Saint & Greavsie (22nd December 1990)

Thanks to SteveW for this and the description below:

Saint & Greavsie was a popular ITV programme presented by ex-footballers Ian St. John and Jimmy Greaves which ran from 1985 to 1992. Previously the duo had presented "On the Ball" in the World of Sport show.

Although Greaves and St. John had been contemporaries in the 1960s football world, they had never played for the same club and were English and Scottish respectively. However, a bond was quickly struck up and a long-running partnership soon began. Greaves had only recently won his battle against alcoholism when he began co-presenting but he was forever cracking his unique brand of gags that would have the audience either laughing or crying. Jokes about Scottish goalkeepers were a particular favourite, in a bid to wind up straight man St John.

Jimmy Greaves was suffering with flu at the time of this broadcast and somebody had the brilliant idea of substituting him, not with another football pundit, but with his rubber puppet from the 'Spitting Image' programme.

This one is a real hoot, so funny that the production crew can be heard laughing in the background at times. It is also quite surreal in that, at times, Ian St.John discusses serious football isues with the 'puppet' and appears to have forgotten that it's not the real Jimmy Greaves.


The programme features reports on :

The re-unification of the German football team.

Peter Shilton's Testimonaial Match.

The 'Art' of celebrating a goal.

When is an own-goal not an own-goal?


Highlights and goals from matches played during the previous week :

Germany v Switzerland

Malta v Holland

Spain v Albania

Oldham v Plymouth

Portsmouth v Ipswich

Tranmere v Birmingham