Praise or Grumble: The Original

Originally known as the UK’s first “football phone in” BBC’s Radio Sheffield’s praise or grumble was revolutionary in how we talk about sport after matches. In 1986, Robert Bob Jackson had an idea, sick of football fans tuning in to the radio just to listen to whatever their team had done in the days football, Jackson wanted to create a show where people could praise their team’s performance on the day.

Praise or Grumble started off solely as a place to grumble with it originally being called “The grumble spot” where football fans from around the Yorkshire area would phone in and let their feelings be known live on air. Jackson said “we invented a phone-in at around about five past five. 40 seconds for the person to have a grumble about anything to do with local sport or life in general. If they couldn’t say it in 40 seconds, we just switched them off and went to the next caller.” A few weeks later, after Sheffield Wednesday won 5-0 at home a man rung up the radio station saying he wanted to praise not grumble, Jackson at the time shrugged him off of the station saying, “it’s the grumble sport, get off” However it seemed that this caller gave Jackson an idea as “Praise or Grumble” as we know it today was born.

As the years have gone on and how technology has improved, so has the way praise or grumble operates. As technology has advanced, "Praise or Grumble" has adapted to the digital age. In addition to phone-ins, the show incorporates online interactions. Fans can now share their thoughts through comments on the BBC Radio Sheffield website and on social media platforms.

This expansion of the show's reach allows for a broader and more immediate exchange of views, reflecting the evolving ways in which football fans engage with the game. Despite the changing media landscape and the proliferation of digital platforms, "Praise or Grumble" remains a beloved and enduring feature of BBC Radio Sheffield's football coverage. It's a tradition that transcends generations, with parents passing down the ritual of tuning in to their children. The show's enduring popularity demonstrates its importance in preserving the region's football culture.

Nowadays, the show is presented by 3 different hosts Andy Giddings, Adam Oxley, and Georgia Cook. We interviewed Adam to find out more about POG. We asked him on how he thought POG has influenced other football phone ins around the UK, He said. “POG hasn’t just influenced other phone-ins, other phone-ins exist because of POG and the groundbreaking format it started. A simple format, which gave a voice to fans and an opportunity to have their say on their teams.

The simplicity of the format is the reason for its success, and why there are now many football phone-ins across the country.” Furthermore, we asked him about the format of the show, and it has changed. “The format is still very similar to the 1980’s; someone rings up and we ask them if it’s a praise or a grumble. The show has changed though, it used to be two hours long but now it’s just an hour as radio schedules have changed over the last few years due to various reasons.”

Finally, we asked him about the way they decide on the amount of “Praise” or “Grumble” that is actually broadcasted through to the listeners on the radio. Adam added, “It’s an absolute privilege to follow in the footsteps of Bob Jackson and many others to be one of the current presenters of POG. It’s more about the grumble than the praise, as people like to have a moan in our part of the world, but there’s no quota on praises or grumbles. Essentially, people phone up and we get as many callers on air as we can each Saturday after the games finish.”

Finally, In South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, BBC Radio Sheffield's "Football Praise or Grumble" is more than just a radio segment; it's a testament to the enduring passion and tradition of football. It has provided a voice to countless fans, allowing them to celebrate their team's successes and vent their frustrations. This iconic show stands as a testament to the unifying power of sport and community, reminding us that football is not merely a game; it's a shared experience that brings people together, season after season, match after match, and Praise or Grumble after Praise or Grumble.