1982 Spain hero Billy was big help in my early days

MIDLAND TV LEGEND LIFTS THE LID ON 6 DECADES OF SPORTING ENCOUNTERS

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THE date: Monday September 2 1968 still rings out as clearly as a bell in my memory. It was my first appearance as a TV sports presenter on live television.

The place: Plymouth, The studios: Westward ITV. The programme: the much-loved twice-weekly Sportsdesk which followed the regional news programme Westward Diary.

I was 23 and it was my first day in broadcasting. I had three months to prove myself. I had never spoken in public, let alone on live television.

There was NO autocue. Just me looking at a piece of glass that gave nothing back. It did not smile, was completely disinterested and yet the red light on top of the camera pointing at you was telling you that there was a tea-time audience out there watching and listening to every word.

I found it completely nerve-wracking.

I thought the whole world was watching but in fact it was just Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire.

But in those days, more people per head of the population watched television and it was nearly always ITV and BBC.

Terrestrial television was the only choice. The South-West loved anything Westward and the on-screen faces were welcomed all over the region.

I was even paid to judge Miss Lyme Regis and Miss Dawlish. There were worse jobs in life for a young single guy on the telly!

However, I was having problems with my nerves. The studio staff and bosses were very tolerant as were the viewers and I slowly overcame them.