Community radio sports presenter celebrates over two decades on air

When Glenn Scarborough stepped behind the microphone at North West FM for a fifteen minute spot 23 years ago, little did he know how big radio announcing would become in his life.

From humble beginnings as a guest on the station’s flagship Saturday morning sports show, Glenn has now chalked up twenty years of presenting the North West Cricket Report, and twenty-one years of presenting the North West Amateur Footy Report. 

For three hours every Sunday evening, Glenn covers all the scores and news from the VTCA and Sub District Cricket competitions during cricket season, and every grade in the VAFA during football season. Glenn has now become one of the longest serving presenters at the community radio station.

“I love locking myself in the studio on a Sunday evening and just talking footy or cricket. It’s one of my favourite times of the week”, says Glenn about his long running radio program. “Community radio and community based sports go hand in hand. I feel privileged to be able to give grass roots sport some good exposure each weekend, particularly through the interviews with club correspondents. Without them, my show simply wouldn’t go to air”

Tuesday, 13 February is World Radio Day, with this year’s theme being ‘Radio and Sports’. This year, UNESCO has called on all radio stations around the world to showcase their contribution to sports around the globe, and locally. In 2017 a highlight of Glenn’s football season was presenting a program dedicated completely to the inaugural VAFA Women’s football competition.

“It was great to get some of the girls in for interviews and a roundup of the first season of VAFA Women’s footy” he says.

Station president, Bob Rau, is proud of the way the station supports local sports too.

“Glenn’s shows are very popular, especially now that we are able to stream live via the web. We’re also very proud of our Sports of All Sorts program on Tuesdays and Saturdays, which is a great opportunity to showcase local sports teams from Melbourne’s North West. If you combine that with our exclusive coverage of the EDFL football every Saturday afternoon during the Aussie Rules season, it’s clear that Community Radio has an important role to play in supporting Community Sport.”

North West FM is located in Hadfield, and is run by a volunteer Committee of Management. All presenters are also volunteers. The station has now been on air since full-time transmission commenced in April, 1993. For details about becoming an on air presenter, or other volunteer opportunities, call the station on 03 9304 4989 or visit their website www.northwestfm.org.

We'll be highlighting some community radio sports shows online and on our Facebook in the lead up to and surrounding World Radio Day on 13 February, for its theme, Radio & Sports. Let us know if you're holding an event or celebrating a program!