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Anglia TV Commentator Harrison Dies
Monday, 25th Aug 2025 15:54

Gerry Harrison, presenter and commentator on Anglia TV’s Match of the Week during the 1970s and 1980s, has died, aged 89.

Harrison’s voice was the soundtrack to many of the Blues’ greatest games during the Sir Bobby Robson era, presenting and commentating Match of the Week, the regional highlights programme on a Sunday afternoon, until the show ended in 1983. He also commentated for ITV at six World Cups.

Born in Upminster, Harrison had a spell as a player at Altrincham in the Cheshire League in the early 1960s having and been an Army second lieutenant and a reporter with the Daily Express.

He started his broadcasting career at BBC Radio Merseyside and, having left Anglia after 24 years in 1993, later worked for BSB, Eurosport, British Aerospace Sportscast and Screensport.

Harrison was the executive producer at IMG when they moved into football production in the 1990s and worked for FIFA Films.

In 2011, he interviewed members of the 1981 UEFA Cup-winning squad at an event to celebrate the 30th anniversary at the Corn Exchange.


Photo: Anglia TV



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cooper4england added 15:56 - Aug 25
Big part of my childhood when life seemed so much simpler and the football so great. RIP
29

Vancouver_Blue added 15:58 - Aug 25
Definitely was Norwich biased, but in the 70's his coverage was better than nothing. RIP
0

Radlett_blue added 16:02 - Aug 25
I met Gerry Harrison in 1972 when autograph hunting after an Ipswich - Arsenal game. He seemed a really nice guy, taking a genuine interest in what teenagers thought about the game & he agreed with me that Colin Viljoen had been Town's best player on the day.
RIP.
4

Boncho95 added 16:04 - Aug 25
I echo that sentiment cooper4england, reminds me of my dad and I watching highlights on a Sunday afternoon, happy days. RIP Gerry
5

BobbyBell added 16:06 - Aug 25
Yes he had a soft spot for Norwich but he was very fair with his Ipswich commentaries. I seem to remember that he once interviewed Bobby Robson during a match and Ipswich scored and Bobby missed it. I seem to recall him saying "I missed it, thanks very much Gerry". RIP Gerry
5

flykickingbybgunn added 16:08 - Aug 25
He was based in Norwich. His heart was in Norwich but still at least tried to be independant.
Did not always succeed.
RIP Gerry.
2

Bert added 16:09 - Aug 25
A great commentary voice and one that I grew up with. If he was biased towards Norwich I certainly didn’t notice it.
15

parhamblue added 16:11 - Aug 25
RIP Gerry. Thoughts with the family.
He also covered matches for The Times as well as Anglia TV, doubling up for so many of our midweek away games in Europe. I know that he loved those trips and the friendship and forever memories that came from them.
3

blueoutlook added 16:22 - Aug 25
Boncho95, yes I’m the same. Used to watch them on a Sunday with my Dad,who passed 14 years ago. Brings back good memories and as someone else said,life was so much simpler then. Very fair commentator, they don’t make them like that nowadays.
7

carlisleaway added 16:24 - Aug 25
Not Norwich biased, Ipswich fan at heart
RIP Gerry remember him well in the 60/70s
2

Carberry added 16:31 - Aug 25
Fantastic professional and a top guy. We were lucky to grow up with his commentaries. When you think back, what a service all the ITV regions offered to their viewers.
6

1960H added 16:43 - Aug 25
RIP Gerry, as others have said a voice from my childhood has now gone, I used to sit and watch Anglia TV on a Sunday afternoon, personally I liked his commentaries he never got over excited unlike the prats we have to endure these days, have to say I never really noticed any Norwich bias.
8

Broadbent23 added 16:45 - Aug 25
That's another local sporting legend gone. Our matches on TV felt like gold when GH was commentating. Rest in peace.
5

carlisleaway added 16:59 - Aug 25
Loads of great Harrison commentaries to choose from but I've gone for this one from November 1976 and Ipswich’s 7-0 demolition of West Bromwich Albion (sorry Baggies fans but your time will come). Some great goals in the drizzly autumnal rain by the likes of Kevin Beattie, Trevor Whymark and, especially, Paul Mariner who was making his home debut. All three gentleman, now sadly no longer with us.
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( https://brianmooresavedoursundays.wordpress.com)
7

BlueWax added 17:02 - Aug 25
Brilliant at his job and fond memories of his commentating on the town with that red and white ball, Wark, Gates, Mariner or Brazil hitting the back of the net and that air horn going off in churchmans. Thanks GH for great commentary on Sir Bobby's wonderful team.
May you rest in peace
5

TimmyH added 17:09 - Aug 25
How sad!...remember him from my youth and Anglia TV and the Sunday highlight program in particular and obviously a face that went 'hand in hand' with the Robson glory days.

RIP Jerry...those were the days!
5

TimmyH added 17:10 - Aug 25
'Gerry' :(
0

Bluespeed225 added 17:35 - Aug 25
‘What a cracker!’, Mariner V Forest! Never saw any bias, maybe too young, I always thought he couldn’t believe his luck to be in a region with one of the best teams in Europe to commentate on! Thijssen again! As he spoke to Bobby! Also remember him against Oxford in 86’ knowing it was almost gone. His voice was my childhood and youth on a Sunday! RIP Sir.
3

waldenblue7 added 18:06 - Aug 25
Great childhood memories of this man commentating on the best Ipswich days.
RIP Gerry.
4

blues1 added 18:17 - Aug 25
VancouverBlue. Wasn't in the least biassed towards norwich at all. Was a great, and very fair commentator. RIP
3

chepstowblue added 18:21 - Aug 25
Such sad news. As for many, he was the voice of my childhood and symbolic with the first memories I had of supporting the team in 1975. An iconic voice and a great guy. RIP Sir.
4

midfield58 added 18:28 - Aug 25
Many years ago,.I played for the Radio Orwell All Stars team..and we played many charity games all over Suffolk/Norfolk..Gerry and Steve Rider were part of the team. Gerry was a very good player who had played at a very high level...I can remember w were at Stowmarket..some local footballers one particular was determind to lave his mark on a celebrity..He missed twice,.,.and then Gerry rattled every bone in the guys body...he picked the guy up and with a cultured TV voice said "I am so dreadfully sorry".....great amusement.,lovely fella..a sad sad loss.
3

blueboy1981 added 18:42 - Aug 25
R.I.P. Gerry. A True Professional.
Fond Memories of the Very Best Times at Portman Road - when success came as Second Nature.
2

armchaircritic59 added 18:47 - Aug 25
Always thought he was a very fair commentator too. Always remember the times he interviewed a certain John Bond ( for younger readers, then manager of a certain team 40 miles up the road ), and JB would say somewhere in his answer " magic Gerry "! For what's it worth, I think he could teach some of todays commentators a thing or two.

RIP Gerry.
2

Linkboy13 added 18:49 - Aug 25
I met Gerry Harrison at the Novotel Ipswich about 10 years ago he was very curtious and socialable said he was doing some work for ITV. I remember one instance when he was covering a game at Norwich that was called off because of a frozen pitch John Bond was Norwich's manager and he was furious and produced a pen from his pocket and stuck it into the pitch you saw the pen go in Gerry he said very funny RIP Gerry.
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