Broadcast commentators frequently struggle to articulate themselves with precision during live sporting events, a challenge that has led to numerous memorable verbal slip-ups over the years.

The satirical publication Private Eye maintains a permanent record of such incidents through its Coleman Balls column, named in honour of the legendary BBC commentator David Coleman.

Among Coleman’s most notable verbal missteps were statements such as declaring a goal when no goal had occurred, noting an exceptionally quick time while simultaneously noting it fell short of the world record, and announcing that Forest had lost six consecutive matches without securing a victory.

Some seemingly straightforward descriptions have inadvertently contained inappropriate double meanings.

BBC Test Match Special commentator Brian Johnson once introduced England batsman Peter Willey facing West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding by stating the bowler was Holding while the batsman was Willey.

Similarly, BBC commentator Ron Pickering described Cuban double Olympic champion Alberto Juantorena at the 1976 Montreal Games by noting he was moving down the back straight, spreading his legs and demonstrating his quality.

The limitations of monochrome television created additional difficulties, as snooker commentator Ted Lowe illustrated when he felt compelled to explain that for viewers watching in black and white, the pink ball was positioned adjacent to the green.

However, the most celebrated verbal error, though incorrectly attributed to David Coleman, originated from American baseball legend Yogi Berra, who famously remarked that something felt like déjà vu all over again.

Residents of Queen’s Park ward in Brighton will be experiencing that sense of repetition following the announcement of a third council by-election within approximately two years, prompted by the resignation of Milla Gauge, who herself had triumphed in the initial such contest.

This represents the eighth by-election staged since 2023, with each one resulting from a Labour councillor’s resignation.

Over the preceding twelve months, in contests for Queen’s Park and Goldsmid wards, the Green Party had nominated energetic young women to challenge Labour’s selections of older male candidates.

In both instances, the Greens successfully overturned substantial Labour leads to claim comfortable victories.

The question arises whether history is poised to repeat itself, though considerable developments have transpired in recent weeks.

Andy Burnham’s leadership change has generated a modest improvement in Labour’s polling figures, though this surge has not matched the expectations of party supporters.

Labour now finds itself competing closely with Reform UK, which has recently edged into a narrow advantage.

According to YouGov’s most recent survey, Reform stands at 24 percent, Labour at 22 percent, and the Conservative Party at 19 percent.

Burnham’s net favourability rating stands at plus 3 percent, calculated from the difference between positive and negative assessments.

Kemi Badenoch registers minus 11 percent, Nigel Farage minus 46 percent, and the Greens’ Zachary Polanski minus 26 percent.

The Green Party has achieved notable success in Brighton and Hove by-elections despite Polanski’s unpopularity rather than because of it.

Whether Burnham’s limited appeal combined with Polanski’s unfavourable ratings will prove decisive in securing a Labour victory in Queen’s Park remains questionable.

At the September 24 by-election, the Greens will not be fielding a dynamic young female candidate as they did previously.

Both Labour and the Greens have instead selected men of similar age.

Neither Labour’s Steve Gladwin nor the Greens’ Mark Strong could reasonably be characterised as uninspiring or tedious.

Both individuals have maintained lengthy records of local involvement.

Gladwin previously worked as a journalist and served for a period as political editor at The Argus newspaper.

Strong has operated as a community campaigner and cycling advocate within the city for more than four decades.

Strong possesses greater recognition within Queen’s Park ward, being a resident there and having previously contested elections in the area.

He also participates actively in various residents’ associations and community organisations.

Labour’s announcement regarding Gladwin’s candidacy simply stated he resides locally, a phrasing that might suggest he does not actually live within the ward, as a more specific claim would likely have been made otherwise.

This interpretation may prove incorrect, but available information indicates his residence in the adjacent Hanover and Elm Grove ward.

In closely contested local elections, such details can determine success or failure.

The Liberal Democrats have again selected Rudi Dikty-Daudiyan, who accumulated 98 votes in the previous year’s by-election, finishing third from bottom while narrowly surpassing Conservative candidate Sunny Choudhury with 82 votes and independent contender Adrian Hart with 64 votes.

By contrast, the victorious Green candidate Marina Lademacher secured 1,133 votes.

The Conservative and Reform UK parties have yet to reveal their respective candidates.

Andy Winter is a former councillor who spent four decades working in social care and homelessness services.