Football Focus final episode: Focus comes to an end after 52 years

The final episode of Football Focus aired on Sunday, bringing to an end 52 years on air.

It was an emotional episode, with long-time pundit Garth Crooks returning to Focus, reflecting on the show’s history with Alex Scott, and previewing the final day of the Premier League season.

The show’s first presenter, Bob Wilson, closed the program with the words: “All good things must come to an end. Thank you all at home for watching Football Focus for the last 52 years. We have a ball in our hands.”

Founded in 1974, Football Focus provided fans with interviews, analysis and stories throughout the match every lunchtime before the weekend’s matches kicked off.

The world’s longest-running magazine show kicked off with a tribute to the show where its former hosts shared their favorite memories from across the decades.

The program’s old branding was used as a tribute to its history.

Crooks concluded the show by presenting Scott with a photo of himself and Bob Wilson on behalf of the “Football Focus family.”

Before turning his sentiments to Wilson, Scott said: “For 52 years, this show has done one thing. It’s brought football to your Saturday afternoons, week after week, week after week. Whether it was Bob Wilson or one of the great men who sat in this chair after him, the one thing that never changed was you, the fans.”

“I’m not going to pretend it’s not hard. What I do know is that football doesn’t stop, the stories don’t stop. Goals, drama, heartbreak, magic, none of it stops. It just finds a new home.

“Thank you to everyone who worked on Football Focus. Thank you for making Saturday lunch something to look forward to. It was an honour.”