Guy Mowbray

Guy Nicholas Mowbray (born 16 February 1972) is a football commentator on British television and is with the BBC. While working for Eurosport at the 1998 World Cup, he became the youngest ever television commentator on a World Cup Final, aged 26.^[2]

Early life

His career began in the mid-1990s through the ClubCall network, a series of premium rate phone lines containing club information and commentaries. He joined BBC Radio York where he covered rugby league, cricket and football. He then moved to commercial station Sun FM in Sunderland and then to Metro Radio in Newcastle.

Whilst at Metro Radio he started commentating on Sunderland's matches alongside summariser Eric Gates. During this time he became sports editor and won Sony and EMAP Radio Awards.

Broadcasting career

Eurosport (1997–1999)

In April 1997 he made his television debut with Eurosport. In little over a year he became their primary commentator, leading the team (which included Archie Macpherson, Angus Loughran, Tim Caple and Mike Vince) at the 1998 World Cup in France. At 26 he became the youngest broadcaster to commentate on the World Cup Final for television, and also picked up the Newcomer of the Year award from the Royal Television Society.

ITV (1999–2004)

Mowbray departed Eurosport and Metro Radio in 1999 to join ITV. In five years with the network he covered live Champions League, Football League and Italian matches. He was a leading member of the commentary team on the ill-fated ITV Sport Channel. He also contributed commentaries at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004 as well as the 2002 World Cup. ITV also held the rights to Premiership highlights for three seasons and Mowbray was a regular commentator alongside Clive Tyldesley, Peter Drury and Jon Champion on the Saturday night highlights show.

BBC (2004–present)

However, with the loss of Premiership highlights to BBC in 2004 Mowbray found his prospects at ITV limited and turned freelance, gaining regular work with the BBC on Match of the Day. Due to a change in format, the BBC send commentators to all the Premiership matches played on a Saturday, so Mowbray has been able to commentate on a Premiership match virtually on a weekly basis. Mowbray has established himself in the BBC team and has been afforded live match opportunities in the FA Cup, as well as travelling to the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008 and the women's World Cup in China in autumn 2007.

Alongside his BBC commitments Mowbray has also contributed frequently to Eurosport's coverage since 2004 and has occasionally covered matches for Setanta Sports. In January 2010, Mowbray became presenter for the Yorkshire & Lincolnshire edition of the BBC's regional football show Late Kick Off, and the following month he commentated on the BBC's live coverage of the 2010 Football League Cup Final.

Mowbray was the chosen commentator for the BBC's coverage of England games at the 2010 World Cup following the retirement of John Motson from live commentary duties. Mowbray went on to commentate on England during Euro 2012 including England's eventual quarter-final shoot-out defeat to Italy.

In 2015, Mowbray provided the voice-over for Score!Hero on ios & android.

Personal life

Born in York, Mowbray continues to live in the city with his family. He was educated at Huntington School in the north of the city.^[3] He also plays cricket regularly for Bishopthorpe Cricket Club second team, and occasionally for the first team. He is a supporter of York City.^[4]

Awards

• 1998 Sony Radio Academy Award (for Metro Radio commentary on Sunderland v Charlton play-off final)
• 1999 Best Newcomer in TV Sport Royal Television Society

References