Cast your mind back to 2005, when Sky Sports was still on its way to becoming the bloated footballing sideshow it is now and BT hadn't yet dipped its toe in the murky waters of Premier League coverage, and chances are you will remember RTÉ's flagship football shows 'Premiership Live', 'Premier Soccer Saturday'.
'Premiership Live' did exactly what it said on the tin and 'Premier Soccer Saturday' was a modest attempt to recreate 'Match Of The Day'. But in many ways 'Premier Soccer Saturday' trumped it's English counterpart. Part was due to the charm of those that took part in it's broadcast and part was due to the warm feeling of nostalgia that comes over me when I think back to when our national broadcaster had the rights to Premier League football. It seems like a long time ago now.
Here are the seven reasons that Premier Soccer Saturday was the dog's bollocks.
1. Timing
Crucially, 'Premier Soccer Saturday' was on before 'Match Of The Day'. The show was broadcast around the 8pm mark meaning that Irish viewers got to watch the Saturday's top flight action a full two hours before their neighbours across the pond. CASHBACK!
2. This promo
An excellent nod to Danny Boyle's seminal zombie flick '28 Days Later'.
3. The pundits
Ireland has always had a great tradition of football pundits and this was evidenced by the former pros that appeared on Premier Soccer Saturday. This merry band of hell raisers were no match for the likes of Lawrenson and Hansen.
4. It once had the Taoiseach as a guest analyst
Though the footage is no doubt stored under lock and key in the RTÉ vaults, in 2001, then Taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Aherne took time out of his busy schedule to visit the show to give his analysis on the weekend's games. We can only pray that the footage emerges in the fullness of time.
5. The theme song
"We're gonna take you on, we're gonna take you on, we're gonna take you one, we're gonna take you..."
The only lyrics to the intro for 'Premier Soccer Saturday', clearly an war cry from those at Donnybrook to their cross water rivals, a steadfast reminder that they were indeed going to 'take them on' in the niche field of Premier League highlights packages.
6. It also had live Premier League games
If you were to say to one of the youths of today that Premier League games used to be broadcast for free on Irish airwaves you would be slapped across the face and told to get medical help. But that was indeed the case back before RTÉ dropped their live coverage of the Premier League after the 2007/08 season. But while RTÉ did have that lucrative deal it meant that punters at home could sit down for a 3pm kick off on RTÉ, take a couple hours for dinner, then come back and watch the days highlights on RTÉ as well. Those were the days.
7. Their end of season montages
One of the most satisfying sights of sport coverage is a well made montage. Premier Soccer Saturday's montages were up there with the best of them and while this was the only one I could find still floating around the web, they were the perfect full stop on every Premier League season.
