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| Juliet and Daddy at Somer Valley FM |
I'm incredibly greatful to the Midsomer Norton and Radstock District Journal for taking the time to celebrate my time at Somer Valley FM. Its a very touching article that means an awful lot to me and my family. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
“Over the years, I’ve worked with some great people – in particular, those people who have worked hard in the studio to put the show together – Luke Barnes, Eloise Davis, Joe Tanner, Greg Jones, Evan Dando, and Allan Trinder.
“He has an excellent knowledge of the game and was able to remember names and numbers of the players to the extent that I stopped trying to do the same. Anyone who has ever tried to run a conscious stream of blow by blow match analysis will know how difficult it is; Ian manged this with aplomb.
Somer Valley FM and the local sporting community will be saying a fond farewell this week to local sports journalist, Ian Nockolds, who is leaving the show to spend more time with his growing young family.
Ian will be best known for his unflappable local commentaries at local matches, seamlessly threading together a narrative of our beloved games. From football, cricket, rugby and tennis and other lesser known, but equally as important sports, he has been keen to cover them all, promoting local clubs to the very best of his ability – gaining him listeners, literally, across the world, with the service streamed online.
Speaking of his time on the show, Ian told The Journal: “I started reading the sports news on the Restricted Service Licence project in 2006. We didn’t have a sport show, but we had a local news show, presented by Chris Watt, who invited me in to read the sports news.
“When the station started full time in 2008, as it is today, I read the sports news once a week on Dom Chambers’ Drive Time Show.
“As the station grew, Sports got its own weekly slot, which I continued to be involved with. In 2010, we did our first match commentary, when Welton Rovers played Bridgwater Town in the Final of the Somerset Cup. That was probably the start of the coverage we know today.
Ian will be best known for his unflappable local commentaries at local matches, seamlessly threading together a narrative of our beloved games. From football, cricket, rugby and tennis and other lesser known, but equally as important sports, he has been keen to cover them all, promoting local clubs to the very best of his ability – gaining him listeners, literally, across the world, with the service streamed online.
Speaking of his time on the show, Ian told The Journal: “I started reading the sports news on the Restricted Service Licence project in 2006. We didn’t have a sport show, but we had a local news show, presented by Chris Watt, who invited me in to read the sports news.
“When the station started full time in 2008, as it is today, I read the sports news once a week on Dom Chambers’ Drive Time Show.
“As the station grew, Sports got its own weekly slot, which I continued to be involved with. In 2010, we did our first match commentary, when Welton Rovers played Bridgwater Town in the Final of the Somerset Cup. That was probably the start of the coverage we know today.
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| Eloise, Ian, Luke and Joe in the studio |
“Over the years, I’ve worked with some great people – in particular, those people who have worked hard in the studio to put the show together – Luke Barnes, Eloise Davis, Joe Tanner, Greg Jones, Evan Dando, and Allan Trinder.
“We wouldn’t have a show without the support of the clubs, but the list of people who have supported us is seriously too long to mention!
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| Evan Dando, Allan Trinder and Ian celebrate the Community Radio Award |
“I’ve done 300 Tuesday shows, which is the equivalent of 12.5 days of broadcasting and 108 football commentaries, not including cricket and rugby, which equates to 6.75 days of broadcasting.
“Highlights include seeing Welton win the Somerset Cup, Paulton win promotion at Merthyr, Radstock play Yeovil’s first team, then a Championship side, and Norton Rugby gain promotion to South West One AND commentate on Norton Rugby at Bath’s Rec.
“All of these things were more important than winning the Community Radio Award, but that was nice, too!”
“Highlights include seeing Welton win the Somerset Cup, Paulton win promotion at Merthyr, Radstock play Yeovil’s first team, then a Championship side, and Norton Rugby gain promotion to South West One AND commentate on Norton Rugby at Bath’s Rec.
“All of these things were more important than winning the Community Radio Award, but that was nice, too!”
