A new series relating the story of British football, tonight tracing its origins.
The years between 1923 and 1953 are remembered as a golden era, but footballers often found themselves treated as second class citizens. Tom Finney, Tommy Lawton, Nat Lofthouse and Sir Stanley Matthews are among those who recall the conditions of employment
By 1953 England had only been defeated at home by Eire. But in a match against Hungary, they were trounced 6-3. It was not until 1966 that they triumphed over Germany. Sir Alf Ramsey and other former England players and managers, including Sir Stanley Matthews, Billy Wright, Jack Charlton and Sir Walter Winterbottom, recall how England went from international humiliation to become world champions
Footballers threatened to go on strike in 1960 in their fight against the maximum wage. They won, and wealthy footballers soon became part of the showbiz scene.
Tonight's programme chronicles the decline of the English national side in the last 25 years, whilst the clubs have enjoyed unparalleled success in Europe. Sir Alf Ramsey, Jack Charlton, Bobby Robson, Ron Greenwood and Graham Taylor are among tonight's figures who recall the agony and the ecstasy of the last 25 years.
The year 1985, with the tragedy at Heysel and attendances at a post-war low, saw British football on the brink of self-destruction, blighted by the scourge of hooliganism. The events at Hillsborough two years later shook the game still further. Against this bleak backdrop, supporters and commercial forces clashed over control of the sport. The former won the battles, but it was the latter that eventually won the war.