The name of the blog you are reading is Peterdruryfanclub.
And no, it is not a fan club. The nomenclature represents my love and admiration for the work of a person named Peter Drury.
He is a lead commentator for matches played in the English Premier League (EPL). I check his commentary schedule for the week ahead and then plan which games I will sit down to watch.
I doubt too many people care so much about football commentary. Mr Drury is the person I love the most in the game. For me, he ranks over Kevin De Bruyne, my favorite player, and Jurgen Klopp, the manager for my chosen team, Liverpool.
What is so special about this Peter fellow?
Why do I love the lead announcers of the EPL?
These narrators of sporting action- gentlemen like Jim Proudfoot and Daniel Mann are career commentators. Most have a background in journalism and have not played football professionally, at least at a high level. An Indian version of the same can be the beloved sweetheart of the nation, Harsha Bhogle.
They speak choice words, enunciated in a clear voice people find easy to follow. They explicate the events with precision and economy, which a listener’s ear and brain appreciates.
They never leave a point hanging. If they have begun a discussion or have started to present a point/ an angle, they make sure to complete the picture before moving on.
More often than not, they sound smart/intelligent, and their words and phrases remain with us long after the match is done.
Peter Drury, in particular is known for being a poet. He is not a professional rhymester, but he gets poetic now and again. He uses literary figures of speech like alliteration and repetition every single match. No other commentator tries such verse making.
He was on broadcasting duty on consecutive days (Saturday and Sunday) once. Both days, I noticed him using different terms/phrases for the same act/skill performed in the matches.
The stunt was the snake-like dribbling executed by Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) and Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United).
As the two wingers were slithering their way around the defenders and slipping through all the hoops, he called their movement elusive and slimy. Another time he said one of them was a blur. “Now you see him now you don’t” was forth variation of the same description.
A keen follower of the sport will notice the monologues made by the lead commentator. He makes one just after the match starts, one just before half time. He does the same at the start of the second half, and at the end of the match. Then there are additional monologues after every goal. These are the moments the person is in peak form and even shows off a bit.
These ninjas don’t waste one word. What they speak makes a registration in our minds. They speak a sentence, and let it sink inside us.
They are not in peak form every game; no one can be in top form all the time. Some games are boring, others low profile, where they have very little to pick and peck on. Some days the commentator may be tired, sleepy or ill. These days the drop off is quite evident.
Through years of practice, these pros become true masters. Things come naturally to them. I’m sure they do not have to fetch for synonyms like someone like me has to. Practice really does make perfect. They inspire me to work harder to improve my writing and speaking skills.
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