Sporting Witness

In the late 1970s, three black West Bromwich Albion players revolutionised English football. Laurie Cunningham, Brendon Batson and Cyrille Regis had to face racist abuse, but won many fans thanks to their attacking flair. The three footballers even earned the affectionate nickname The Three Degrees, after a famous pop group of the time. The programme is a Whistledown Production and was first broad...

In 1986, Bill Buckner of the Boston Red Sox made one of the most famous errors in baseball history. With his team about to claim their first victory for 68 years, Buckner let the ball slip between his legs on a crucial play. The misfield spelled defeat for the Red Sox and convinced many fans that their team was cursed. Will Yates talks to veteran Boston Globe sports reporter Dan Shaughnessy and to...

In 1974, the British Lions rugby team made a famous and controversial tour of South Africa. As well as political controversy over Apartheid, the matches became legendary for their on-pitch violence and off-pitch partying. Alex Last talks to the Welsh winger, J.J Williams PHOTO: J.J Williams on the tour of South Africa (Getty Images Sport).

In 1948 at the 'austerity' Olympics, newly independent India won gold on the hockey pitch. One of the stars of the Indian team was Balbir Singh. (Photo: Balbir Singh scoring a goal against Great Britain. Credit: AP Images)

In 1991, the best golfers from the USA and Europe went head-to-head in one of the most bitter confrontations in the history of the Ryder Cup. Played shortly after the First Gulf War, some of the European team objected to the militaristic and fiercely partisan atmosphere encouraged by their American hosts. The tension spilled over into the tournament itself, which was decided on the last hole. Will...

In 1988, the Canadian sprinter was disqualified 48 hours after winning the Olympic 100 metre final and setting a new world record. It was one of the biggest doping scandals in the history of sport. Simon Watts introduces Ben Johnson interviews from the BBC archives.

In 1967, the Scottish football team travelled to Wembley to play England, then the holders of the World Cup. In a match that would become legendary in Scotland, the visitors won 3-2 and taunted the English in the final few minutes of the game by playing keepy-uppy. David Whitty talks to Jim McCalliog, scorer of the winning Scottish goal. (Photo: Jim McCalliog beats English goal-keeper, Gordon Bank...

In the summer of 1968, the South-African-born batsman put in a match-winning performance for England in a test match at the Oval. The ensuing row over whether Basil D'Oliveira should be picked for a tour of his country of birth led to the 25-year sporting isolation of apartheid South Africa. Sporting Witness speaks to D'Oliveira's England colleague, Norman Gifford, and his biographer, Peter Oborne...

In the summer of 1968, the first games for athletes with intellectual disabilities was held in Chicago. They were promoted by the Kennedy family, one of whom had learning difficulties. Sporting Witness talks to Frank Olivo, who won the 50-yard race, and Anne Burke, a Chicago schoolteacher who helped organise the event. Picture: Members of the US Special Olympic team (Private Collection)

In 1992, newly independent Lithuania managed to get its basketball team into the Barcelona Olympics after American rock band Grateful Dead agreed to help with fundraising. A brilliant generation of Lithuanian players then won a bronze medal in a grudge match against the former Soviet Union. Witness speaks to Arvydas Sabonis and Gintaras Krapikas, two members of the Lithuanian side. With contributi...

In 1978, a US naval officer and his wife invented an extreme form of triathlon which is becoming increasingly popular around the world. Called Ironman, John and Judy Collins' creation consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile cycle ride and a 26.2 mile running marathon. They talk to Ashley Byrne about how the event was first launched in Hawaii. The programme is a Made in Manchester Production for BB...

In 1979, a freak storm hit a prestigious ocean race in the Irish Sea, killing 15 sailors and 3 rescuers. Matthew Sheehan tells Sporting Witness how hurricane-force winds engulfed his yacht as it headed towards the Fastnet rock, killing his father. This programme was first broadcast in 2010. PHOTO: Hulton Archive/Getty Images.

