guide
Season 16 Progress Shield
11th August 1979: The FA Charity Shield: Arsenal v Liverpool
Aug 11, 1979 · 80 min
The annual curtain-raiser between the Football League champions and the FA Cup holders played at the Empire Stadium, Wembley. Jimmy Hill presents the highlights, talks to the perso
18th August 1979
Aug 18, 1979 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill presents match highlights from today's opening day of the 1979-80 Football League season. He is joined by Bob Wilson who will be gathering together the day's headlines o
25th August 1979
Aug 25, 1979 · 80 min
Presented by Jimmy Hill featuring highlights of today's Football League action. Sunderland v Fulham Derby County v Everton
1st September 1979
Sep 1, 1979 · 80 min
Action highlights of today's Football League programme plus the news and the views of the football personalities involved. Leicester City v Luton Town Leeds United v Arsenal
8th September 1979
Sep 8, 1979 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill presents action highlights, analysis and interviews from today's Football League programme. Liverpool v Coventry City Aston Villa v Manchester United
15th September 1979
Sep 15, 1979 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill introduces the action and analyses the key moments from the two games. West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City West Ham United v Sunderland
22nd September 1979
Sep 22, 1979 · 80 min
Highlights of two outstanding Football League games. Bob Wilson with the day's news and, as usual, there's expert analysis and the Late Night Pools Check. Stoke City v Crystal Pal
29th September 1979
Sep 29, 1979 · 80 min
Highlights of two Football League games, with interviews, analysis and expert comment. Bob Wilson gathers together the day's important news stories, plus the late night Pools Check
6th October 1979
Oct 6, 1979 · 80 min
Highlights of two Football League matches plus analysis and interviews. Bob Wilson gathers together the day's other news, including the late night Pools Check. There's also the res
13th October 1979
Oct 13, 1979 · 80 min
Action highlights of two outstanding Football League games. Plus interviews, analysis and comment presented by Jimmy Hill. Bob Wilson looks at the other news stories of the day, pl
20th October 2020
Oct 20, 1979 · 80 min
Action highlights from two Football League matches. Manchester United v Ipswich Town Arsenal v Stoke City
27th October 1979
Oct 27, 1979 · 80 min
Action highlights of three top Football League games. Plus interviews, action analysis and a round-up of the day's news from Bob Wilson including the late-night Pools Check. There
3rd November 1979
Nov 3, 1979 · 80 min
Two Football League matches and World Championship Boxing. There's the usual match analysis from Jimmy Hill and the day's other news from Bob Wilson. Plus the result of the October
10th November 1979
Nov 10, 1979 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill introduces highlights of two top Football League matches, together with his expert analysis of the talking points of the day. Bob Wilson rounds up the day's news and bri
17th November 1979
Nov 17, 1979 · 80 min
Highlights of two Football League games presented by Jimmy Hill. Plus manager and player comment and a round-up of the day's news from Bob Wilson. Nottingham Forest v Brighton & H
24th November 1979
Nov 24, 1979 · 80 min
Introduced by Jimmy Hill. Action highlights of two First Division matches, plus interviews, analysis and comment. Bob Wilson gathers together the day's news and there's £100-worth
1st December 1979
Dec 1, 1979 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill presents action highlights of two outstanding First Division games, plus comment, analysis and interviews with the day's personalities. There's also the result of the No
8th Decemeber 1979
Dec 8, 1979 · 80 min
Action highlights of two Football League matches. Bob Wilson gathers together the day's headlines including the late-night Pools Check. Manchester United v Leeds United Queens Pa
15th December 1979
Dec 15, 1979 · 80 min
Two First Division games, interviews and analysis. Bob Wilson brings you the day's news, including the late-night Pools Check. Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa West Bromwich Albio
22nd December 1979
Dec 22, 1979 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill introduces highlights of two top matches on a Saturday with a curtailed League programme. Notts County v Newcastle United Derby County v Liverpool
29th December 1979
Dec 29, 1979 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill introduces the last Match of the Day of the 70s -a decade in which the BBC has covered three World Cups, International and European football, the FA and Football League
5th January 1980: FA Cup Third Round
Jan 5, 1980 · 80 min
The most romantic football Saturday of the season where the minnows from the Third and Fourth Divisions and outside the Football League meet the mighty teams from the First Divisio
12th January 1980
Jan 12, 1980 · 80 min
Action highlights of two Football League matches, plus interviews, analysis and comment. Bob Wilson gathers together the day's headlines, including the late-night Pools Check. Che
19th January 1980
Jan 19, 1980 · 80 min
