RTE Announce Death of Philip Greene

Philip Greene, 2006

The death has taken place of Philip Greene, who was best known as a soccer commentator on RTÉ Radio, as well as being as Head of Sport with the station.

Greene began his RTE Radio career in the 1940's and was editor, producer and presenter of the popular Sports Stadium programme. His first commentary on a soccer international was the game against Argentina at Dalymount Park in 1951.

Although best known as a soccer commentator, Philip Greene also commentated on athletics and cricket.

He covered many famous games for radio, including the 1957 World Cup qualifier against England when John Atyeo scored a late equaliser for England, and the European Cup tie between his favourite team, Shamrock Rovers ('Coad's Colts') and Manchester United ('The Busby Babes') the same year. 

Many of that United team died in Munich a couple of months later. 

Philip also wrote a column in the Evening Press newspaper when it started in 1954. 

He later served as head of sport in RTÉ and covered his last international for radio in 1985. In the 1990s he commentated on several eircom League games for NTL, then sponsors of Bray Wanderers.

Greene covered his last soccer international for radio in 1985, the year of his official retirement.