Sam Hunter

Assistant Director of Primary Education, Greenshaw Learning Trust. Saints supporter and Strictly fan. All views are my own.

[Dan Walker @mrdanwalker]

This weekend sees the last ever episode of Football Focus broadcast on the BBC.

One of my colleagues sent me this earlier this week. A montage of some of the stuff we did on the show and it brought back so many lovely memories ❤��

I can tell you exact spot where I was standing on the old runway at Turnberry golf club when I got the call to see if I wanted to become the presenter of Football Focus. I was covering The Open in 2009 and it was one of the best conversations I have ever had. For a kid who had grown up watching the show every week with my dad it was an amazing privilege to know that I would be hosting a programme which had always been such a big part of my weekend. I called my dad immediately and he was just as pleased as I was.

When the news was announced I had a phone call from the one and only Bob Wilson. He was so warm and encouraging, as he always is, and said “Dan, you are gonna love this job. There is nothing like it… make sure you take care of it”. I hope I did. As a former custodian of the couch, Bob knew how special it was and I felt the same way when I handed over the reins to the brilliant Alex Scott when I left Focus after 12 seasons.

People still talk to me about the show all the time. Focus is stitched into my life and I know there are still so many fans who really care about it which is why it’s such a crazy decision to get rid of it. Move it to Saturday morning, tinker with the format but, in a world where there is such a premium on reliable and trusted brands, why would you throw away over 50 years of hard work and history?

It carries weight. I remember interviewing Pele years ago and I told him I was from Football Focus and he said “I know all about Football Focus” with a big smile. When we were filming a show about the history of Barcelona at the Nou Camp we were about to sit down to talk to Eusebio and Johan Cryuff (I had to pinch myself about that one) and Sir Bobby Charlton walked over and said to them, “You can tell this is important gentlemen… the team from Football Focus are here”. When I called Noel Gallagher to talk about an idea we had to get him to interview Mario Ballotelli at Manchester City he rearranged his world tour to be there. Obviously Balotelli was a draw but Noel said “I’d do anything for Football Focus”.

When I interviewed Jurgen Klopp in the tearoom at Exeter City before an FA cup tie the lovely ladies serving brews were wedged into the corner while we spoke. I introduced them to Mr Klopp afterwards and he apologised for stealing their space; “Don’t worry about that” they said. “We’ve just been on Football Focus! Wait until we tell the family about this!”.

I know the game has changed and the way we consume it has changed but there is still an audience there if you find the right place for it, promote it, ‘take care of it’ and give fans the chance to be part of the conversation on an informed, thoughtful and entertaining show about the sport we all love.

I am gutted it’s going but also so thankful for all the amazing people I got to work with over the years. They remain life-long friends and I still can’t quite believe I got to sit alongside the people I grew up watching play the game at the highest level. I remember when Alan Shearer called me “Dan” on one of the first shows I worked on. The little kid inside me thought “Alan Shearer knows my name!”. It was a pleasure to work with so many brilliant pundits and it was great to watch Alex develop on Focus and then go on to host the programme so well.

I was asked this week to pick a favourite moment from my 12 years on the show. It’s a very hard question because I have a huge catalogue of wonderful memories. I always look back on our on-the-road shows because we were taking Focus out to the fans; their club was the canvas and we got to paint a beautiful picture together each week about what the place meant to the community, the history, the culture and all the things that were part of that.

[Southampton FC @SouthamptonFC]

A cup run and a team to be proud of 💛

[Southampton FC @SouthamptonFC]

Statement: sent ✉️

[Buitengebieden @buitengebieden]

Full rotation of the moon..

[Sam Hunter @samhunterHT]

Fly me to the moon

[All day Astronomy @forallcurious]

BREATHTAKING🚨: WOW! NASA just dropped this view of the moon’s far side!

[Today in History @TodayinHistory]

Historic!

This is the highest quality video ever taken of the moon!

[Sam Hunter @samhunterHT]

@wendyk101 And he runs so well!

[Lionesses @Lionesses]

Don't write this team off, ever. ❤️

[Lionesses @Lionesses]

COME ON ENGLAND! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🔥

[cara🦊 @lcfcara]

PLEASE

[HM Coastguard @HMCoastguard]

As holidaymakers flock to beaches across the UK, the Coast Clever safety campaign from HM Coastguard urges visitors to stay safe by following simple safety advice at the coast. 

More information ⬇️

#CoastClever #Coastguard #WaterSafety
https://t.co/5Wv4NQJmfo

[Sam Hunter @samhunterHT]

Hilarious

[Mr Firth @mister_firth]

Where will you be next year?
🚨 TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY 🚨 Headteacher interview.

[Eric Alper 🎧 @ThatEricAlper]

37 years ago, The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl released 'Fairytale of New York', the Christmas song that hits you right in the heart every single time.

[Inevitable West @Inevitablewest]

In Cornwall today.

Lest we forget.

[No Context Brits @NoContextBrits]

RIP Maggie Smith. A British icon.

[Sam Hunter @samhunterHT]

You are all a joy

[Natasha Hannaway @NatashaHannaway]

@samhunterHT @Headteacherchat @GreenshawTrust We always love working with you @samhunterHT

[Sam Hunter @samhunterHT]

Be the person that people love to work with this week, no matter how tricky the days are @Headteacherchat @GreenshawTrust

[Compounding Quality @QCompounding]

The 15 best non-fiction books ever

Golden nuggets can be found here

1. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

[Sam Hunter @samhunterHT]

There are moments in your week where you need to take a deep breath and go for it. Mine was talking to all 35+ of our headteachers about menopause to get the conversation started. Thank you @GreenshawTrust for wanting to make a difference #menopause