Hugh Johns
Photograph by Zeitfixiereron Flickr.
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Johns was partnered in the commentary box by Bobby Hugh Johns Moore. Johns covered four FIFA World Cup finals in total, from 1966 to 1978, and three FA Cup Finals (1966–68). He also commentated on snooker, boxing, crown Green Helen Johns bowls and darts. Johns retired to his house in Radyr near Cardiff where he was an active Freemason.
He has! He has Hugh Johns . During the 1950s, he became a journalist working for a number of regional newspapers in England before becoming the Welsh sports columnist for The People. Johns became a football commentator at the behest of ATV mogul Lew Grade in 1966.
His description of Geoff Hurst s third goal, Hugh Johns England s fourth ( Here s Hurst, he might make it three. His last major ITV duties came at the World Cup that year in Spain. Until 1996 Johns continued to commentate for HTV Wales, making occasional network appearances on the odd international or Cup tie.
In 2002 he was presented with a Golden Microphone by Brian Clough, for services to football in the Midlands. Other memorable games that he covered included Scotland s victory over World Champions England at Wembley in 1967 and another night of English anguish in 1973 as Alf Ramsey s team failed to beat Poland at Wembley and missed out on a place at the 1974 FIFA World Cup finals tournament. He was the regular commentator on ATV s Star Soccer, taking over from Peter Lorenzo shortly after the programme s launch in the London area in October 1965.
During this period Johns saw Derby County (twice), Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa land the League Championship. He also produced a documentary on Ian Rush - simply called Ian.
From August 1968 the programme began to concentrate on the Midlands after the re-allocation of ITV franchises that summer. He was the other voice of the final in which England won the World Cup for the first and (to date) only time.
They married in late 1950. so that s it.
After the war he tried acting whereupon he met his future wife, Joan Hatcher, who was then working as a stage manager in the West End. He was also the voice for ITV s live coverage of the European Cup Finals of 1968 - when Manchester United became the first English club to claim the trophy - and 1970, when Celtic lost to Feyenoord in Milan.
He died at home in June 2007, aged 84. . That is IT! ), was overshadowed by that of his opposite number at the BBC, Kenneth Wolstenholme, who cemented his fame with Some people are on the pitch.
Johns described all of England s matches in the competition with former national team captain Billy Wright alongside him. In an interview with ITV on his retirement he revealed that he helped to lubricate his vocal cords with a couple of pints of Brains Bitter every day and was a regular smoker. Johns was known as the voice of Midlands football .
it is now! . His finest hour in audience terms came in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, when ITV won the ratings battle with the BBC. In the final between Brazil and Italy he memorably described Pelé s opening goal - What a beautiful goal from Pelé! El Rey Pelé! - El Rey being Spanish for The King .
His wife Joan died in November 2003 - they had been married for 53 years. ITV had won the rights to cover the 1966 FIFA World Cup in competition with the BBC; Johns led the team, which also included Gerry Loftus, John Camkin and Barry Davies (later of the BBC).
They think it s all over . Hugh Richard Lewis Johns (September 6, 1922 — June 27, 2007) Johns was born in Wantage, Berkshire .
