Radio stars
06/05/05 | by Will Nathan

With work commitments, lack of funds and a large helping of pessimism I haven’t been to a single away game this season. This leaves me the option of either watching the scores change on Teletext – which can be quite exciting, surprisingly – or relying on the eyes and words of radio commentators. Listening to the radio can be an utterly tortuous experience; it makes you wish you were actually there, even if Forest are losing, because at least you’re not being told how shit they are, you can work it out for yourself. The big advantage is that you can simply turn it off, oblivious for a while of how miserably they’re playing.

Oddly, one of my favourite times listening to the radio was during a defeat for the Reds. It was back in the 1993/94 season and, after a shaky start to the campaign, Forest went on a sixteen-match unbeaten run, pushing for automatic promotion back to the Premiership. After hammering rivals Leicester City 4-0 at home came the next fixture, Notts County at Meadow Lane.

On this occasion Radio Nottingham used both Reds correspondent Martin Fisher and the legendary Notts County commentator Colin Slater. Martin Fisher’s commentary was always a great listen, especially this particular season. His descriptions of Stan Collymore’s all conquering routes to goal were absolutely gripping. They usually climaxed with his voice capitulating with both excitement and amazement. Colin Slater’s commentary was, and still is, a joy to listen to. He can provide the entertainment missing from a dull County fixture with an innocent but highly amusing double entendre (lovely little floater) or with a traditional but rare saying like “Goal to the good” or “Johnny on the spot”.

On 12th February 1994 the two men went head-to-head. Civilly, I might add. Gary McSwegan (remember him?) gave Colin Slater something to get excited about early on in the game, but the real drama came late on. I remember being confused when, out of the blue, David Philips equalised for Forest in the last five minutes. Fisher’s commentary became puzzling, as radio commentary can, especially when they assume you know what’s happening. I couldn’t work out whether we’d scored or Notts had got a second. Thankfully it was Forest. A point would be enough for Forest’s promotion hopes. However, it was Slater who had the last word. 

Deep into injury-time, Notts won a free kick, the ball was swung in and County’s Charlie Palmer nodded the ball into the net. I should have been gutted. I should have punched the wall or threw a cushion, but I simply revelled and enjoyed every second of Colin Slater’s reaction. The disbelief in the commentator’s voice was clear for all to hear, his voice broke and wobbled as he exclaimed: “IT’S CHARLIE PALMER!!! … OF ALL PEOPLE!!!” Of course, you’d appreciate it more if you remember it or if you could hear it now, but the emotion in his voice showed just how much a victory over Forest meant to him and all involved in Notts County. This was evident when I went to school on the Monday and the County fans triumphantly came out of their closets wearing ‘2-1’ badges. 

It’s a huge responsibility for a commentator to describe a football match for the benefit of those back home. They have the power to make you dance around the room but also the words to fill you with utter despair, make you punch the wall or even cry. They feel the pain or delirium as much as we do and, rain or shine, they have to be there at every single game… poor sods.