12 February 1956

Eamonn interrupted the recording of a television sports programme at the BBC Television Theatre in order to surprise the Blackpool and England player - considered one of the greatest in the sport.
Stanley had been the original choice for the very first This Is Your Life but the show had be to cancelled, after a journalist leaked the story.

6 January 1958

The Scottish-born former footballer, and manager of Manchester United since 1945, was surprised by Eamonn at the BBC's Dickenson Road studios in Manchester.
Guests include the President of the American Football Association, James Maguire, who flew in from America to pay tribute.

16 February 1959

The former Tottenham Hotspur and England player - whose playing career ended prematurely due to an illness which caused the loss of both his legs - was surprised by Eamonn at the Stage Door of the BBC Television Theatre.
Willie - who holds the record for the fastest hat-trick ever recorded in an international game - was greeted by fellow player Stanley Matthews.

8 May 1961

The former footballer - whose long association with Wolverhampton Wanderers began in 1938 when he was only 14 - was surprised by Eamonn at the EMI Recording Studios in St John's Wood, London.
Billy's wife Joy is on the guest list, along with her sisters Babs and Teddy, known collectively as The Beverley Sisters.

30 October 1961

Eamonn surprised the former footballer at King's Cross station in London.
Derek, who began his career with Sheffield Wednesday FC in 1947, was a prolific goal scorer for the club, but his career was cut short when aged only 23, he broke his leg during a match against Preston North End FC and had to be amputated after it became infected.

26 November 1969

As one of the 'Busby Babes', Bobby had played for Manchester United since 1956, and was also a member of the 1966 World Cup winning England team.
Eamonn surprised him as he became the first recipient of an award for great moments in sport at The Sportsman's Club in London, from where the programme was then broadcast.

25 March 1970

The former Everton and Arsenal player, who went on to manage Manchester City with great success, was surprised by Eamonn while having a meal at the Hilton hotel in London.
Joe's guests include Matt Busby, his friend and the manager of his rival club Manchester United, and former player Stanley Matthews.

6 January 1971

The captain of West Ham United - who led the England team to victory in the 1966 World Cup - was surprised by Eamonn in a private cinema at Esso's London headquarters.
Among those paying tribute are fellow members of the World Cup winning team - George Cohen, Roger Hunt, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst and manager Sir Alf Ramsey.

12 May 1971

The Manchester United manager became the first subject to be honoured twice, when Eamonn surprised him ahead of his last game leading the Reds in a derby match with Manchester City at city's Maine Road ground in Manchester. This second tribute tells how, having survived the tragic events of the Munich air crash, Matt successfully rebuilt the United team.

17 November 1971

The Belfast-born winger - who began his professional career with Manchester United in 1963, aged 17 - was surprised by Eamonn during a fashion show at a restaurant in London's West End.
George - one of the world's first celebrity footballers - is greeted by his boss, Matt Busby, and presenter Cathy McGowan.

8 March 1972

Gordon - who established himself as England's number one goalkeeper and played every game of the nation's 1966 World Cup victory - was surprised by Eamonn during a photo shoot with his current club, Stoke City, in a South London Co-op store.
His World Cup winning team mates Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst are among those paying tribute.

10 January 1973

The manager of Liverpool Football Club was surprised by Eamonn as he and the team got off a train at Euston Station in London.
Among those greeting Bill at the Euston Road Studios are Manchester City manager Joe Mercer and Preston North End and England footballer Tom Finney, while Liverpudlian comedian Ken Dodd sends a filmed message.

2 May 1973

Jackie - part of the successful Leeds United club side since 1953 - was surprised by Eamonn at Thames Television's Euston Road Studios.
Jackie had been a member of the 1966 World Cup winning team, playing in every game of the campaign, and England's manager Sir Alf Ramsay pays his tribute to 'one of the greatest' in a recorded message.

16 January 1974

Eamonn surprised the Belfast-born footballer, who played with several English clubs before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in 1967.
Derek - who won 43 caps with Northern Ireland in a 15-year international career between 1958 and 1973 - was greeted by Pat Jennings and Jimmy Hill, among others.

