March 2025 - Settling into New Standards
- Warren Muggleton
- Apr 10
- 3 min read
So, a bit later than usual with this one but it will be worth the wait!
March was yet another busy month for me at BBC Essex Sport, with six games to commentate.
The main difference to February, though, was the fact that only one of these games was at Roots Hall.
I've just done the maths and I clocked up nearly 1,400 miles travelling around the country to Yeovil Town, Forest Green Rovers, Eastleigh and Boston United.
Throw in the BBC Essex Senior Cup Final for a first commentary at the Jobserve Community Stadium, home of Colchester United, and the challenge for the month clear - keep up the new standards I've set myself in commentary while managing short amounts of time and long distances to travel.
My first clip comes just hours into March - and seconds into Southend United's 2-2 draw at Yeovil Town.
This is certainly not close to threatening records for fastest opening goals but the warning is still there - keep your eye on the ball from the first second to the last!
No-one was expecting the Blues to make such a fast start to the game in Somerset, so some fans had not even taken their seats when Leon Parillon got them on the attack.
Contrasting the pace of the move, I was most pleased with my composure during this moment. I didn't get carried away, building a crescendo as the move developed and identified Charley Kendall in a clear, concise but emphatic way.
I was also pleased to get the (quite literally) colourful description in before the move started as I am working on my description during commentary - mentioned in my last blog.
Overall, one of the best ways possible to start March!
This clip is now on my Reels, which you can see in the link.
From the beginning of March to the end of March!
The month ended with one of Southend United's most assertive performances of the season as they saw off fourth-placed Oldham Athletic 1-0.
Chances for Oldham were very limited and the Blues' chances decreased as the game went on, so the challenge on this day was keeping the audience entertained.
But I think my summariser Paul Clark and I managed it with this...
One of the best aspects of being a sports commentator is that I simply love what I do, so I am always willing to have a bit of fun with commentary.
So when Oldham's manager got a note out to the pitch, we had to mention it.
The fun part was merging this with the fact that I had noted in commentary that Oldham had placed several mis-placed passes, so when the note was passed from one player to another the opportunity was begging to be taken!
WHAT DID YOU THINK TO THESE CLIPS? GIVE ME YOUR FEEDBACK IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
One of my favourite games to cover was the BBC Essex Senior Cup Final.
Canvey Island and Hornchurch battled it out at the Jobserve Community Stadium in a game which had it all.
Hornchurch scored a stunner before Canvey netted in stoppage to take the final to penalties, which the Gulls won through their scorer of the equaliser.
One slight blemish was that in commentary of the equaliser I called Canvey Island 'Canvey United'.
It wasn't the only one as I identified the wrong goal-scorer for Boston United's first goal in a 3-0 win over Southend.
You may be asking 'why is Warren admitting this' but - as I said in my first blog - part of the purpose of this blog is to hold me to account.
By admitting to my faults, I know what to work on in future.
I have continued to listen back to my games. While my composure and description have improved alongside my research, I can still be calmer, add more rise-and-fall in tone and increase my accuracy.
As Epictetus said: 'It's not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters.'
March was also busy beyond the commentary microphone as I hosted three BBC Essex Sport shows.
On midweek shows, we have a half-hour which needs filling before building up to football coverage.
I have taken this opportunity to get into other sports such as rugby league and volleyball.
One of my aims this year is to commentate on more Olympic sports.
For summer sports, I'm targeting volleyball, water polo and coastal rowing.
For winter sports, I'm targeting bobsleigh, speed skating and short-track speed skating.
Plus, my passion for rugby is still strong, so I am always keen to get involved.
If you have a need for a commentator in any of these sports, do get in touch through the buttons below!
Last updated: 10th April 2025
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