‘Your boys took a hell of a beating!’- The names behind the famous Norway vs England 1981 commentary rant , from Lord Beaverbrook to Maggie Thatcher
It has been 46 years since England last beat Norway in a competitive event, and 45 since one of the most iconic pieces of commentary in football history.
That came from Norwegian radio commentator Bjorge Lillelien, after Norway beat England 2-1 in a 1981 World Cup qualifier.
“Your boys took a hell of a beating!” he famously proclaimed, but why did Lillelien list the likes of Lord Nelson, Henry Cooper and Winston Churchill in his victory speech?
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‘Your boys took a hell of a beating!’- Which names did Norwegian radio list after beating England, and why?
The commentary began at the final whistle: “We are the best in the world! We are the best in the world! We have beaten England 2-1 in football!
“England, the birthplace of giants!” he continued. Then, Lillelien named the following people, but why?
He listed Lord Nelson, Lord Beaverbrook, Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Henry Cooper and Lady Diana, before addressing then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
“Margaret Thatcher, can you hear me?” he screamed jubilantly. “Your boys took a hell of a beating!”
Lillelien explained in his speech why he chose this particular group of people to call out by name after Norway’s victory, saying: “We have beaten them all.”
Despite the odd inclusion of Henry Cooper in a list of mainly political figures, the commentator was a boxing fan, and the others were among the most influential figures in British politics.
The Norwegian, surely, was referring to these names as the “giants” that England had birthed, as mentioned earlier in his speech.
Lady Di is, of course, Lady Di, Winston Churchill is the man who took Britain through the war, Cooper was the best UK domestic heavyweight of his era, and Nelson was ex-Navy.
Trafalgar Square is dedicated to the latter; Beaverbrook was a famous publisher and backstage politician, and both Attlee and Eden were former Prime Ministers.
And Thatcher was… Thatcher. Still, Lillelien’s commentary is iconic, and Norway fans will be hoping for a similar gem to emerge from their nation’s quarter-final clash with England tomorrow evening.
