Norway v England 1981: 'Your boys took a hell of a beating'

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In 1981, Norway pulled off one of the biggest shocks in football history, beating England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Oslo. But the match is remembered just as much for what happened after the final whistle. Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien, caught up in the joy of the moment, delivered one of the most famous lines in sports broadcasting: “Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? Your boys took a hell of a beating!” His breathless commentary on NRK became a national treasure in Norway, and later a legendary sporting soundbite around the world. As he celebrated the win, Bjørge switched between English and Norwegian, calling out the names of famous figures from British history and culture before ending with the line about the then UK prime minister that made him famous. Uma Doraiswamy speaks to Bjørge Lillelien’s son, Marius Lillelien, about the man behind the microphone, the night Norway stunned England, and how a few seconds of radio commentary became one of football’s most unforgettable moments. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created. (Photo: England v Norway 1981 in Oslo. Credit: Monte Fresco/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)