:: David Jones
Sports Editor, 1967-79
David Jones meets SY's Olympic athletes, 1968
How did you come to work at Radio Sheffield?
My Radio Sheffield adventure began soon after I was persuaded to leave The People, where I was chief Sports sub and become Sports Editor of the Morning Telegraph. IÌý was then invited to combine my job at The Telegraph with that as the first Sports Editor at Radio Sheffield, and after a nervous audition when my hand which was holding the trial script shook like a leaf, I plunged into one of the most exciting periods of my life after barely a day’s training in radio reporting.
Did you have any embarrassing on air moments?
It’s worth remembering that this was the introduction of local radio to this country and we had to make a lot of it up as we went along. At the start, all our reports had to be made over a telephone.ÌýOne Saturday afternoon I was just about to make my pre-match report from Hillsborough when someone back at the studio came on in a panic to say they had hit trouble and could I keep talking until they’d sorted it out.
With no talkback we couldn’tÌýspeak to each other until I’d finished my report but after about 20 minutes I couldn’t think of another thing so handed back to the studio to be told they’d solved the problem after a couple of minutes but decided to let me gabble on to see how long I could last!
Other good memories?
When six of our local athletes made it to the Olympics in 1968 we had a great time getting them all together for an exclusive preview and then covering the homecoming of medal winners John and Sheila Sherwood.
Bramall Lane Press Conference, Grand Hotel, 1970
Also, in 1970 Radio Sheffield made a special broadcast of a debate I organised at the Grand Hotel to discuss whether they should kick Yorkshire cricket out of Bramall Lane. The Lane was only a three-sided ground at that time and cricket was clearly holding back its development. We had an all-star panel, chaired by Michael Parkinson, with Fred Trueman and Norman Yardley speaking for cricket, and Harold Brook and Mike Finley representing soccer.
Who do you particularly remember?
It was about 1970 when I recruited a bright young reporter named John Motson and gave him his first broadcasting experience covering sports news and soccer matches at Radio Sheffield. John was a natural from the start and I was privileged to be a guest when he starred on This Is Your Life.
What was your proudest moment at Radio Sheffield?
Things really took off for me when, as well as being Sports Editor at The Telegraph and Radio Sheffield I was asked, when Yorkshire Television was launched,Ìýto co-present a weekly show with Fred Trueman; and that led to the most exciting day in my sporting life with Radio Sheffield right at the heart of it.
WhenÌý Sheffield Wednesday unexpectedly heldÌýLeeds to a draw in the FA Cup at Hillsborough they replayedÌýat Elland Road the following Wednesday, and that day began with Fred and I recording our weekly YTV show in the morning with Charlie Chester as ourÌýguest."
After phoning a preview of the replay into theÌýRadio Sheffield teatime show, IÌýspent aboutÌýan hour live on-air, covering the matchÌýfrom Elland Road.
"I can honestly say that my days inÌýSheffield, and especially those spentÌý at Radio Sheffield, have been the happiest."
David Jones
WithÌýWednesday scoringÌýa surprise victory I grabbed some radio interviews with their players, and dashed back to Sheffield to lay out the sports pages for The Telegraph and put the paper to bed before finally sitting in my car outside the radio station at 3.30 in the morning recording a match report. It was quite a day and one I’ll never forget.
What happened after you left Radio Sheffield?
After a spell as Sports Editor of Granada TV I moved to the North East in 1979 to make a coaching series with Jack Charlton.ÌýI then joined Tyne Tees TV as a staff producerÌýorganising coverage of the Queen’s 25th anniversary visit to the North East and the visit of US President Jimmy Carter.
After a spell producing the networked Face The Press series for ITV I was able to get back to my first love, sport, and make documentaries for ITV. My work on Steve Cram, like the Charlton series, won a silver medal in the New York Film and Television Festival.
How would you sum up your Radio Sheffield experience?
Quite simply I have a lot to be grateful for when I look back on my time at Radio Sheffield and I’m very proud of the fact that along with my opposite number at Radio Leicester I can say I was the first sports editor on local radio in the UK, though I’ve never forgiven the Beeb for letting Leicester get on air a week before us.
Yes, I can honestly say that my days in Sheffield, and especially those spentÌýat Radio Sheffield, have been the happiest.
