John Motson: Tributes pour in for 'legendary' football commentator after his death aged 77

The passion and infectious enthusiasm of football commentator John Motson was remembered fondly today after his death at the age of 77. John Ray looks back at the "voice of football's" best moments

Tributes have poured in for legendary football commentator John Motson after the news of his death aged 77.

Motson, born in Salford, Greater Manchester, enjoyed a distinguished career with the BBC, covering 29 FA Cup finals and 10 World Cups.

Known affectionately as ‘Motty’, who began working for Match of the Day in 1971 and commentated on more than 2,500 games, was hugely popular with generations of football fans and was famous for his sheepskin coat.

After starting as a newspaper reporter in Barnet and at the Sheffield Morning Telegraph, Motson joined the BBC in 1968 as a sports presenter on Radio 2.

Motson’s commentary on Ronnie Radford’s famous long-range strike which helped non-league Hereford knock top-flight Newcastle out of the FA Cup in 1972 saw him take top billing on Match of the Day – pushing him into the spotlight and the affections of the sporting public.

His long career also took in two Olympic Games and Wimbledon’s memorable 1988 FA Cup final triumph against Liverpool at Wembley as the Crazy Gang beat the Culture Club.

Awarded the OBE in 2001 for services to broadcasting, Motson hung up his microphone for the BBC at the end of the 2017-18 Premier League season.

Voices across the footballing world and beyond took to social media to pay tribute to Motson, praising his illustrious career and broadcasting talent.

Gary Lineker, the former England striker and presenter of Match of the Day, tweeted: “Deeply saddened to hear that John Motson has died. A quite brilliant commentator and the voice of football in this country for generations. He’ll be very much missed. RIP Motty.”

Writing on Twitter, ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley, who worked alongside Motson at the BBC in the 1990s, said: “As a teenager I just wanted to be John Motson. Nobody else. Terribly sad.”

The Prince of Wales described Motson as a “legend whose voice was football” following his death on Thursday. In a signed tweet, he said: “Very sad to hear about the passing of John Motson – a legend whose voice was football. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined the tributes to Motson, describing him as the “voice of football” to millions of fans. A No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister offers his condolences to the family and friends of John Motson. “He was a legend of the game. He was the voice of football for millions of people across the country. He will be deeply missed by fans and the entirety of the football community.”

Adding to the tributes, former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher tweeted: "An absolute legend of the game. So many of us grew up listening to this man describe the action and goals on MOTD and cup finals. Sad loss."

BBC director-general Tim Davie, meanwhile, said Motson was the voice of a "footballing generation" who had "the right words, at the right time, for all the big moments".

“He will rightly be remembered as a legendary figure in British sports broadcasting, respected by those in the game, loved by fans and an inspiration to those who followed him in the commentary box.”

Son of a Methodist minister, Motson was born in Salford, Lancashire on July 10 1945.

Motson, though, grew up in Lewisham, south-east London and attended the local Ennersdale junior school in Hither Green.

When he was 11, Motson was sent to boarding school at Culford near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, where rugby, hockey and cricket took centre stage, with the youngster having to get his football fix when taken to games by his father during holidays.

“He made me into a football nut,” Motson said.

Motson began a career in journalism as a reporter in Barnet in 1963 and in 1967 he worked for the Sheffield Morning Telegraph. His broadcasting career began the following year as a sports presenter on BBC Radio 2 and his big breakthrough came in 1972 when his commentary of Hereford’s famous upset of Newcastle in an FA Cup replay earned him a regular slot on Match of the Day. He is survived by his wife Anne and son Frederick.

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