Match of the Day: Season 1970/71
1970 saw the introduction of the Goal of the Month competition, which led to thousands of postcards being sent to the BBC.
Season 7 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 6.
- 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
1970 saw the introduction of the Goal of the Month competition, which led to thousands of postcards being sent to the BBC.
Episode Guide
Season 7 Progress Shield
FA Charity Shield: Chelsea v Everton
Aug 8, 1970 · 80 min
Match of the Day returns for a new season presenting tonight FA Charity Shield: FA Cup Winners Chelsea v Football League Champions Everton BBCtv's Saturday-night soccer action pro
15th August 1970
Aug 15, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces the new 1970-71 Football League season with a new two-match national soccer programme. Manchester United v Leeds United Chelsea v Derby County
22nd August 1970
Aug 22, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces the national two-match soccer programme plus expert big-game action analysis from Bob Wilson, Arsenal's goalkeeper and a member of the BBC World Cup panel
29th August 1970
Aug 29, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces one hour of action, news, views, and analysis from the third Saturday of the new League season. Everton v Manchester City Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry Ci
5th Septmber 1970
Sep 5, 1970 · 80 min
Introduced by David Coleman. Analysis from Bob Wilson. The start of the September action in the new 'Goal of the Month' competition. Liverpool v Manchester United Arsenal v Tott
12th September 1970
Sep 12, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action, news, views, and analysis from Saturday's Football League fixture parade. Sheffield Wednesday v Queens Park Rangers West Bromwich Albio
19th September 1970
Sep 19, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two First Division colour matches, top action analysis by Bob Wilson, the vital news and views from Saturday's fixture list. West Ham United v Newcastle U
26th September 1970
Sep 26, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match First Division action. Bob Wilson is the instant action expert. And it's the night when 'Goal of the Month' parades Match of the Day's new goal
3rd October 1970
Oct 3, 1970 · 80 min
Coventry City v Everton Liverpool v Chelsea Cardiff City v Middlesbrough (Wales Only) The result of the September 'Goal of the Month' competition. Alan Hardaker, Secretary of th
10th October 1970
Oct 10, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action, the important news and the vital views from Saturday's Football League programme. Chelsea v Manchester City Birmingham City v Sheffield
17th October 1970
Oct 17, 1970 · 80 min
Arsenal v Everton Cardiff City v Leicester City Goals scored in this programme count in the 'Goal of the Month' competition.
24th October 1970
Oct 24, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match First Division action and a news - views analysis of the Saturday talking points. Derby County v Leeds United Ipswich Town v Liverpool The fou
31st October 1970
Oct 31, 1970 · 80 min
Introduced by David Coleman. Newcastle United v Manchester United Torquay United v Fulham Cardiff City v Hull City (Wales only) Who will win the October 'Goal of the Month' com
7th November 1970
Nov 7, 1970 · 80 min
Hull City v Luton Town Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff City (Wales only) The winning 1-2-3 selection will be shown from the October 'Goal of the Month'
14th November 1970
Nov 14, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces action from two First Division matches prominent on the day's Football League fixture list. Manchester City v Derby County West Bromwich Albion v Southam
21st November 1970
Nov 21, 1970 · 80 min
Introduced by David Coleman. Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United Oxford United v Swindon Town Goals shown from tonight's two matches can be included in the November 'Goal of
28th November 1970
Nov 28, 1970 · 80 min
Introduced by David Coleman. Fulham v Aston Villa Everton v Tottenham Hotspur The best November goals go on parade for the 'Goal of the Month' competition - winning result next
5th December 1970
Dec 5, 1970 · 80 min
Action from two First Division matches, analysis and news from the day's Football League programme and the result of the November 'Goal of the Month' competition. Liverpool v Leed
12th December 1970
Dec 12, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman presents this two-match action soccer programme plus the news, views, and analysis from the day's football league programme. Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers Cardi
19th December 1970
Dec 19, 1970 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces two-match action plus the real news and the right views from the day's Football League fixture list. Manchester United v Arsenal Leicester City v Queens
26th December 1970
Dec 26, 1970 · 80 min
Two First Division matches; the December 'Goal of the Month' parade; top news and views from the holiday fixture list. Derby County v Manchester United Cardiff City v Swindon Tow
Match of the Day: The FA Cup Third Round
Jan 2, 1971 · 80 min
Football match action from three of the leading ties in the third round of the FA Cup. This is the round which brings in Chelsea, the present holders of the FA Cup; also Leeds Uni
9th January 1971
Jan 9, 1971 · 80 min
Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur Manchester City v Crystal Palace Today's goals can be included in the January parade for 'Goal of the Month', the most popular football competiti
16th January 1971
Jan 16, 1971 · 80 min
Huddersfield Town v Arsenal Manchester United v Burnley Barry Davies introduces this two-match action plus analysis.
