Archie Macpherson
Encyclopedia
Archibald "Archie" Macpherson (born 1937) is a Scottish
football
commentator and author.
He has been commentating on Scottish football, via both radio
and television
, for over four decades.
area of Glasgow
. His father had played as a centre forward for Shettleston
, Dalry Thistle
and Largs Thistle
.
, STV, Eurosport
, Setanta Sports
, Radio Clyde
and Talksport
although he initially struggled to gain a foothold in broadcasting. Indeed, his first job was as a teacher where he supplemented his meagre income by getting short stories published in local newspapers. Such efforts paid off and helped Archie gain his initial big break at the BBC. He continued to work as a teacher until 1969 when he joined the BBC on a full-time basis.
's Scotch and Wry
(a prominent comedy sketch show screened by BBC Scotland
) being mistaken for former University Challenge
host Bamber Gascoigne
. In the film adaptation
of Irvine Welsh
's cult novel Trainspotting
he re-voiced his commentary for Archie Gemmill
's famous goal for Scotland
against the Netherlands
at the 1978 World Cup as a sex scene unfolded at the same time, both pieces of action climaxing simultaneously.
His popularity saw him elected as Rector
of the University of Edinburgh
in 1985, defeating Teddy Taylor
, Margo MacDonald
and Richard Demarco
.
ceremony, picking up a prize for "Special Contribution to Scottish Broadcasting".
and UEFA Cup
matches involving Scottish teams. Archie also became famous for his appearances on STV's Scotsport
, which aired highlights from the Scottish Premier League
(SPL) on Monday nights during the football season, until its axe in 2008.
Macpherson provides match predictions and analysis for betting-shop chain Ladbrokes
.
Macpherson has occupied his time away from television by writing two books. One is a best-selling biography of legendary Scottish football manager Jock Stein
and the other is a book called Flower of Scotland? about Archie's trials and tribulations whilst following Scottish football for the past four decades.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
commentator and author.
He has been commentating on Scottish football, via both radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, for over four decades.
Early life
Macpherson was born and raised in the ShettlestonShettleston
Shettleston is a district in the east end of Glasgow in Scotland. Like many of the city's districts, Shettleston was originally a small village on its outer edge. Today Shettleston lies between the neighbouring districts of Parkhead to the west, and Baillieston to the east, and is about 2 and a...
area of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. His father had played as a centre forward for Shettleston
Shettleston F.C.
Shettleston Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Shettleston, in the East End of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Town, they were formed in 1903 and are based at Greenfield Park...
, Dalry Thistle
Dalry Thistle F.C.
Dalry Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of Dalry, Ayrshire. Formed in 1920, they play at Merksworth Park. Currently playing in the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they wear dark blue strips....
and Largs Thistle
Largs Thistle F.C.
Largs Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of Largs, North Ayrshire. Nicknamed Theestle, they were formed in 1889, and they play at Barrfields Park. Currently playing in the SJFA West Premier League of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they wear black and...
.
Broadcasting career
Macpherson has worked for the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, STV, Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
, Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
, Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde is a division of Bauer Radio based in Glasgow, Scotland. They currently operate an FM station and an AM station from studios in Clydebank West Dunbartonshire.- History :...
and Talksport
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
although he initially struggled to gain a foothold in broadcasting. Indeed, his first job was as a teacher where he supplemented his meagre income by getting short stories published in local newspapers. Such efforts paid off and helped Archie gain his initial big break at the BBC. He continued to work as a teacher until 1969 when he joined the BBC on a full-time basis.
Popular perception
Macpherson has made his own personal appearances within Scottish popular culture. Famously he once appeared on Rikki FultonRikki Fulton
Robert Kerr Fulton, OBE , more commonly known as Rikki Fulton, was a Scottish comedian and actor best remembered for writing and performing in the long-running BBC Scotland sketch show, Scotch and Wry. He was also known for his appearances as one half of the double act, Francie and Josie, alongside...
's Scotch and Wry
Scotch and Wry
Scotch and Wry was a Scottish comedy sketch show which was broadcast on BBC One Scotland and starred Rikki Fulton. After two series, in 1978 and 1979, the programme continued as a regular part of the channel's Hogmanay celebrations between 1980 and 1992...
(a prominent comedy sketch show screened by BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
) being mistaken for former University Challenge
University Challenge
University Challenge is a British quiz programme that has aired since 1962. The format is based on the American show College Bowl, which ran on NBC radio from 1953 to 1957, and on NBC television from 1959 to 1970....
host Bamber Gascoigne
Bamber Gascoigne
Bamber Gascoigne, FRSL is a British television presenter and author, most known for being the original quizmaster on University Challenge.-Biography:...
. In the film adaptation
Trainspotting (film)
Trainspotting is a 1996 British satirical/drama film directed by Danny Boyle based on the novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh. The movie follows a group of heroin addicts in a late 1980s economically depressed area of Edinburgh and their passage through life...
of Irvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh is a contemporary Scottish novelist, best known for his novel Trainspotting. His work is characterised by raw Scottish dialect, and brutal depiction of the realities of Edinburgh life...
's cult novel Trainspotting
Trainspotting (novel)
Trainspotting is the first novel by Scottish writer Irvine Welsh. It is written in the form of short chapters narrated in the first person by various residents of Leith, Edinburgh, who either use heroin, are friends of the core group of heroin users, or engage in destructive activities that are...
he re-voiced his commentary for Archie Gemmill
Archie Gemmill
Archibald "Archie" Gemmill is a Scottish former footballer, most famous for a goal he scored against the Netherlands in the 1978 FIFA World Cup...
's famous goal for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
at the 1978 World Cup as a sex scene unfolded at the same time, both pieces of action climaxing simultaneously.
His popularity saw him elected as Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in 1985, defeating Teddy Taylor
Teddy Taylor
Sir Edward MacMillan Taylor, usually known as Teddy Taylor , is a British Conservative Party politician who was a Member of Parliament from 1964 to 1979 for Glasgow Cathcart and from 1980 to 2005 for Rochford and Southend East.He was a leading member and sometime Vice-President of the Conservative...
, Margo MacDonald
Margo MacDonald
Margo MacDonald MSP is a Scottish politician and former Scottish National Party MP and Deputy Leader...
and Richard Demarco
Richard Demarco
Richard Demarco, CBE is an Italian Scottish artist and promoter of the visual and performing arts.-Richard Demarco Gallery:...
.
Awards
Macpherson was recognised at the 2005 Scottish BAFTABritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
ceremony, picking up a prize for "Special Contribution to Scottish Broadcasting".
Modern day
Macpherson's last regular role was commentating on STV's coverage of UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
matches involving Scottish teams. Archie also became famous for his appearances on STV's Scotsport
Scotsport
Scotsport was a Scottish sports television programme, broadcast on STV in northern and central Scotland, as well as on Border Television in southern Scotland. It was recognised as the world's longest-running sports television magazine....
, which aired highlights from the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
(SPL) on Monday nights during the football season, until its axe in 2008.
Macpherson provides match predictions and analysis for betting-shop chain Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes plc is a British based gambling company. It is based in Rayners Lane in Harrow, London owned by Bhavin Kakaiya. From 14 May 1999 to 23 February 2006, when it owned the Hilton hotel brand outside the United States, it was known as Hilton Group plc...
.
Macpherson has occupied his time away from television by writing two books. One is a best-selling biography of legendary Scottish football manager Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
and the other is a book called Flower of Scotland? about Archie's trials and tribulations whilst following Scottish football for the past four decades.
Works
- Jock Stein: The Definitive Biography
- Flower of Scotland?
- A Game of Two Halves: The Autobiography