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

SuffPunch added 19:13 - Aug 25 Very sad news. A voice for a generation. I remember patiently waiting for Farming Diary to finish so that Gerry could update us on the Saturday games. That was all we got those days.
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ITFCRedhill added 19:19 - Aug 25 ThankS for all the memories Gerry. RIP.
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barrystedmunds added 19:24 - Aug 25 A few on here showing their age! Nostalgic memories of frugal football coverage in comparison to today’s saturation ways! I was never able to establish which way he swung in terms of us or them; he certainly never gave any clues away when commentating on us and I certainly never ever listened to him commentating on them!!!
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Pendejo added 19:48 - Aug 25 Inextricably linked to the Robson years, those Sunday afternoon regional football programmes had some great guys Harrison - Match of the Week Moore - The Big Match IIRC some Ipswich fans referred to him as Gerry Naaaridge Harrison, and they as Gerry Ipswich Harrison. R.I.P. Gerry Harrison
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ElvisMariner added 21:17 - Aug 25 Great memories of his commentating growing up in the 70s/80s especially on Match Of The Week - RIP Gerry Harrison
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Edmundo added 22:11 - Aug 25 Stuart Jarrold was the budgie IIRC, no doubt egged on by a Norwich based production team.
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michaeldownunder added 23:29 - Aug 25 I can remember when he was talking to John Bond, the then Norwich manager, when they were short of players, after a game. "Shall I bring my boots along for the next game John", John said "we are never going to be that short of players Jerry".
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Monarch_Blue added 23:36 - Aug 25 Of course Gerry wasn't just a football commentator, he used to present many other sports …and his “Wheels” TV series is still stuff of legends! One of my favourite Gerry Harrison comments was following a GB v Denmark Speedway international at Saddlebow Road. The GB team were soundly thrashed by their Danish counterparts, and following interviews with Danish captain Hans Nielsen and GB’s Witches star Jeremy Doncaster, Gerry ended the show with: “I can accept that the Danes have better riders than the Brits, but when they can also speak better English …well!!! Goodnight!” Gerry Harrison RIP.

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michaeldownunder added 00:00 - Aug 26 Eric Gates, best No.10 ever!!!! Loved to hear the old rattle during the game.
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