1970 saw the introduction of the Goal of the Month competition, which led to thousands of postcards being sent to the BBC.
Episode 1
FA Charity Shield: Chelsea v Everton
August 8, 1970
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 programme returns with exclusive colour coverage of the 33rd meeting of the previous season's League champions and FA Cup winners. Everton have played in this popular curtain-raiser to the season on five occasions - winning it in 1928, 1932, and 1963. Chelsea, with their new £100,000 close-season signing, Keith Weller from Millwall, hope to repeat their 1955 championship triumph when they beat Newcastle three-nil.
Episode 2
15th August 1970
August 15, 1970
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
Episode 3
22nd August 1970
August 22, 1970
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 of experts. Arsenal v Manchester United Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur
Episode 4
29th August 1970
August 29, 1970
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 City
Episode 5
5th Septmber 1970
September 5, 1970
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 Tottenham Hotspur The goals scored in these two Colour matches will be shown at the end of the month and viewers will be asked to nominate their 1-2-3 selections.
Episode 6
12th September 1970
September 12, 1970
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 Albion v West Ham United Each goal from these matches can feature at the end of the month in Match of the Day's new "Goal of the Month" competition.
Episode 7
19th September 1970
September 19, 1970
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 United Derby County v Burnley All goals seen in this programme count in the 'Goal of the Month' competition which brought a tremendous entry in August. The winner then was Mr Leslie Walman from Salford, a Manchester City season-ticket holder for the past 20 seasons.
Episode 8
26th September 1970
September 26, 1970
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 competition. Stoke City v Arsenal Nottingham Forest v Leeds United The best goals from September's Match of the Day programmes will be shown for selection tonight. The first postcard received which agrees with an expert 1-2-3 selection gets £100-worth of premium bonds and a visit to the commentary position when Match of the Day is next in his or her area.
Episode 9
3rd October 1970
October 3, 1970
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 the Football League, presents the first winning cheque in the new national Ford Sporting League. Tonight the winning 1-2-3 selection of the September 'Goal of the Month' competition will be shown, and the first £2,500 cheque will be handed to the club topping the Ford Sporting League at the end of September.
Episode 10
10th October 1970
October 10, 1970
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 United The pick of the goals from the two matches above count in the 'Goal of the Month' competition.
Episode 11
17th October 1970
October 17, 1970
Arsenal v Everton Cardiff City v Leicester City Goals scored in this programme count in the 'Goal of the Month' competition.
Episode 12
24th October 1970
October 24, 1970
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 fourth Saturday of goal action for the October 'Goal of the Month' competition which last month attracted 35,000 entries.
Episode 13
31st October 1970
October 31, 1970
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' competition which last month attracted a remarkable total of 35,000 postcards? Tonight all the key October goals are on parade. The winner will be announced next Saturday.
Episode 14
7th November 1970
November 7, 1970
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' competition.
Episode 15
14th November 1970
November 14, 1970
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 Southampton Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers (Wales only) Goals of the day: news of the day: views and analysis.
Episode 16
21st November 1970
November 21, 1970
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 the Month' competition which reaches its four-match finale next Saturday in Match of the Day. Last month's postcard entry totalled 65,000.
Episode 17
28th November 1970
November 28, 1970
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 Saturday.
Episode 18
5th December 1970
December 5, 1970
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 Leeds United Chelsea v Newcastle United The 'Goal of the Month' competition has produced an August winner from Salford; a woman supporter of Huddersfield Town won in September; and 11-year-old Jimmy Slattery from Redruth, Cornwall, selected the winning goals for October.
Episode 19
12th December 1970
December 12, 1970
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 Cardiff City v Sunderland
Episode 20
19th December 1970
December 19, 1970
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 Park Rangers More goals on parade for the 'Goal of the Month' competition which has now attracted more than 200,000 postcard entries since the season began last August.
Episode 21
26th December 1970
December 26, 1970
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 Town Goals from the December matches for the fifth month of the highly popular 'Goal of the Month' competition which attracts an average monthly entry of 60,000 postcards.
Episode 22
Match of the Day: The FA Cup Third Round
January 2, 1971
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 United, beaten by Chelsea after two thrilling, extra-time Cup Finals last season; and Manchester United, who were involved in three semi-finals against Leeds last March. Blackpool v West Ham United Manchester City v Wigan Nottingham Forest v Luton Town The result of the December 'Goal of the Month' competition.
