One of the most important attributes for a commentator is to be able to see the action you are trying to describe but that became a luxury for BBC Sport's Steve Bower when Altrincham hosted Notts County in an FA Cup tie on Saturday. As thick fog enveloped the Moss Lane ground, he could barely see what was going on in a first-round game being televised live on BBC Two. "One of the more challenging of my long career, that's about 35 years now," said Bower about the experience.
"I was reminded by a colleague - maybe I'm a jinx - that we had a similar thing on the BBC about three years ago when we did York against Wigan in the first round and the fog came in. From where we were, opposite the dugouts, once the play went to the centre circle and beyond, we couldn't see a thing. "We couldn't see which team had the ball, let alone which player had the ball after about the 60th minute.
Bearing in mind it went to extra-time, it was challenging. "I just kept looking down at my phone and it was text message after text message from people saying, 'You're sounding great, but I can't see a thing'. In the end, you have to roll with it and do the best you can." Notts County progress in FA Cup tie no-one could see National League Altrincham were on for an upset when they took a 2-1 lead against the League One side but a late Callum Roberts equaliser for County took the game to extra-time before the visiting side won on penalties.
"The frustrating thing is that for an hour it was a really good FA Cup tie, it had everything," said Bower. "It was on for another giant-killing script but then the frustrating thing is that it becomes a non-event because, without stating the obvious, people can't see half of it. "Also, it's not then about the tactics, or the shape of it, or the aggression, or the effort because you just can't see it.
As a spectacle in trying to describe a game like you normally would, it's impossible." Bower's radio colleagues were not faring much better as they tried to work out what was going on. "I can just about see the bright white numbers on their shirts, but I am struggling to see what is happening on the far side of the pitch," said BBC Radio Nottingham commentator Adam Hassell. Former Notts County striker Mark Stallard, who was also speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham, said: "We're looking around, and here in the press box no-one knows where the ball is!
It's like a spot-the-ball competition. "I played in the Notts County cup side against Wimbledon when it was abandoned - they equalised in the second half and I didn't see any of it!" Stallard later said: "We genuinely cannot see the linesman or the players on the far side. It's slightly farcical having to commentate for radio listeners." The managers of both teams were on the touchline but even they were struggling as tactics went out of the window.
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