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Football Focus bows out after 52-year run

BBC Sport •
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BBC Sport aired the final edition of Football Focus on Sunday, closing a run that began in 1974. The nostalgic show featured veteran pundit Garth Crooks alongside Alex Scott, who dissected the day's Premier League action before the season’s last matches. The episode aired at noon, the traditional slot that made the show a fixture before weekend fixtures. Long‑time presenter Bob Wilson signed off with a heartfelt thank‑you, noting, “All good things come to an end.”

Tributes flooded the studio as former hosts recalled favorite moments, from Ray Stubbs’s Alistair McGowan cameo to Dan Walker’s Afghanistan broadcast from Camp Bastion. Alex Scott highlighted the programme’s role in shaping Saturday afternoons for generations, emphasizing that while the show ends, the sport’s drama will find new platforms. Viewers shared emotional messages on social media, praising the programme’s blend of analysis and human stories.

After 52 years on air, the series concluded with classic branding and a symbolic gift: Crooks presented Scott with a photograph of her and Wilson, representing the close‑knit Football Focus family. The farewell underscored the programme’s lasting influence on football journalism, cementing its place in broadcast history. Its departure leaves a gap in the lunchtime lineup, prompting broadcasters to consider how to fill the void.