Sam Leitch

Samuel James Leitch (1927– 24 January 1980) was a Scottish journalist and television sports presenter. He worked at no less than eight newspapers as either a reporter, sports editor or columnist. Leitch was responsible for editing BBC sports programmes such as Match of the Day and Sportsnight before he was appointed head of sport on BBC Television in 1974. He was appointed controller of sport and outside broadcasts at Thames Television in 1978.

Career Leitch was born in Glasgow, and received most of his training in Greenock. He moved to London in 1951, where he worked for the Daily Mirror newspaper. Leitch worked as a sports journalist, sports editor or columnist at a total of eight newspapers over the course of his career, such as the Daily Express, the Manchester Evening News, the Leicester Mercury and the Greenock Telegraph, travelling across Europe principally as a table tennis reporter. For several years up to 1974 Leitch presented and wrote the script for the Football Preview slot on Grandstand on a Saturday, previewing the day's matches. This was later to evolve into Football Focus. replacing Bryan Cowgill and worked on the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He additionally worked for West German television, selling Iron Curtain television spots to the world for Lother Boch's agency. In January 1978, he was appointed controller of sport and outside broadcasts at the London weekday television broadcaster Thames Television by managing director Cowgill and began work the following month. Leitch was the executive producer of ITV's coverage of the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.

Personal life Leitch was married to Shirley. Leitch's funeral was held at Golders Green Crematorium on 4 February, and a memorial service for him took place at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street on 4 March.