Back to square one

[Forbury Lion]

Seeing the Madstad pitch all nicely cut to give a grid like hatching effect reminds me of when football commentary on the wireless (as it was known back then) they used to refer to grid numbers to let the audience know where the action was taking place.

Square one was the centre circle, so when ever a goal was scored it was back to square one, which is where the phrase originated.

Question is, Should we start a campaign for BBC Berks to reintroduce square references into their matchday commentary?

[The 17 Bus]

Like you remember it being like that, so how can it take you back to those days.

And you mistake this place as one that anyone gives a toss.

[The Cube]

Well, if there is such a campaign, there will obviously be a need for a map so that Forbury Lion can learn where square one really is.....


Anyway, didn't Radio 5 do a game on this basis a couple of years ago?

[Royalshow]

What about snakes and ladders.....

[mattyougg]

What about snakes and ladders.....

No snakes ever go back to square No. 1

[SCIAG]

What about snakes and ladders.....

No snakes ever go back to square No. 1

Where does it say that? The Offical Snakes and Ladders Rule Book (updated 2006)?

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

apparently it's an urban myth. They did clearly do numbered commentary, but there's nothing to suggest "back to square one" originated in the commantaries (there's no record of anyone saying it, and there's no particularly logical reason for mentioning the ball going to that part of the pitch as going "back to" square 1)

[Dirk Gently]

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/back%20to%20square%20one.html

[chandog]

apparently it's an urban myth. They did clearly do numbered commentary, but there's nothing to suggest "back to square one" originated in the commantaries (there's no record of anyone saying it, and there's no particularly logical reason for mentioning the ball going to that part of the pitch as going "back to" square 1)

also if the ball went back to square 2 it would mean the same thing
you dont hear anyone saying back to square 2 when it has the same meaning in the commentry as back to square 1