Match of the Day: Season 1983/84
Match of the Day was back on Saturday nights as a highlights show but was supplemented by live matches on Friday evenings. The BBC and ITV had been allocated seven games each with the commercial channel choosing to broadcast theirs on Sunday afternoons. This was a radical change in strategy by all involved as prior to this new two year contract the only regular live domestic football had been the FA Cup Final, Englan
Season 20 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 19.
- 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
Match of the Day was back on Saturday nights as a highlights show but was supplemented by live matches on Friday evenings. The BBC and ITV had been allocated seven games each with the commercial channel choosing to broadcast theirs on Sunday afternoons. This was a radical change in strategy by all involved as prior to this new two year contract the only regular live domestic football had been the FA Cup Final, England against Scotland and the European Cup Final. Match of the Day was cancelled from 15 October to 19 November due to strike action at the BBC.
Episode Guide
Season 20 Progress Shield
20th August 1983: FA Charity Shield
Aug 20, 1983 · 80 min
Highlights of the Football Association's annual curtain-raiser between the Football League Champions, Liverpool, and the FA Cup holders, Manchester United, played at the Empire Sta
27th August 1983
Aug 27, 1983 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill presents action highlights from two First Division games on the opening day of the football league season. Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion Manchester United v Queen
3rd September 1983
Sep 3, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from first and second division games in the north and south, plus analysis and interviews. Liverpool v Nottingham Forest Fulham v Portsmouth
10th September 1983
Sep 10, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division games plus analysis and interviews. Arsenal v Liverpool Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City
17th September 1983
Sep 17, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division games plus analysis and interviews. Southampton v Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
24th September 1983
Sep 24, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division games plus analysis and interviews. Also, a chance to win £100 worth of Premium Bonds in the August/September Goal of the Month competitio
1st October 1983
Oct 1, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division games plus analysis and interviews. Also the result of the August/September Goal of the Month competition. Stoke City v West Ham United
8th October 1983
Oct 8, 1983 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill presents highlights from two second division matches plus analysis and interviews. Newcastle United v Charlton Athletic Manchester City v Swansea City
15th October 1983
Oct 15, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division games plus analysis and interviews. West Ham United v Liverpool Leicester City v Southampton
19th November 1983
Nov 19, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from First and Second Division matches plus analysis and interviews. Luton Town v Tottenham Hotspur Aston Villa v Leicester City
26th November 1983
Nov 26, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division matches plus analysis and interviews. Also, a chance to win £100 worth of Premium Bonds in the November Goal of the Month competition. Ip
3rd December 1983
Dec 3, 1983 · 80 min
Chelsea v Manchester City Sunderland v Ipswich Town
10th December 1983
Dec 10, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division matches plus analysis and interviews. Coventry City v Liverpool West Ham United v Arsenal
16th December 1983
Dec 16, 1983 · 80 min
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur. One of the season's most attractive Canon League matches in one of the game's finest arenas, Old Trafford. FA Cup holders Manchester United h
31st December 1983
Dec 31, 1983 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division matches, plus analysis and interviews. Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers Everton v Coventry City
6th January 1984: FA Cup Third Round
Jan 6, 1984 · 80 min
Traditionally the most enthralling stage of the season, as first and second division clubs join the 20 survivors from the Leagues lower reaches and beyond. Match of the Day kicks o
13th January 1984
Jan 13, 1984 · 80 min
Queens Park Rangers v Manchester United. For Manchester United, with the most expensive squad ever assembled in British football, there is an entirely new experience tonight when t
20th January 1984
Jan 20, 1984 · 80 min
Aston Villa v Liverpool. In the last five seasons the League Championship has eluded Liverpool only once - in 1981 when the title went to Aston Villa for the seventh time. Tonight
28th January 1984: FA Cup Fourth Round
Jan 28, 1984 · 80 min
Featuring highlights from three matches in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Also a chance to win £100 worth of Premium Bonds in the January Goal of the Month competition. Shrewsbur
4th February 1984
Feb 4, 1984 · 80 min
Match of the Day highlights the quality football in the lower divisions featuring important Canon League matches in the Second and Fourth Divisions, plus analysis and interviews. A
11th February 1984
Feb 11, 1984 · 80 min
Action highlights from First and Second Division matches in the Canon League plus analysis and interviews. Notts County v Watford Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton Athletic
17th February 1984: FA Cup Fifth Round
Feb 17, 1984 · 80 min
Blackburn Rovers v Southampton. From an entry of 448 clubs, the FA Cup is down to the last 16, but there is still plenty of 'Cup tradition' among the survivors. Blackburn Rovers, a
25th February 1984
Feb 25, 1984 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division matches, plus analysis and interviews. Also, a chance to win £100 worth of premium bonds in the February Goal of the Month competition. N
3rd March 1984
Mar 3, 1984 · 80 min
Action highlights from First and Second Division matches plus analysis and interviews. Also the result of the February Goal of the Month competition. Leicester City v Watford Che
10th March 1984: FA Cup Sixth Round
Mar 10, 1984 · 80 min
Action highlights from this afternoon's games, plus all the atmosphere and tension that surrounds the Cup. Birmingham City v Watford Plymouth Argyle v Derby County Notts County
16th March 1984
Mar 16, 1984 · 80 min
Southampton v Liverpool. This Canon Division One match, live from the Dell, suggests a busy night is in store for both goalkeepers based on the results of this fixture for the last
24th March 1984
Mar 24, 1984 · 80 min
Action highlights from First and Third Division matches plus analysis and interviews. Queens Park Rangers v Southampton Wimbledon v Walsall
31st March 1984
Mar 31, 1984 · 80 min
Action highlights from First and Second Division matches. Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday Birmingham City v Aston Villa
7th April 1984
Apr 7, 1984 · 80 min
Action highlights from First and Second Division matches plus analysis and interviews. And the result of the March Goal of the Month competition. Queens Park Rangers v Ipswich Tow
14th April 1984: FA Cup Semi Final
Apr 14, 1984 · 80 min
Will Plymouth Argyle become the first Third Division team to play in an FA Cup Final? They face First Division Watford, eager to write their own bit of history with a first Wembley
21st April 1984
Apr 21, 1984 · 80 min
Action highlights from First and Second Division matches plus analysis and interviews. Manchester United v Coventry City Sheffield Wednesday v Grimsby Town
28th April 1984
Apr 28, 1984 · 80 min
Action highlights from two First Division matches plus analysis and interviews. Also a chance to win £100 in Premium Bonds in the April Goal of the Month competition. Liverpool v
4th May 1984
May 4, 1984 · 80 min
Manchester City v Chelsea. Maine Road, Manchester is the venue for the last of five Canon League matches shown live this season. It is currently a Second Division location, but Ma
12th May 1984
May 12, 1984 · 80 min
Highlights of two Canon League matches affecting championship honours, promotions and relegations. Notts County v Liverpool Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion
19th May 1984: FA Cup Final
May 19, 1984 · 80 min
Everton v Watford. Jimmy Hill presents best of the action, analyses the key moments and follows the after-match celebrations of the winners.
2nd June 1984: International Football
Jun 2, 1984 · 80 min
England v USSR from Wembley Stadium. Introduced by Jimmy Hill.