24 April 1974

Eamonn and the team travelled to Leeds to surprise the former footballer at a Variety Club dinner held in the Queens Hotel, from where the tribute was broadcast.
Don had managed Leeds United since 1961, and his captain at Leeds, Billy Bremner, was present along with rival managers Bill Shankly of Liverpool FC and Matt Busby of Manchester United.

19 February 1975

Denis, who joined Manchester United in 1962 as a striker, is the only Scottish player to win the European Footballer of the Year. Nicknamed 'The King', he was United's second-highest goalscorer behind Bobby Charlton.
Eamonn surprised the recently retired player for a tribute which included singer Rod Stewart and footballer Jimmy Greaves on the guest list.

24 March 1976

Alan was surprised by Eamonn at Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham Football Club, during a friendly game between the club and local schoolchildren.
Among the guests in the studio are fellow footballer Bobby Moore and broadcaster Jimmy Hill, while football legend Pele and actress Honor Blackman send recorded messages.

28 December 1977

Eamonn concealed himself at the back of the team bus which was travelling through central London following a match with QPR in order to surprise the Liverpool FC manager.
Bob's former boss Bill Shankly greets him in the studio, while player Kevin Keegan and Manchester United manager Matt Busby send recorded messages.

14 February 1979

The newly crowned European Footballer of the Year was surprised by Eamonn - who emerged from inside a giant football - at his daughter's christening party in a central London hotel.
Kevin's guests include former team mates Emlyn Hughes and Ray Clemence, and Liverpudlian comedian Tom O'Connor.

27 February 1980

The popular player was surprised by Eamonn at the Molineux stadium - home of his current club, Wolverhampton Wanderers. The show was then recorded in the adjoining gym - on a set decorated as a soccer pitch. Guests who greeted the former Liverpool FC captain include footballer George Best and jockey Jonjo O'Neill – along with the racehorse Red Rum!

29 October 1980

It was on another soccer pitch set – this time at Southern Television's Southampton studios – that the Southampton FC manager greeted his guests, who included comedian Jimmy Tarbuck and rival manager Don Revie. Eamonn had surprised Lawrie during a meal to celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary, at a riverside restaurant in the city.

9 December 1981

The former Newcastle United player was surprised by Eamonn at the studios of Tyne Tees Television - in his home city of Newcastle upon Tyne. Among those paying tribute are Jackie's second cousins - Jackie and Bobby Charlton - former England team mate Tom Finney and - in a recorded message - Cardinal Basil Hume, who is a huge supporter of Newcastle United.

17 February 1982

Eamonn ambushed a celebrity golf competition at London's Roehampton Club to surprise the Welsh born Swansea City player-manager.
The former Liverpool FC player was greeted by the club's manager Bob Paisley and his old teammate Emlyn Hughes, while other tributes come from fellow Welshmen Barry John and Max Boyce.

16 February 1983

Eamonn drove a London taxi to a Trusthouse Forte Hotel, somewhere in the capital, to surprise Scotland's most caped footballer, currently playing for Liverpool FC.
Kenny's guests include former Manchester United player Denis Law, and singer Petula Clark and her family.

16 November 1983

The Northern Irish goalkeeper was surprised by Eamonn on the pitch at White Hart Lane, following a match between his current club Arsenal and his former club, Tottenham Hotspur.
Among those paying tribute are footballers George Best, Alex Stepney and Pele and comedian Jimmy Tarbuck.

23 January 1985

Bryan - current captain of Manchester United and England - was surprised by Eamonn in a 'traffic jam' while on his way to a business meeting in London.
His guests include his boyhood heroes Bobby Charlton and Denis Law as well as his Newcastle United favourite, Wyn Davies, and current England manager Bobby Robson.

19 March 1986

The Southampton FC goalkeeper was surprised by Eamonn and a group of his football colleagues dressed as porters at London's Waterloo Station.
Paying tribute to Peter - who started his career in his hometown with Leicester City - are England manager Bobby Robson and former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks.

9 November 1988

Michael - and a coach full of his former England team players - surprised the former Preston North End forward in central London.
Tom played his entire career for his local club - appearing 433 times and scoring 187 goals. He made his debut with the England national team in 1946, going on to win 76 caps and score 30 goals.

