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Peter Brackley was "literally my favourite football commentator ever" - James Richardson

For those of us who watched Gazzetta Football Italia on Channel 4 religiously, Peter Brackley's v...
Newstalk
Newstalk

18.44 15 Oct 2018


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Peter Brackley was "li...

Peter Brackley was "literally my favourite football commentator ever" - James Richardson

Newstalk
Newstalk

18.44 15 Oct 2018


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For those of us who watched Gazzetta Football Italia on Channel 4 religiously, Peter Brackley's voice resonated with our generation.

The commentator put voice to the colourful scenes that emanated from the fields of Italy as the giants of Serie A football entertained us in our living rooms far, far away.

Sadly on Sunday, Brackley passed away at the age of 67. 

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Legendary former Football Italia presenter James Richardson joined us on the Football Show to pay tribute to his former colleague. 

"Peter Brackley was a terrific commentator but a really lovely guy," he said.

"He was a brilliantly funny man and he was a joy to work with. I think it's underestimated when we look back at why Italian football was so popular in the '90s with all the great names and the whole scenario of it being after the World Cup in Italy and Gazza and all that. But Brackley's voice was such a huge part of everyone's enjoyment.

"Not just his voice but the way he approached commentary, never being over-dramatic but at the same time, always conveying the importance of what was going on.

"Always being there with a joke if anything went wrong. My first ever live appearance on TV culminated in me forgetting Ray Wilkins' name. But thank goodness, Peter Brackley was there on the other side with the link and he just picked it up immediately with a joke about, 'Here, I am with good whathisname'. So he was just perfect 100% of the time."

Richardson also described Brackley, "He was literally my favourite football commentator ever and I would have loved to have heard him work right up until now." 


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