iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 23/12/2025

61 years ago today on December 23, 1964, Radio London came on air, arguably the most successful of the offshore pirates. Its Top 40 format, slick jingles + DJs such as Kenny Everett, Tony Blackburn + John Peel changed the face of UK radio, paving the way for Radio 1 and licensed commercial radio

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 19/09/2025

Happy 100th birthday to a radio giant Pete Murray, who I had the pleasure of working with at LBC/IRN in the late 80s/early 90s. A pioneer on Luxy, 6.5 Special, the Light Programme, TOTP and R1/2 he was one of the nicest people in the business. And he still has that amazing quiff!

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 14/08/2025

On this day 58 years ago the Marine Offences Act outlawed Britain’s offshore radio stations. At 3 o’clock on August 14, 1967 this 12-year-old was in tears as Radio London closed down. Radio Caroline continued for 7 more months but without the pirates we wouldn’t have had Radio 1 or commercial radio.

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 02/08/2025

Wigan Athletic begin their 48th season since being elected to the Football League, half of them (24) in the 3rd tier (Third Division, Division 2, now League One), with 8 seasons apiece in the Premier League, the 2nd tier and the 4th. Plus 40 years in non-league. Is League 1 #wafc’s “natural home”?

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 13/04/2025

Yesterday’s goalless draw with Wrexham was Wigan Athletic’s 8th 0-0 of the season, a joint club record in both 2000/01 (reached Division 2 play-offs) + 2016/17 in the Championship (relegated). Another 0-0 in the remaining 5 games of this season will be an outright #wafc record in league + non-league

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 25/01/2025

Wigan Athletic’s 1st double of the season after 4-0 away win in Sept. James Carragher’s 1st career goal in his 17th league appearance for #wafc. Dad Jamie managed just 3 goals in 508 Premier League apps for Liverpool though the 1st was in his 2nd game in 3-0 win over Aston Villa this month in 1997.

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 18/01/2025

Wigan Athletic’s 2-1 victory at Stevenage means they’ve now beaten EVERY team they’ve met in the Football League and the Premier League, 105 teams in total. Stevenage did the double over #wafc last season, and drew 0-0 at the Brick in September.

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 31/12/2024

Johnnie Walker, the DJ who continued broadcasting aboard Radio Caroline Sputv on August 14,1967 defying the Marine Offences Act which outlawed pirate radio, leaving this 12-year old in tears. Half a century later I thanked him at the Offshore 50 reunion. “For no man will ever forget … “ RIP JW

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 29/12/2024

37-year old Steven Fletcher’s stoppage-time winner for @Wrexham_AFC is his 8th goal v Wigan Athletic for 5 clubs over 15 years, having previously scored for Burnley (1) Wolves (2) + Sunderland (3) in the Premier League + Sheffield Wednesday (1) in the Championship. #wafc.

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 25/12/2024

Kenny Everett, wireless wizard, radio genius, jingle king, tape master, was born 80 years ago today at 14, Hereford Road, Seaforth. To mark the event Radio 4 Extra is broadcasting my 2009 documentary “Happy Birthday Maurice Cole (his real name) at 1000, 1600 + midnight as part of a week long series.

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 24/12/2024

At 1000 you can hear Kenny Everett’s first show on BBC Local Radio after he was fired by Radio 1. It was last heard in full on Radio Bristol on June 12, 1971. It’s part of a week-long series on BBC Radio 4 Extra marking what would’ve been his 80th birthday on Christmas Day. Also at 1600 + midnight

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 23/12/2024

BBC Radio 4 Extra is marking what would have been Kenny Everett’s 80th birthday on Christmas Day with a week of hour-long programmes. It kicks off at 1000 today with my documentary from 2001 about his BBC Local Radio days after he was sacked by Radio 1 in 1970. Repeated at 1600 + midnight.

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 14/12/2024

50 years ago today on December 14, 1974 I covered my first football match on the radio, Wigan Athletic 1 Mansfield Town 1 in the FA Cup 2nd Round for Radio City (Liverpool) No press box, no phone, I had to file my voice reports from a pub 200 yards away.I kept my notes, programme, cuttings + payslip

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 17/11/2024

50 years ago today November 17,1974 I debuted on Radio City’s “Sunday Soccer Special”. We had fun with some Sunday League clubs. Birds Eye were often “battered”, United Biscuits “crumbled” + Ford Motors regularly “crashed”. The station also held its first charity football match that day. We lost.

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Paul Rowley @paulrowleyradio.com · 16/11/2024

I helped train Howard Hughes when he joined Radio City (Liverpool) and later worked with him at IRN. He was a natural broadcaster who truly loved radio. When he read a bulletin you stopped to listen. Clear and authoritative, but also warm and accessible. Modern-day newsreaders take note. RIP Howie.

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