John Motson, legendary BBC football commentator, dies aged 77

Lawrence Ostlere

23 February 2023 at 5:03 am·1-min read

John Motson, the legendary commentator who became the voice of English football, has died aged 77.

Motson worked on the BBC’s flagship Match of the Day programme since 1971 and covered more than 2,000 televised games, including 29 FA Cup finals and 10 World Cups.

‘Motty’, as he was affectionately known, was pushed into the spotlight when commentating on non-league Hereford’s famous giant-slaying of Newcastle United in 1972, which took top billing on Match of the Day, and his words became an essential accompaniment to footage of Ronnie Radford’s famous long-range goal.

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.

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.

more to follow...

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