Match of the Day: Season 1987/88
Role: Meticulous television and film archivist. Task: Produce a JSON object for "Match of the Day" Season 24. Constraints: Use ONLY provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES. No invented titles, names, dates, counts, awards, ratings, box-office, viewership, or plot points. If not in material, omit it. Style: Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose in plain text. No markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points (except for
Season 24 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 23.
- 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
Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
Task: Produce a JSON object for "Match of the Day" Season 24.
Constraints:
Use ONLY provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
No invented titles, names, dates, counts, awards, ratings, box-office, viewership, or plot points.
If not in material, omit it.
Style: Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose in plain text.
No markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points (except for the primer array content which is requested as bullet points, but the instruction says "no bullet points" in the prose style section; however, the JSON structure requires an array for primer). Correction: The prompt asks for an array of 4 concise bullet points for the primer key. I will provide the array elements as strings.
Output: Valid JSON only.
Keys:
overview: 160-220 word summary.
primer: Array of exactly 4 concise bullet points.
Synopsis: Focus on big clubs. Shows were irregular. Format: mixture of live League games on Sunday afternoons and highlights shows for the FA Cup. Jimmy Hill's final season as presenter after 15 years.
Source 1: BBC's football highlights and analysis. Longest-running football television programme in the world (Guinness World Records).
Source 2: Same as Source 1.
Source 3: Football highlights programme, typically broadcast on BBC One on Saturday nights during the Premier League season.
Source 4: Rating 84% (not relevant for narrative/overview unless needed, but I should avoid it if it's just a user rating).
Goal: 160-220 words.
Content: Season 24 focuses on big clubs and features an irregular broadcast schedule. The program maintains the format established in the previous year, which includes a combination of live League games aired on Sunday afternoons alongside highlights shows dedicated to the FA Cup. This particular season marks a significant transition for the series as it is the final season for presenter Jimmy Hill. Hill concludes his tenure with the program after a record-breaking period of 15 years in charge of the show. As a football highlights and analysis program from the BBC, the series continues its role within the broader context of football broadcasting. While the show is typically broadcast on Saturday nights during the Premier League season, this season's structure involves these specific Sunday afternoon live games and FA Cup highlights.
Word Count Check:
"Season 24
Episode Guide
Season 24 Progress Shield
29th August 1987: Arsenal v Portsmouth
Aug 29, 1987 · 80 min
Shown unscheduled as part of "Sports Special" with Athletics and Boxing.
20th September 1987: Newcastle United v Liverpool
Sep 20, 1987 · 80 min
The first live Match of the Day of 1987 features two of the season's most talked-about teams.
17th October 1987: Liverpool v Queens Park Rangers
Oct 17, 1987 · 80 min
Billed as part of "Sports Special" with Snooker, Golf and Cricket (30min football).
1st November 1987: Liverpool v Everton
Nov 1, 1987 · 80 min
Of the 136 League derbies played between the giants of Merseyside, all of them in the First Division, Liverpool have won 48 to Everton's 47, with 41 games drawn. These clubs head t
22nd November 1987: Derby County v Chelsea
Nov 22, 1987 · 80 min
BBC cameras are at the Baseball Ground to assess clubs of great tradition who were in the Second Division when they last met four seasons ago.
13th December 1987: Coventry City v Arsenal
Dec 13, 1987 · 80 min
George Graham 's forecast, when he took over at Highbury last year, was that Arsenal could be genuine contenders for the league title within two seasons. The timing looks right. La
28th December 1987
Dec 28, 1987 · 80 min
As a breath of fresh air over the holiday, here's action highlights from two Barclays League First Division matches with analysis and interviews. Manchester United v Everton Tott
3rd January 1988: Everton v Nottingham Forest
Jan 3, 1988 · 80 min
The first live football coverage of the New Year features two of the clubs who have spent the first half of the season in pursuit of the Barclays League leaders.
10th January 1988: FA Cup Third Round: Ipswich Town v Manchester United
Jan 10, 1988 · 80 min
The FA Cup, won six times by Manchester United, has gone to East Anglia just once - ten years ago, when Bobby Robson 's Ipswich shocked Arsenal at Wembley.
16th January 1988
Jan 16, 1988 · 80 min
Highlights of one of today's top Barclay's League matches, an action report from another, and a comprehensive round-up of the day's other soccer stories. Liverpool v Arsenal Asto
24th January 1988: Arsenal v Manchester United
Jan 24, 1988 · 80 min
After establishing a club record of 14 straight wins in the first half of the season, Arsenal have momentarily gone off the boil. A draw against West Ham and victories over Charlto
30th January 1988: FA Cup Fourth Round
Jan 30, 1988 · 80 min
Action highlights from this afternoon's games, plus all the atmosphere and tension that surrounds the Cup. Manchester United v Chelsea Port Vale v Tottenham Hotspur Leyton Orien
21st February 1988: FA Cup Fifth Round: Everton v Liverpool
Feb 21, 1988 · 80 min
The FA Cup Fifth Round brings yet another mighty confrontation between the giants of Mersey side, with Everton attempting to reach the final for the fourth time in five seasons and
28th February 1988: League Cup Semi-Final, Second Leg: Luton Town v Oxford United
Feb 28, 1988 · 80 min
Luton were barred from last season's Littlewoods Cup because of their ban on away fans. They had second thoughts for 1987-88 and now, after drawing the first leg of this semi-final
6th March 1988: Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Mar 6, 1988 · 80 min
The last live match from this season's Barclays League is the 102nd time these great north London rivals have disputed points in a series that began in 1909. Rival managers George
12th March 1988: FA Cup Sixth Round
Mar 12, 1988 · 80 min
Action highlights, analysis and interviews, plus all the atmosphere and tension that surrounds the Cup. Arsenal v Nottingham Forest Wimbledon v Watford Luton Town v Portsmouth
4th April 1988
Apr 4, 1988 · 80 min
Action highlights from two matches in the Barclays League, at a crucial point of the season. Portsmouth v Nottingham Forest Liverpool v Manchester United
9th April 1988: FA Cup Semi-finals
Apr 9, 1988 · 80 min
Only one step away from Wembley, a journey never experienced before by First Division newcomers Wimbledon. This afternoon at White Hart Lane, they face Luton Town who will be tryin
14th May 1988: FA Cup Final: Wimbledon v Liverpool
May 14, 1988 · 80 min
Highlights of this afternoon's FA Cup Final from Wembley Stadium between Liverpool and Wimbledon. Jimmy Hill presents the best action, analyses the key moments and talks to the pla