17 January 1990

For his second This Is Your Life tribute the former Wolverhampton Wanderers player - and husband to one third of The Beverley Sisters - was surprised by Michael at Thames Television's Teddington Studios.
Among his guests are comedians Cannon and Ball, former Wolves team mate Stan Cullis and Manchester United's Bobby Charlton.

20 November 1991

The midfield player - who was a member of the World Cup winning England team in 1966 - was surprised by Michael on the pitch at Old Trafford - home of Manchester United. Nobby had a successful career at the club playing alongside Bobby Charlton and George Best, as well as an equally successful period with England under manager Alf Ramsay.

7 April 1993

The former Bolton Wanderers player - who began his career with the club in 1939 - was surprised by Michael at his home ground - Burnden Park. Nat was a player with Wanderers until 1960 and later became manager between 1968-71. Appearing on his tribute were some of the current England players - Gary Linekar, Ian Rush and Paul Gascoigne.

27 April 1994

Michael and the team travelled to Manchester's Granada Studios where – after a brief visit to the Rovers Return – Michael surprised the former Manchester City player.
Among the guests paying tribute to Francis - who scored more than 200 goals during his career - are comedians Bernard Manning and Little and Large.

1 March 1995

The chairman of the Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association was surprised by Michael at Old Trafford.
Ray - who was born with spina bifida and confined to a wheelchair - raised significant amounts of money for charity. Among those paying tribute are player Bryan Robson and manager Alex Ferguson.

29 March 1995

Michael surprised the former player - who became a television icon as presenter of the BBC's Match of the Day - at the home ground of Walsall FC - the Bescot Stadium.
Jimmy is greeted by, among others, fellow presenter Dickie Davies, comedian Charlie Williams and former footballers Derek Dougan and Terry Venebles.

18 October 1996

The football commentator and writer was surprised by Michael during the presentation of a charity cheque at the Bayswater Families Centre in London.
In addition to the Big Red Book, John was also presented with the Carling No. 1 Award - from the then sponsors of the Premiership - an outstanding contribution award for 25 years service to football.

9 November 1998

Michael travelled to St Albans to surprise the former goalkeeper, who after retiring, became the presenter of the BBC's Football Focus for twenty years.
Bob made over 300 appearances for Arsenal and he is greeted by the current team manager Arsene Wenger, as well as boxer Henry Cooper and his football idol Bert Trautmann.

15 February 1999

The recently retired Gary - who had played with Tottenham Hotspur FC since 1982 - was surprised by Michael at the club's White Hart Lane ground in North London. Gary is greeted by sporting and show business names, including fellow player Gary Linekar, musicians Chas n Dave and actors Anthony Andrews and Lynn Redgrave.

24 January 2000

Ian was surprised by Michael - with the help of the singer Lulu - on the set on his own television show at BBC Television Centre.
The former player turned presenter is greeted by friends from the worlds of sport and show business, including boxer Lennox Lewis and fellow television presenters Jeremy Beadle, Dale Winton and Esther Rantzen.

30 November 2000

Michael interrupted the launch of a video in a central London cinema to surprise the former footballer who had capitalised on his 'hard man' image by becoming a film actor in tough guy roles.
Vinnie's guests - from the world of celebrity and film - include model and actress Kelly Brook, film actor Robert Duvall and film director Guy Ritchie.

7 March 2001

The former footballer - who became a highly successful racehorse trainer - was surprised by Michael while being interviewed at his West Ilsley racing stables near Newbury.
Among those paying tribute are names from both sports – including footballers Alan Ball and Kevin Keegan and horseracing's Jenny Pitman and Willie Carson.

4 April 2001

The Jamaican born player - who had successful stints with Watford and Liverpool - had recently turned manager with Celtic when he was surprised by Michael at the London headquarters of the charity Save the Children. Actress Sue Johnston is on the guest list along with John's former Liverpool teammate Jamie Redknapp and his wife, singer Louise.

6 March 2003

Michael surprised George at Thames Television's Teddington Studios, referring to his first Big Red Book - "will you regard this as Chapter 2?" His eventful story and full life was celebrated with friends old and new, and the show ended with a moving presentation of a specially made 1968 European Cup winners medal, to replace the original, which had been lost.