The man behind the microphone: Chesterfield's dedicated stadium announcer on his favourite moments, doing his homework and getting soaked!

Howard Borrell has been Chesterfield’s stadium announcer for more than 30 years so when it comes to choosing his favourite moment it is not an easy decision.
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He pauses for a few seconds and says it is difficult to pick one particular highlight because there are so many.

From the ‘great escape’ against Luton Town in 2004, the final match at Saltergate six years later to announcing the Spireites line-up in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley in 2012, the life-long Town fan has witnessed, and played his part, in them all.

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After much deliberation, Howard opted for the scenes at the end of the FA Cup quarter-final win against Wrexham at Saltergate in 1997.

Howard Borrell pictured at Wembley ahead of Chesterfield's JPT final against Swindon Town in 2012.Howard Borrell pictured at Wembley ahead of Chesterfield's JPT final against Swindon Town in 2012.
Howard Borrell pictured at Wembley ahead of Chesterfield's JPT final against Swindon Town in 2012.

“At the final whistle it really seemed so crazy what we had achieved, everyone couldn't take it in and thousands just stood, stunned on the pitch once the players had gone in,” he told the DT.

Howard was also in charge of the music back then and Tina Turner’s Simply the Best was the perfect soundtrack for such an occasion.

“It was very popular at the time and I played it at every cup game,” he said. “It just seemed to capture the mood.”

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When Chesterfield are back in action it will be the start of Howard’s 32nd season behind the microphone.

Howard interviewing Derek Niven after Chesterfield's last match at Saltergate against Bournemouth in 2010.Howard interviewing Derek Niven after Chesterfield's last match at Saltergate against Bournemouth in 2010.
Howard interviewing Derek Niven after Chesterfield's last match at Saltergate against Bournemouth in 2010.

The 66-year-old stalwart has been a volunteer at the club for more than 40 years doing various roles.

He had filled in as stadium announcer a few times before he eventually took it on permanently.

Howard, who is also a local councillor, is as dedicated and professional as they come and he takes great pride in his role.

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His meticulous preparation before a game is similiar to that of a live TV commentator.

All smiles: Howard has been Chesterfield's stadium announcer for more than 30 years.All smiles: Howard has been Chesterfield's stadium announcer for more than 30 years.
All smiles: Howard has been Chesterfield's stadium announcer for more than 30 years.

On a matchday you will find him scurrying around the press area speaking to the visiting media to find out how to correctly pronounce players’ names.

If he can’t get any answers, he will often go down to the dugouts and ask the managers and staff to make sure what he is saying is correct.

No stone is left unturned and Howard always does his homework.

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“I've been told that all players hate it when someone completely mispronounces their names so they appreciate it when it's right ,” he said. “I think it is lazy and discourteous to just guess and hope for the best; I believe that getting it right is all part of the matchday experience and supporters enjoy the spectacle a little more if they know what they are hearing is correct."

When Chesterfield hosted an under-19 match between England and Germany in 2011 Howard spent two hours with a German teacher to ensure he knew how to pronounce their names.

He also spoke to the Norweigan Embassy ahead of England’s Under-21s match against Norway in 2012.

“I will spend hours trying to make sure it sounds right,” he explains. “It is about professional pride and I think anyone who is doing anything wants to do it as well as they possibly can.”

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When it comes to announcing the scorer of a goal, he admits that there is no “magical method” and that it can be a bit of a panic!

“I would say that particular aspect has got harder,” he said. “The old PA box at Saltergate was situated adjacent to the press box and, in the early days, the only media action that took place was written down with an occasional phone call so it was easy to shout across to the press and get their opinion. Luckily, I don't think I called it wrong at Saltergate.

“However there have been several instances in the last couple of seasons where there was real doubt over the goal scorer. Things are very different nowadays, almost everyone in the press area wears headphones and are so absorbed with their real-time update roles that establishing who scored can actually involve chats with several people and then an educated guess kicks in; on occasions I've even popped down to the bench and there's even been a lack of clarity there.”

One thing Howard is grateful for is the modern facilities at the Technique Stadium.

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“Certainly the new stadium is a huge improvement on the quite squalid conditions of Saltergate,” he said. “The back wall of the old PA box was corrugated iron that had almost rusted away; at one point, during an awful storm, horizontal rain paid an unwelcome visit and left me soaked for the duration. The ground staff decided that an old square of carpet would fix that problem, by the time we left Saltergate the carpet matched the stadium...pretty much worn out but had served its purpose.”

But with the new stadium came the same dangers of being soaked...beware of the sprinklers!

“At the new stadium it became a roving pitchside role which did mean there was no shelter from the rain but neither was there from the water sprinklers,” he laughed. “One early season game, seven years ago, the pre-match watering of the pitch also became a bit of fun for the groundsman. On that particular day myself and Terry (who managed the 50/50 draw at the time) got a total drenching to the extent that two shirts had to be brought in from Tesco to see us through the game.”

Such is Howard’s dedication that he has never missed a game through illness.

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He said: “Overall it's been a great experience. I'd like to think I inject a positive tone into the proceedings and help to make the matchday experience an enjoyable one.

“I just enjoy being part of it. You feel you are part of a structure of the matchday routine. Needless to say, in big games you get a bit of nerves. I don’t feel nervous walking out on the pitch but I do feel apprehensive sometimes in case I make the occasional slip."

So he does have any plans to hang up the microphone any time soon?

He added: "I hope I'm fit and healthy enough to get to 35 years; I'll be 67 whenever football starts again so nothing can go on for ever but why not keep doing something you enjoy, if at all possible?"