Darren Fletcher (broadcaster)

Darren Fletcher (born 5 October 1972) is an English football commentator for BT Sport on their coverage of the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

Career

BBC (2004–2016)

Fletcher began broadcasting back in 1993 with local radio stations in his home town Nottingham when he was 20. He joined BBC Radio Five Live in 2004.^[1] Whilst he was part of Five Live's main commentary team he commentated on two World Cups and a European Championship.^[2] He also regularly appeared on the show 606, often alongside Robbie Savage. In 2010 he joined BBC Sport to be part of their coverage and also commentating on Match of the Day. He was also part of the BBC team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He was the main commentator covering the Boxing Tournament alongside co-commentator Steve Bunce.^[3]

BT Sport (2013–present)

In 2013, he joined BT Sport to commentate on their new coverage of the Premier League.^[4] In 2014 he co-hosted the programme Fletch and Sav, alongside ex-footballer Robbie Savage, which was launched to rival Soccer AM.^[5] The show ended in 2016 when BT Sport acquired the rights to 5:30 pm games.^[6] Fletcher would also become a part of the channel's FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League team when BT acquired those rights in 2015.^[7] In 2016, 2017 and 2018 he commentated on the finals of the Europa League and the Champions League.^[8]

Since 2014 Darren Fletcher has anchored the Channel 4 coverage of the Red Bull Soap Box Derby.

In 2019, Fletcher and Josh Chetwynd commentated on the 2019 MLB London Series baseball games between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

Notts County (2017–2018)

In 2017, Fletcher became a director at Notts County F.C. in his home town of Nottingham, and worked closely with club owner Alan Hardy. He stepped down from the position in August 2018.^[9]

References

1. "Darren Fletcher". BT.com. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
2. . TV Newsroom. 6 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
3. . James Grant Group. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
4. "BT Sport announces line-up of talent including ex-England striker Michael Owen as a co-commentator". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
5. "Matchday Live with Fletch and Sav". BT.com. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
6. Football, Mirror (7 May 2016). "Fans voice disbelief on twitter after Fletch and Sav is cancelled". mirror. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
7. "Champions League: BT Sport wins £897m football rights deal". BBC Sport. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
8. MorningAdvertiser.co.uk. "Full-time Fletch... on the Champions League final". MorningAdvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
9. Curtis, Leigh (31 August 2018). "Darren Fletcher steps down from Notts County board". nottinghampost. Retrieved 28 January 2019.