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| Simon and Ian promoting a Paulton commentary |
Simon Wellington, who formerly played football for both Welton and Paulton and latterly in Southampton for Eastleigh, featured on some of Ian’s commentaries. He said: “I first met Ian through volunteering at Somer Valley FM. I noticed from his profile on the radio website that he was an ardent Portsmouth FC fan. I have links with and am as equally keen on Southampton FC and they happen to be their bitter rivals. We had not met, so I decided to send him an abusive email about being a Pompey supporter and strangely enough, we have been friends ever since.
“He has an excellent knowledge of the game and was able to remember names and numbers of the players to the extent that I stopped trying to do the same. Anyone who has ever tried to run a conscious stream of blow by blow match analysis will know how difficult it is; Ian manged this with aplomb.
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| Bob Alland and Tony Walsh in the studio |
“We witnessed some dreadful games and still managed to find something positive to say. When even that were not possible, we managed to have a laugh about it. As yet another free kick ballooned over the Paulton cross bar, heading towards Farrington Gurney, one of us quipped “I live closer than that!”
“I don’t think people understand the amount of preparation and travelling that goes into preparing for these games and it is made all the more impressive that it is all done for free. It is not without its dangers, as the commentaries were clearly heard by supporters of either side sat nearest us. We had at least one fracas, and often heard a few verbals, but usually it was always in the spirit of things. Through all of this, Ian conducted himself with total calm. Nothing seemed to ruffle his feathers.
“The promotion he was able to give to all sports in the area was second to none and I know he will be sorely missed.
“I don’t think people understand the amount of preparation and travelling that goes into preparing for these games and it is made all the more impressive that it is all done for free. It is not without its dangers, as the commentaries were clearly heard by supporters of either side sat nearest us. We had at least one fracas, and often heard a few verbals, but usually it was always in the spirit of things. Through all of this, Ian conducted himself with total calm. Nothing seemed to ruffle his feathers.
“The promotion he was able to give to all sports in the area was second to none and I know he will be sorely missed.
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| Ian wearing a Paulton Rovers shirt on Honeymoon in Thailand |
Tony Walsh, from Paulton Rovers, adds: “Ian is the consummate professional and without a doubt an asset. There is no doubt he could have performed and presented on national media, but as they say, he has the ideal features for radio!“We have built up a long standing and hopefully on-going friendship (with the odd pint thrown in). He even trusted me to do a commentary at Bridgwater on my own when he inconveniently went on honeymoon!”
Bob Allard, know for writing the match reports for Welton Rovers, said: “I would like to thank Ian on behalf of the Green Army for all his enthusiasm and commitment in promoting local football. It was a real privilege to share commentaries with him on Welton, we certainly had some interesting times. I wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”
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| Andy Jeffrey teaches Ian to play tennis |
The success of the show is undoubtedly down to Ian,” says Andy Jeffery, who is involved in local rugby and Writhlington Tennis Club. “Firstly, his dogged deter-mination to get someone on the show, secondly, the enterprising way in which he arranged the programme, his ‘All the gear with no idea’ series of him actually trying out the various (and sometimes niche) sports he was reporting on, and, of course, the live broadcasts of important local matches. This approach got him audiences far and wide.”
The Somer Valley FM Sports Show will continue on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. under the wing of hosts, Allan Trinder and Evan Dando, who will alternate each week. Ian’s final show was broadcast on Tuesday evening from Welton Rovers this week to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the side meeting FA Cup giants, Bournemouth and Boscombe on Saturday, 26th November 1966. The station’s coverage on 97.5FM continues on Saturday with Richard Burgess from 4 p.m.
The Somer Valley FM Sports Show will continue on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. under the wing of hosts, Allan Trinder and Evan Dando, who will alternate each week. Ian’s final show was broadcast on Tuesday evening from Welton Rovers this week to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the side meeting FA Cup giants, Bournemouth and Boscombe on Saturday, 26th November 1966. The station’s coverage on 97.5FM continues on Saturday with Richard Burgess from 4 p.m.
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