Ray and Mark are renowned for the way they bring the big football stories to life. The former Tranmere Rovers apprentice and darts aficionado is joined by the ex-Liverpool and Ireland defender to chew over the latest locker room gossip. They’re also happy to field all manner of questions from the floor.
View / Submit‘Very funny behind the scenes stories, terrific interaction with guests – and good value.’
Allianz Cornhill
Ray Stubbs and Mark Lawrenson were the mainstays of BBC One's Football Focus. Firm friends, they brought a wealth of knowledge to the studio and to live events. For after dinner audiences they dip into their enormous treasure trove of football tales, and have great fun fielding questions from the floor.
Ray began his career as a player with Tranmere Rovers, before he was forced into an administrative role. Switching to broadcasting, he joined BBC Manchester as an assistant producer on snooker, darts and bowls as well as A Question of Sport. He then moved in front of the camera, presenting the broadcaster’s Saturday morning football preview and scores programmes and reporting from matches, as well as fronting darts and snooker. He then left the BBC to anchor ESPN’s football coverage, and later went to BT Sports as they took control of Premier League coverage.
Mark Lawrenson is best remembered for his partnership with Alan Hansen at the heart of the Liverpool defence, which is still seen as one of the best in club football. The pair were central to the team’s dominance of the club game, sweeping up domestic and European titles. He was capped 39 times by the Republic of Ireland, before injury brought his playing career to a premature end. After hanging up his boots, he managed Oxford United and worked alongside Kevin Keegan as a defensive coach at Newcastle.
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