Episode 23
9th January 1971
January 9, 1971
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 competition on television.
Episode 24
16th January 1971
January 16, 1971
Huddersfield Town v Arsenal Manchester United v Burnley Barry Davies introduces this two-match action plus analysis.
Episode 25
Match of the Day: The FA Cup Fourth Round
January 23, 1971
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 the teams seeking Wembley glory and Cup Final profits. Derby County v Wolverhampton Wanderers Portsmouth v Arsenal Everton v Middlesbrough
Episode 26
30th January 1971
January 30, 1971
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' competition this season.
Episode 27
6th February 1971
February 6, 1971
David Coleman introduces action, news, analysis, interviews. Leeds United v Liverpool Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Episode 28
Match of the Day: FA Cup Fifth Round
February 13, 1971
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 and Barry Davies are the commentators at the matches. David Coleman introduces news, interviews, action analysis. Colchester United v Leeds United Liverpool v Southampton Leicester City v Oxford United
Episode 29
20th February 1971
February 20, 1971
Featuring action highlights from two of today's attractive Football League fixtures. Portsmouth v Luton Town West Ham United v Manchester City
Episode 30
27th February 1971
February 27, 1971
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
Episode 31
Match of the Day: FA Cup Quarter-finals
March 6, 1971
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 Second Division Leicester City and Hull City attempt to move into the lucrative last four on the Wembley trail. David Coleman introduces the two-match action and news, analysis, views and interviews. Everton v Colchester United Leicester City v Arsenal
Episode 32
13th March 1971
March 13, 1971
David Coleman introduces action from two important First Division matches. Blackpool v Leeds United Coventry City v Liverpool
Episode 33
20th March 1971
March 20, 1971
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 oldest and most respected clubs in the Football League. News, views, analysis from Saturday's busy football programme introduced by David Coleman. Luton Town v Hull City Nottingham Forest v Everton
Episode 34
Match of the Day: The FA Cup Semi-Final
March 27, 1971
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 March goals for the return of the 'Goal of the Month' competition.
Episode 35
3rd April 1971
April 3, 1971
Bristol Rovers v Preston North End Coventry City v Tottenham Hotspur
Episode 36
10th April 1971
April 10, 1971
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 Division where desperate attempts are being made to prevent the drop to the Second. Burnley v Blackpool Introduced by David Coleman.
Episode 37
17th April 1971
April 17, 1971
Introduced by David Coleman. Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion Arsenal v Newcastle United Cardiff City v Watford (Wales only)
Episode 38
24th April 1971
April 24, 1971
Introduced by David Coleman. Southampton v Leeds United Millwall v Hull City
Episode 39
1st May 1971
May 1, 1971
News, views, analysis... David Coleman introduces the key issues from the Saturday scene. Liverpool v Southampton Fulham v Preston North End
Episode 40
Cup Final Match of the Day
May 8, 1971
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 Don Revie (Manager of Leeds United), Joe Mercer (Manager of Manchester City) and Bobby Charlton (Captain of Manchester United).
Episode 41
International Match of the Day: 15th May 1971
May 15, 1971
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 opening matches of the 1971 Home International Tournament. At Belfast David Coleman is the commentator; and the expert action analysis comes from Don Revie (Leeds United manager), Noel Cantwell (Coventry City manager) and Bobby Charlton (captain of Manchester United). At Cardiff Barry Davies is the commentator and the neutral expert is Joe Mercer (Manchester City manager). The complete picture of the opening day with news, views, interviews and analysis supporting the two-match action.
Episode 42
International Match of the Day: 22nd May 1971
May 22, 1971
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 - England v Scotland. Kenneth Wolstenholme is the commentator at Windsor Park, Belfast, for N Ireland v Wales and yet another spectacular home appearance from Ireland's favourite footballer - George Best of Manchester United. BBC soccer experts Don Revie, Jock Stein, Joe Mercer, Noel Cantwell and Bobby Charlton analyse the key action and sum up the 1971 Home International tournament.
Episode 43
29th May 1971
May 29, 1971
Featuring action from one of the six Anglo-Italian tournament matches being played today in this attractive competition involving Blackpool, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield, Stoke City, Swindon Town, and West Bromwich. Crystal Palace v Inter Milan After today's matches the clubs will play two more rounds in Italy. The competition awards two points for a win, one point for a draw, and one additional point for every goal scored.