ESPN Classic’s Christmas programming line-up

December 23, 2011   ·   0 Comments

ESPN Classic will broadcast a selection of special programming over the festive period including days devoted to the Best Ever World Cup Finals, Classic Boxing, Formula 1 and the 2009 Ashes series. 

Best Ever World Cup Finals – Christmas Day

This Christmas Day, ESPN Classic will provide a whole day dedicated to some of the best ever World Cup finals, headlined by England’s 1966 victory over West Germany. The match will air in full at 12.30pm, during a day which includes Argentina’s Mario Kempes-inspired 3-1 victory over the Netherlands in the 1978 final. Also showing will be Italy’s 1982 win against Germany, featuring Mario Tardelli’s iconic goal celebration, and the Azzurri’s 2006 penalty win following Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi.

 

8.30am 1978 FIFA World Cup Final : Argentina v Netherlands

10.30am 1982 FIFA World Cup Final : West Germany v Italy

12.30pm 1966 FIFA World Cup Final : England v West Germany

3pm 1998 FIFA World Cup Final : Brazil v France

5pm 2006 FIFA World Cup Final : Italy v France

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Classic Boxing on Boxing Day

ESPN Classic will be featuring a full day of some of the most memorable boxing matches in the sport’s history, including the epic ‘Thrilla in Manila’. The third and final fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship lasted 14 rounds and has been voted one of the best fights of all time.

‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ will also feature – the historic bout pitted then World Heavyweight Champion George Foreman against former world champion and challenger Muhammad Ali.

9am Floyd Patterson v Sonny Liston 1963

9.30am Henry Cooper v Cassius Clay 1963

10am Cassius Clay v Sonny Liston 1964

11am Joe Frazier v Muhammad Ali 1971

12noon Muhammad Ali v George Foreman 1974

1pm Muhammad Ali v Ron Lyle 1975

2pm Muhammad Ali v Joe Bugner 1975

3pm Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier 1975

All repeated from 4pm

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Premier League Heroes – Thursday 29 December

ESPN Classic will be taking the opportunity to celebrate some of the Premier League’s best ever players. All Premier League stars are heroes to their own club’s fans – but this special documentary examines that rare breed who are admired by all. This show counts down the top players who have had the biggest impact on the Premier League over the last 20 years since it first began.

Premier League Heroes is on ESPN Classic at 9am, 2.05pm and again at 7.15pm on Thursday 29 December.

Driven – Graham Hill – Friday 30 December

ESPN Classic takes a look back at the life of British motor racing driver Graham Hill. The programme combines archive footage of Hill’s races, public appearances and home videos with contemporary interviews to profile one of racing’s greatest ever drivers. The documentary on the two-time former F1 World Champion is part of a full day of F1 programming on ESPN Classic.

Driven – Graham Hill is on ESPN Classic at 2.10pm and 8pm on Friday 30 December.

ECB Cricket Ashes 2009 – New Years Eve

This New Year’s Eve, ESPN Classic takes a look back at the year England reclaimed The Ashes from Australia, who had won the previous series in 2006–07. The second Test at Lord’s was preceded by the announcement that Andrew Flintoff would be retiring from Test cricket at the end of the series. The England all-rounder then took his first Lord’s five-for to seal a 115-run victory, England’s first against Australia at the ground in 75 years.

From 8am to 9pm ESPN Classic takes you through each day of the 5 test match series.

Sports Years – New Years Day

These hour long programmes on ESPN Classic are being proudly shown again on New Year’s Day – with 1991’s programme in special appreciation for the career of Kenny Dalglish. Elsewhere, the 1989 episode recalls Nigel Mansell’s move to Ferrari, 1995 remembers a Rugby World Cup which changed South Africa forever, 2005 was the year of the England cricket team’s long-awaited Ashes success, whilst 1990 saw a similar swelling of English national pride at the World Cup.

Tags: 2009 Ashes Test, ESPN Classic, FIFA World Cup, Graham Hill, Thrilla in Manilla