Retro TV and Pearce have us dreaming dreams

No matter what else the television sports year offers up, we think we saw its most delightful touch last Saturday night.

When Match of the Day for its 50th anniversary went with retro graphics for the Crystal Palace-West Ham game it confused some younger viewers we know, wondering just what had happened to their screens, but for those of us of a more senior generation the old-school lineouts and old match clock triggered all kinds of memories.

The first brought us back to when we were just seven, and like probably thousands of kids the same age across the country, we’d be tucked into bed at about 9pm on the promise we’d be woken up again around 10.30 to catch Jimmy Hill’s chin, Brian Clough’s lip and, more importantly, Tony Woodcock’s latest goal for the Forest.