SPFL thank Roddy Forsyth for his incredible career

The Scottish Professional Football League [SPFL] welcomed Scottish football broadcaster Roddy Forsyth to Hampden as thanks for his 40 years of coverage of our game.

Roddy, who has covered the sport on BBC radio since 1981, earlier this summer announced he was retiring because of his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and chief operating officer Calum Beattie invited Roddy and his wife Marian to Hampden to congratulate him on his impeccable career.

Neil said: “Roddy has been one of Scottish football’s most distinguished commentators for four decades and will be hugely missed on our airwaves by fans across the country.

“It’s been an honour to welcome Roddy and Marian to Hampden and to hear some of the incredible stories from throughout his career.

“Everyone at the SPFL would like to thank Roddy for how much he’s brought to our game over the years, and we wish him the best for his well-deserved retirement.”

Roddy was presented with a rare bottle of Loch Lomond whisky in the SPFL boardroom during his visit earlier this week.

Roddy said: "I’ve spent a lot of time in Hampden over the years – covering hundreds of games here – so it was lovely to be invited back with Marian.

“It was a really enjoyable afternoon looking back on my career and I’ve just been so touched by the number of messages of goodwill I’ve received since announcing my retirement last month.” 

The broadcaster began working at the BBC in 1981, before taking up his BBC Radio 5 Live correspondent role in 1986.

It was an eventful first year in the position as it included the arrival of Graeme Souness as player-manager at Rangers and the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson from Aberdeen.

During his career he covered around 4500 games, including the finals of four World Cup and three European Championships with Scotland.

Roddy, who was the Daily Telegraph’s Scotland correspondent for many years, also worked on five European finals featuring Scottish sides during his career.

He stepped down from his BBC Radio 5 Live correspondent role in June, with his last match being the very eventful occasion of Scotland’s 2-0 win over Georgia at a flooded Hampden Park.