Match of the Day: The FA Cup Fourth Round
Jan 23, 1971 · 80 min
Action from three of today's 16 Fourth Round FA Cup ties. The Fourth Round draw lives up to its reputation for providing classic pairings. Action, analysis, news and views about t
30th January 1971
Jan 30, 1971 · 80 min
Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace The January goal parade from matches shown in both League and Cup matches for the sixth 'Goal of the Month
6th February 1971
Feb 6, 1971 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces action, news, analysis, interviews. Leeds United v Liverpool Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Match of the Day: FA Cup Fifth Round
Feb 13, 1971 · 80 min
Three of today's leading Fifth Round FA Cup ties as the battle for places on the Wembley Cup Final trail narrows down to the last eight clubs. David Coleman, Kenneth Wolstenholme a
20th February 1971
Feb 20, 1971 · 80 min
Featuring action highlights from two of today's attractive Football League fixtures. Portsmouth v Luton Town West Ham United v Manchester City
27th February 1971
Feb 27, 1971 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces action highlights from two First Division matches and the 'Goal of the Month' competition. Derby County v Arsenal Crystal Palace v Burnley
Match of the Day: FA Cup Quarter-finals
Mar 6, 1971 · 80 min
Match action from two of today's FA Cup Sixth Round ties. David Coleman and Kenneth Wolstenholme are the commentators on a Cup afternoon when Fourth Division Colchester United and
13th March 1971
Mar 13, 1971 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces action from two important First Division matches. Blackpool v Leeds United Coventry City v Liverpool
20th March 1971
Mar 20, 1971 · 80 min
Featuring two-match action focusing on the Second Division's promotion tussle, the most competitive area in League soccer right now, and a First Division battle from one of the old
Match of the Day: The FA Cup Semi-Final
Mar 27, 1971 · 80 min
Action from one of today's FA Cup Semi-Finals, the last stage before the Wembley Final on 8 May. Everton v Liverpool All the Cup news, views and interviews plus the parade of Mar
3rd April 1971
Apr 3, 1971 · 80 min
Bristol Rovers v Preston North End Coventry City v Tottenham Hotspur
10th April 1971
Apr 10, 1971 · 80 min
Promotion: Soccer action from the Second Division where clubs have been fighting it out at the top. Leicester City v Sheffield United Relegation: Soccer action from the First Div
17th April 1971
Apr 17, 1971 · 80 min
Introduced by David Coleman. Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion Arsenal v Newcastle United Cardiff City v Watford (Wales only)
24th April 1971
Apr 24, 1971 · 80 min
Introduced by David Coleman. Southampton v Leeds United Millwall v Hull City
1st May 1971
May 1, 1971 · 80 min
News, views, analysis... David Coleman introduces the key issues from the Saturday scene. Liverpool v Southampton Fulham v Preston North End
Cup Final Match of the Day
May 8, 1971 · 80 min
David Coleman introduces action highlights from this afternoon's Arsenal v Liverpool 1971 Cup Final from the winners' celebration hotel in London's West End. The Expert View-from
International Match of the Day: 15th May 1971
May 15, 1971 · 80 min
Features Northern Ireland v England from Windsor Park, Belfast and Wales v Scotland from Ninian Park, Cardiff David Coleman introduces double international soccer action from the
International Match of the Day: 22nd May 1971
May 22, 1971 · 80 min
England v Scotland from Wembley and Northern Ireland v Wales from Belfast David Coleman is the commentator at Wembley Stadium for the oldest soccer international in the world - En
29th May 1971
May 29, 1971 · 80 min
Featuring action from one of the six Anglo-Italian tournament matches being played today in this attractive competition involving Blackpool, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield, Stoke Cit