Sam Leitch

Samuel James Leitch was a Scottish journalist and television sports presenter, born in Glasgow in 1927 and dead on 24 January 1980. He worked at eight newspapers as reporter, sports editor or columnist, including the Daily Mirror and the Daily Express, and was named Sportswriter of the Year in 1967 while at the Sunday Mirror. He joined the BBC staff in 1968 and edited Match of the Day and Sportsnight, and wrote and presented the Football Preview slot on Grandstand that later grew into Football Focus. In 1974 he became head of sport on BBC Television, and in 1978 he moved to Thames Television as controller of sport and outside broadcasts, where he produced ITV coverage of the 1978 FIFA World Cup. His remark that they would be dancing in the streets of Raith is still quoted by Raith Rovers supporters.