ARCHIVE: 20ish Questions with Dave Higson
Dave Higson as figurehead of Roadrunner Videos brought a new dimension to the art of match commentary on all the video’s that Roadrunner produced of the Wanderers, and crucially he introduced a whole new vocabulary of terms to the supporters of this club. Who can ever forget the strains of “Ding-Dong-Do”, “a reet Lancashire hot-pot”, “Justice!” and so on, celebrating many a Wanderers goal. Dave and Roadrunner Videos brought both a welcome Boltonian slant on the genre, and a whole new dimension to watching Bolton games on video. After being dropped by the club, Dave went on to achieve cult status on BBC2’s “Fantasy Football”, where his genius was recognised at last by the rest of the nation. Dave Higson, a legend in his own commentary box, we salute you!!
1) First things first, do you hate Manchester United?
No. but I do dislike Bolton folk who support them, and walk around Bolton wearing Man. United strips.
2) In all the years that you spent commentating at matches, did you ever wish you could just give it up for a day and spend the afternoon/evening on the terraces with the rest of the fans?
No. because I thoroughly enjoyed commentating and though I was in the gantry with the video crew I still felt I was a supporter and could feel the atmosphere.
3) What was the funniest moment to have occurred when you were making the match video’s with Roadrunner?
When I was interviewing Liverpool manager Graeme Souness at Burnden the water sprinklers came on and we both got wet through.
4) When you christened Tony Kelly “Zico” after one of his brilliant goals how did he react?
Not too good at first because he thought I meant he was a “fatty”, but afterwards when he knew I was having a joke he was well pleased.
5) One game you commentated on was the final game of the 1986 season at Chesterfield. Bolton fans caused a bit of trouble that day and some people pointed the finger at you for provoking them. How much truth was there in that?
I don’t really know but I certainly didn’t set out to provoke anyone.
6) Many fans found you really funny when you commentated on the match videos. Did you set out to be amusing or where you doing your best to be deadly serious?
It’s just the way I am, ever funny even when I’m serious, ask the wife!
7) What was the best match you commentated on and why?
The best was the Bolton versus Reading match at Wembley in the play-off final. The worst one was also at Wembley, Bolton versus Tranmere, another play-off, when we lost 1-0.
8) Did you ever get asked to commentate on wedding or christening videos by any of the players?
No! I’ve done Junior Whites though, and was MC for HB Electronics at their version of “It’s a Knockout”.
9) When you were commentating for the videos, which manager did you consider to be the most approachable?
Both Phil (Neal) and Bruce (Rioch) were most accommodating, win or lose!
10) Do you consider appearing on ‘Fantasy Football’ with Frank Skinner and David Baddiel to be the high point of your career?
It was most definitely something I will never forget.
11) Did Frank Skinner have any words with you about Richard Sneekes and Julian Darby?
As both players had just signed for West Brom, he was keen to know about them.
12) When the club came to you and said that they were calling it a day and bringing in a ‘more professional’ outfit to video games, were you upset and did you fall out with the club in any way?
I didn’t fall out with the club, but I was gutted that they said they were bringing in a “professional” video team. Our video’s had been on the BBC, how professional did they want them to be?
13) Did they offer you the post of acting in the ‘Lofty The Lion’ costume?
No, I think I may have struggled in the outfit with my disability I’d be rather a ‘ding-dong!’
14) What do you reckon of Lofty and do you think he acted irresponsibly when Bolton played Wolves at Burnden last season – or did the Wolves fans over-react?
The Wolves fans over-reacted, he only did his usual routine.
15) Last season was amazing but was it the best you can ever remember since following the Whites?
It certainly was a “Ding-Dong-Do”, outshining any others, and poignant at the last match at Burnden.
16) Which game from last season would you consider the best?
When we beat Wolves at Wolves and John McGinlay scored.
17) Where you upset when Tranmere equalised in the very last minute of the season and denied Bolton one hundred points, or were you content in the knowledge that we had already won the league and Championship with ease?
It would have been good to achieve the record but we did make the goals and we had already won the league.
18) When the night drew to a close after the Charlton match and Bolton had kicked their last ball on Burnden, how did you feel?
I had mixed emotions, sad to be leaving Burnden and looking forward to seeing the new ground finished and the games being played there.
19) The Reebok Stadium looks like something from another planet, do you think you’ll be proud to be watching Bolton in such a fantastic stadium or would you sooner have seen the club redevelop Burnden?
I am obviously sad to see the end of Burnden, but I am really looking forward to watching matches at the new superior stadium.
20) Who is your favourite player in the current squad?
John McGinlay.
20+1!!) If you were Colin Todd, who would you sign for Bolton within reason?
Tony Yeboah from Leeds.
20+2!!) Finally, how do you reckon Bolton will do this season?
Top I hope! But in reality, mid-table.
DAVE FACT: Ding Dong Dave’s last match at the microphone was in the pre-season friendly against Aberdeen at Burnden Park, the last time we were promoted to the Premier League in 1995.
First appeared in White Love Issue 18, October 1998.