How I ‘invented’ VAR at Bristol City in 1973

‘It was not until afterwards that I saw what my camera had captured.’ Photograph: PA

Re Simon Jenkins’ article (For a bird’s eye view of British conservatism, look at sport. No wonder VAR in football is in trouble, 16 May), I think I could claim to be first to use video to record a disputed offside decision.

On 22 September 1973, Bristol City was at home to Sheffield Wednesday. In my role as manager of Rediffusion’s Bristol Channel, a small new community television station, I had been invited by City to show the possible use of video in training.