Reach for the Sky
Paul Baker talks to Sky Sports' Ian Cocker

Monday 14th November 2005

IAN Crocker had two ambitions as a youngster growing up in Sutton Poyntz.

One was to become a sports journalist, the other to report on his beloved Terras.

He achieved the first fairly early in life, albeit no thanks to the Dorset Echo.

"I applied for a job on the Echo when I was 17," laughed the Sky Sports football commentator, "but they turned me down. I went down and had a tour around the offices in St Thomas Street but there was just no openings for me at the time.

"Print journalism was always my main interest and I used to do things like design my own little newspapers at home and write football reports for them.

"In those days the Echo used to invite fans' comments and I used to write in all the time and even had a few bits published.

"On one occasion they sent a photographer around to my house and did a little story about me. Just hope you can't find the picture in your archives! (Actually, we did.)

"But there's no hard feelings about not getting a job on the Echo.

I still have the paper sent to me every day at my home in Birmingham and it's great to catch up on life in Weymouth, particularly all the sport."

His second wish will come true tonight when the 40-year-old former St Andrew's and Broadwey School pupil takes up the microphone to call Weymouth's FA Cup second round replay against Nottingham Forest at the Wessex Stadium.

He explained: "I was always a big Terras fan as a kid and used to go to all-the home games at the Rec and to a few away ones as well.

I was at Cardiff City when the team won 3-2 in the FA Cup in 1982\83 and then at Cambridge City in the same season when they lost in the third round.

"Those were great days following the Terras and I rarely missed a game.

I also dreamt about reporting on them one day as a job, but since I've been working for Sky I never thought it would actually happen.

"When Weymouth were paired away to Nottingham Forest I did think that maybe my chance would at last come, and I had no doubt we'd.be down to cover the replay after the draw at the City ground.

"From there it was just a case of waiting for the rota to arrive telling me where I and the five other football commentators were being sent over the next couple of weeks - and there was my name next to the Weymouth v Forest replay."

Despite being snubbed by his local paper, Crocker remained undeterred and soon after set off to London to seek fame and fortune.

Following some odd-jobbing at one or two publicity firms and a spell doing admin work at the BBC, the Dorset boy finally got his big break with Capital Radio.

"I started off by doing a few match reports in the London," he said, "and then it progressed on to the odd match commentary.

"I also got a job doing the match day announcements at West Ham and that was obviously a great experience.

"Capital's parent firm then took over BRMB Radio in Birmingham so I moved up there and that's where my career really took off in about 1992.

"Now and again I'd be asked to do bits for Sky on a freelance basis and I finally joined them full time in 1997."

Like all new boys, Crocker began at the bottom, calling the less-high profile Football League contests.

But after quickly establishing himself as one of football broadcasting's very best, the big appointments soon came rolling in.

Crocker added: "I've done a bit of everything now, from non-League right through to European ties and internationals.

Every game you do is special in it's own way but things like the play-off finals and the Old Firm derbies in Glasgow are incredible.

On Saturday I did Scotland v USA at Hamden Park and today I'm down doing Weymouth.

That's how versatile the job can, be.

So with a Terras fan on the mike, can this evening's Sky Sports One audience look forward to a biased commentary where every decision that goes against Garry Hill's side is a rough one?

"It's tempting;' said Crocker, "but the answer is 'no chance'.

Professionalism kicks in the minute the microphone is turned on and it just becomes another game.

"Because they play in the same colours as Weymouth, I became a West Ham fan as a youngster and it's the same when I commentate on their matches.

Whatever you feel in your heart has to be left behind and that's the way it will be tonight.

"That's not to say I won't enjoy it. It's a dream come true for me and all Weymouth fans and the atmosphere will be incredible.

"I don't get down to the town that much these days because my mum has moved up to the Midlands now to be closer to me.

But I had a week in Weymouth during the summer and still have a few old school friends I keep in touch with and I'm really looking forward to coming down for the match.

"The Terras did so well up at the City Ground and must fancy their chances and it's got all the ingredients football fans love.

"Forest are going through a rough time and won't fancy coming to the Wessex but in Gary Megson they've got a good manager who has always been tremendous with the Press.

He'll have his side primed for this one, as of course will Garry Hill.

"After all the hard times Weymouth have endured it's great to see them doing so well at last under Martyn Harrison and personally I can't wait for 7,45pm to come:'