Norway v England 1981: 'Your boys took a hell of a beating'
In 1981, Norway beat England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo. Bjørge Lillelien's excited commentary became legendary.
In 1981, Norway pulled off one of the biggest shocks in football history, beating England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo.
But the match is remembered just as much for what happened after the final whistle.
Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien, caught up in the joy of the moment, delivered one of the most famous lines in sports broadcasting: “Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? Your boys took a hell of a beating!”
His breathless commentary on NRK became a national treasure in Norway, and later a legendary sporting soundbite around the world.
As he celebrated the win, Bjørge switched between English and Norwegian, calling out the names of famous figures from British history and culture before ending with the line about the then UK prime minister that made him famous.
Uma Doraiswamy speaks to Bjørge Lillelien’s son, Marius Lillelien, about the man behind the microphone, the night Norway stunned England, and how a few seconds of radio commentary became one of football’s most unforgettable moments.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.
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(Photo: England v Norway 1981 in Oslo. Credit: Monte Fresco/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
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Sporting Witness
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