In 1958, Milkha Singh became the first Indian to win a track-and-field gold at the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff. Singh - later nicknamed the Flying Sikh - had been orphaned in the violence that followed the Partition of India. He overcame the trauma by discovering athletics while serving in the Indian army. He talks to Sporting Witness. PHOTO: Getty Images

The last time the Commonwealth Games were held in Scotland was in 1986, when nearly 60 countries, mostly from Africa and the Caribbean, boycotted the event in protest at Margaret Thatcher’s policy of maintaining sporting links with apartheid-era South Africa. Eve Streeter talks to the English distance runner Jon Solly about winning the 10,000 metres at a games that was attended almost exclusively...

In 1975, the great Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx lost the Tour de France after being punched by a spectator during a mountain stage. The incident marked the start of the decline of a rider so dominant he was nicknamed "The Cannibal". British cyclist Barry Hoban recalls the punch and shares his personal memories of racing with Merckx. (Photo: Eddy Merckx. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

In 1953, England were regarded as the "Fathers of Football" and as virtually unbeatable on home soil. But a Hungarian team led by the great Ferenc Puskas demolished them 6-3 at Wembley Stadium. Will Yates introduces memories of the match from former players, Stan Mortensen and Jackie Sewell, and former England manager, Bobby Robson, who was in the crowd. The programme is a Whistledown Production....

In 1978, Argentina hosted the World Cup while under a brutal military dictatorship. Amid controversy and fanatical home support, the team reached the final and won a dramatic victory in extra time. Sporting Witness hears the memories of defender, Alberto Tarantini. The programme is a Whistledown Production. PHOTO: AFP/Getty Images.

In 2002, South Korea put in the best performance ever in Asian football, reaching the World Cup semi-final and defeating some of the top teams in Europe. They were helped by massive home support. Sporting Witness talks to South Korean player, Lee Young Pyo. The programme is a Whistledown Production. (Photo: South Korea fans at the 2002 World Cup. Credit: Kim Jae-Hwan/AFP via Getty Images)

In 1994, the Colombian defender Andres Escobar was murdered in the city of Medellin shortly after scoring an own goal in a crucial match at the World Cup. Many linked his death directly to his mistake on the pitch. Sporting Witness talks to Colombian journalist Luis Fernando Restrepo, a friend of Escobar's who saw him on the night he was killed. (Photo: Getty Images)

In 1950, Brazil hosted the World Cup and were the overwhelming favourites to win the tournament at the last match at the Maracana Stadium. But, in a defeat that hurts to this day, the Brazilians lost to Uruguay 2-1. Sporting Witness talks to Alcides Ghiggia, who scored the winning Uruguayan goal at what became known as the 'Maracanazo'. (Photo: Alcides Ghiggia celebrates the winning goal. Credit:...

In 1989, the Chinese-American player became the youngest male winner of a tennis Grand Slam just days after the Tiananmen Square massacre. Michael Chang was gripped by tv coverage of the killings and dedicated his only major win to the people of China. He talks to Sporting Witness. PHOTO: Getty Images.

In June 1985, the Irish boxer fought for the world championship in front of a huge crowd at a football stadium in London. McGuigan's boxing had united all sides in Northern Ireland, and the emotional bout would come to be regarded as one of the great moments in the history of the sport. He talks to Alex Capstick. PHOTO: Getty Images Sport.

In May 1964, more than 300 people died in disturbances at a match between Peru and Argentina in Lima. It was the worst stadium disaster in football history. Piers Edwards speaks to two survivors of the tragedy. PHOTO: Peruvian Institute of Sport.

In 2006, the legendary French player Zinedine Zidane was sent off in the World Cup final in his last game before retirement. In a shocking incident, Zidane had head-butted the Italian defender, Marco Materazzi. Witness speaks to Horacio Elizondo, the referee who showed him the red card. The programme is a Whistledown Production for BBC World Service. (Photo: Horacio Elizondo (right) holds up a red...

In 1966, the footballers of communist North Korea travelled to England to play in their first World Cup. Against all expectations, they won a series of matches - including a shock victory over Italy - and charmed their hosts in the northern city of Middlesborough. Sporting Witness talks to the Italian forward, Sandro Mazzola, and one of North Korea's many English supporters. The programme is a Whi...