Match of the Day 1964- : List of All Seasons

After 16 seasons in the Saturday night slot, Match of the Day moved to Sunday afternoons.

For the first time Match of the Day was allowed to screen additional games, and on 13 weekends there were highlights from three different matches.

In November ITV signed a secret three year deal with the Football League to show edited highlights on Saturday nights instead of Sundays in an attempt to break away from the joint negotiating strategy and replace Match of the Day. A ruling by the Office of Fair Trading prevented ITV's exclusive contract being signed but a compromise was reached. For the duration of the next four year contract it was agreed that the BBC and ITV would have to alternate their programme coverage with Match of the

Match of the Day celebrates its 500th edition, marked with a special Radio Times cover and a new set of opening titles with hundreds of school children holding up cards that depicted Jimmy Hill's face and the Match of the Day logo.

Match of the Day signs a new three-year contract with the Football League.

Match of the Day appoints Jimmy Hill as the new presenter, after signing him from LWT. He was the first to both present the programme and offer expert analysis.

The current contractual agreement meant that Match of the Day had to lead with a Division Two fixture, and twice with a match from Division Three.

John Motson makes his debut as a Match of the Day commentator.

1970 saw the introduction of the Goal of the Month competition, which led to thousands of postcards being sent to the BBC.

From 1969, the programme becomes live and studio based, rather than being pre-recorded at the ground of the featured match, and there were now two games seen each week.

Grandstand presenter David Coleman begins regularly presenting Match of the Day.

Once again, protracted negotiations during the summer ensured the return of the show. In order to secure the deal the BBC had to agree to broadcast five matches from Division Two and two from Divisions Three or Four as well as the 23 Division One games that they wanted.

In the year that saw England win the World Cup, Match of the Day moves to BBC ONE.

Despite attempts by some clubs to prevent its return due to fear over ticket sales, Match of the Day returned to the BBC in October 1965 two months after the start of the new season. The duration of each programme had been reduced to 45 minutes in length and it could no longer be broadcast before 10.00pm.

Match of the Day begins on 22 August 1964, for coverage of Liverpool versus Arsenal. Kenneth Wolstenholme opens the programme with the words: "Welcome to Match of the Day, the first of a weekly series coming to you every Saturday on BBC TWO. As you can hear we're in Beatleville for this Liverpool versus Arsenal match." The programme began on BBC TWO where it remained until 1966.