‘Living the dream’ – BBC FiveLive’s voice of football Ian Dennis on kicking off another season

Like the thousands of footballers he covers every season as BBC FiveLive chief football reporter, Ian Dennis needs plenty of pre-season prep for the months ahead.

But the commentator, who broadcasts to millions across the world for every Saturday three o’clock main game, has spent hours with Premier League bosses, referees’ chief Howard Webb, on football websites and on his son’s Xbox, rather than sweating it out in the gym or the green carpet of the training ground.

The start of the new footballing year brought with it Ian’s 22nd season with FiveLive Sport, and he began with Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal’s 2-0 opening day victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He knew both teams inside out.

Preparation is key for every commentator and, after a well-earned break following England all the way to their Euros final defeat in Germany alongside co-commentator and close friend, Northumberland’s John Murray, the former BBC Radio Newcastle sports editor is ready for the season ahead.

Ian, 52, says: “We’re straight into it again after the Euros and it really started with the briefing for all the broadcasters with the Premier League and Howard Webb, who is the head of referees, to explain new law changes, VAR changes and semi-automated offsides.

“That all really focused the mind.

“Thursdays are spent building information on the two teams, looking for certain lines, making sure every player and team stat is up to date, and ensuring I’m armed with everything.

“And because I sometimes have to do the scores service during the commentary, it’s important to make sure I’m aware of all the games, all the issues, top scorers, new signings and managers, so Friday is spent learning, repeating, learning, repeating all those stats and facts.

“When I was at Radio Newcastle, I focused on Newcastle and immersed myself in the club. Now I have to cover every Premier League club; I feel like a nurse who knows a little bit about everything.

“On the morning of the game – I get there at half eleven because I have this horrible fear of being late, which drives me mad – I’ll just sit with the notes and go through them again and again, this time with the highlighter, just to reinforce important points,” adds Ian, who has compered the annual North East Football Writers’ Association awards dinner, held at Ramside Hall, for a number of years.

Ian still keeps his own records and every Monday updates his big red book with all the stats from the previous weekend’s fixtures.

It’s the familiarity with the process which updates the mind and keeps him on top of every player and club he sees.

When he opens the fresh pages of his new book today, it will be his 27th edition.

Nowadays, of course, a player’s every move on the pitch, as well as between clubs, are available online and there is no shortage of stats thrown at every BBC Sport employee by the experts.

Ian also subscribes to the English National Football Archive – far removed from the Rothmans and News Of The World football annual we all relied on when Ian first moved to the North East, where he still lives with his wife and two children.

Champions League football, however, has offered its challenges but the father of 21-year-old Harvey has found a novel way to spend a few hours playing FIFA by himself in the pursuit of ‘work’.

He says: “If I’m covering a club like Salzburg, for example, it’s very difficult to get TV coverage of the Austrian league, even harder in places like Slovakia or Romania, and I don’t have the time, but the graphics on the Xbox are so good and so accurate, you can play one of those teams and familiarise yourself with the players.

“So, when Newcastle played Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last season, I played Borussia Dortmund on my son’s Xbox.

“We just passed it round at the back for 20 minutes and I got to know the back four, then the midfielders, and so on, then made a load of changes and had a look at the subs.

“I’d pause on each player, look at the height, colour of the hair, skin and the numbers, which invariably match and don’t change, and make a little thumbnail description of them.

“It’s the same in the warm-ups before a game. You always go to look at the players’ boots colours, wristbands, hairstyles, headbands, anything different in their look which is going to be important in the game so they stand out.”

Ian is part of a Saturday FiveLive team with a heavy North East presence.

John Murray was sports editor at BBC Radio Tees and the programme’s presenter Mark Chapman was hired, by Ian, as BBC Radio Newcastle’s cricket correspondent in his first role.

Midweek presenter Kelly Cates is the daughter of Sir Kenny Dalglish, who was Newcastle manager when Ian covered the club.

Like Murray, ‘Denno’ is grounded and very good at his job. And their enjoyment always comes across.

He says: “You can’t not enjoy it.

“I always say, about five minutes in, ‘welcome, wherever you are in the world,’ because we’re on the World Service.

“I have felt the power of the BBC when I’ve been in Africa and heard that commentary, and I never lose sight of the fact I am in such a privileged position to be that voice.

“People in far flung parts of the world are listening to your every word; radio is such a powerful medium and it is still treasured, so to be a part of it is a dream come true.

“I always remember the day Alan Shearer signed for Newcastle in 1996.

“I’d just joined Radio Newcastle, and I was sitting in the Leazes End, and the fella next to me said, ‘can you not get a proper job?’

“And now I sometimes work alongside Alan – we’ve done a few trips and games together – and I’ve got to know him reasonably well, so I’d say, ‘yeah, it’s a proper job’, but I do know I get paid to watch football and I’m lucky enough to get to meet and work with people like Alan.

“Now I’m working with Paul Robinson too.

“When I worked at BBC Radio Leeds, and covered Leeds United in Europe, Paul was playing for Leeds, and I used to go drinking the night before the match in a foursome with Paul’s dad, Jonathan Woodgate’s dad and Peter Lorimer, who are sadly no longer with us.

“Now I’m going out with Paul!”