Action highlights of three outstanding Football League matches. Plus analysis, comment and interviews with the personalities involved. Bob Wilson gathers together the day's news in
26th January 1980: FA Cup Fourth Round
Jan 26, 1980 · 80 min
Tonight, highlights of three outstanding ties which encompass the glamour, the romance and the excitement of the FA Cup. Bob Wilson gathers together the day's other headlines, incl
2nd February 1980
Feb 2, 1980 · 80 min
Action highlights of two Football League matches; plus interviews, analysis and comment. Bob Wilson gathers together the day's headlines including the late-night Pools Check; and t
9th February 1980
Feb 9, 1980 · 80 min
Norwich City v Liverpool Swindon Town v Sheffield Wednesday
16th February 1980: FA Cup Fifth Round
Feb 16, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of three outstanding games, and the important Cup and League news of the day. Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa Everton v Wrexham
23rd February 1980
Feb 23, 1980 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill presents action highlights of two Football League games from the First and Second Divisions. Plus the February Goal of the Month competition. Manchester United v Bristo
1st March 1980
Mar 1, 1980 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill introduces action highlights of two outstanding First Division matches. Bob Wilson gathers together the news of the day and there's the result of the February Goal of th
8th March 1980: FA Cup Sixth Round
Mar 8, 1980 · 80 min
Introduced by Jimmy Hill featuring the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. Highlights of today's games, plus all the atmosphere and tension that surrounds the Cup. Tottenham Hotspur v Live
15th March 1980
Mar 15, 1980 · 80 min
Action highlights of two Football League matches affecting the First Division championship, and the promotion battle at the top of the Third Division. Plus analysis, interviews and
22nd March 1980
Mar 22, 1980 · 80 min
Featuring highlights of two outstanding Football League games. Plus interviews, analysis and comment and the news of the day from Bob Wilson. Queens Park Rangers v Luton Town Man
29th March 1980
Mar 29, 1980 · 80 min
Football League Action and The Sun Grand National Steeplechase. Football Highlights of two outstanding First Division matches ... plus analysis, comment and the news of the day fr
5th April 1980
Apr 5, 1980 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill presents action highlights of two Football League games. Bob Wilson gathers together the day's news, and there's the result of the March Goal of the Month competition.
12th April 1980: FA Cup Semi Finals
Apr 12, 1980 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill presents one of football's days of the year, the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Match of the Day's cameras bring you the special excitement and tension that surrounds a Cup
19th April 1980
Apr 19, 1980 · 80 min
Action highlights of two Football League matches affecting championship honours, promotion and relegation. Plus interviews with the personalities of the day, analysis of the key mo
26th April 1980
Apr 26, 1980 · 80 min
Tonight's two matches affect the relegation struggle at the bottom of the First Division, and the battle to replace those teams next season from the top of Division II. There's the
3rd May 1980
May 3, 1980 · 80 min
On the last full Football League Saturday of the season, Jimmy Hill presents action highlights of two outstanding games. As well as the day's news from Bob Wilson, there's a furthe
10th May 1980: FA Cup Final - Arsenal v West Ham United
May 10, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of the 1980 FA Cup Final. Jimmy Hill presents the best action, analyses the key moments with Southampton manager Lawrie McMenemy and follows the after-match celebrations
13th May 1980: International Match of the Day featuring England v Argentina
May 13, 1980 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill introduces action highlights of tonight's match from the Empire Stadium, Wembley, where England entertain the current World Champions Argentina.
16th May 1980: Home International Championship
May 16, 1980 · 80 min
Action highlights of tonight's opening match in the Home International Soccer Championship. This is the first time for ten years that a full Scottish side has played in Northern Ir
17th May 1980: Home International Championship
May 17, 1980 · 80 min
Action highlights of this afternoon's match in the Home International Soccer Championships. Wales v England from the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
20th May 1980: Home International Championship
May 20, 1980 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill presents action highlights of tonight's match from the Empire Stadium, Wembley. England v Northern Ireland
23rd May 1980: Home International Championship
May 23, 1980 · 80 min
Featuring highlights of tonight's match from Ninian Park, Cardiff. Wales v Northern Ireland
24th May 1980: Home International Championship
May 24, 1980 · 80 min
Introduced by Jimmy Hill featuring highlights of Scotland v England played this afternoon at Hampden Park, Glasgow. This game is the climax of the Home International Championship