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John Motson
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John Motson
John Walker Motson OBE (10 July 1945 – 23 February 2023) was an English football commentator. Beginning as a television commentator with the BBC in 1971, he commentated on over 2000 games on television and radio. From the late 1970s to 2008, Motson was the dominant football commentary figure at the BBC, apart from a brief spell in the mid-1990s.
Motson often wore a sheepskin coat (his 'Motty' coat) during winter months after he reportedly "battled horizontal sleet showers ahead of Wycombe Wanderers' FA Cup tie with Peterborough United" in December 1990. These coats became Motson's trademark look, making him instantly recognisable to his audience.
In 2008, Motson announced his retirement from live television commentary. He continued to cover games for Match of the Day highlights and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live as well as commentating on CBeebies' Footy Pups. In September 2017, he announced his full retirement from BBC commentary, having commentated on 10 FIFA World Cups, 10 UEFA European Championships, and 29 FA Cup finals. In July 2018, he announced he was returning from retirement to work for Talksport. In 2019, Motson provided commentary for the Miniclip mobile game Head Ball 2.
Motson was born in Salford, Lancashire, where his father was a Methodist minister. He grew up in Lewisham, London, and was baptised in Boston, Lincolnshire, and spent childhood holidays there. As a child, he was a follower of Boston United and recalled the club's victory over Derby County in the FA Cup in 1955.
He was educated at Culford School, near Bury St Edmunds. Culford is a public school where football was generally frowned upon at the time; rugby union, field hockey, and cricket were the main sports for pupils.
In 1963, Motson's career began as a newspaper reporter in Chipping Barnet. In 1967 and 1968, he worked for the Sheffield Morning Telegraph where he first covered football.
Motson joined the BBC in 1968 as a sports presenter on Radio 2. His first radio commentary was for a football match between Everton and Derby County in December 1969. In October 1971, he began appearing as a regular commentator with the BBC television programme Match of the Day, his first commentary being a 0–0 draw between Liverpool and Chelsea.
On 5 February 1972, Motson had what he later described as his big breakthrough, when he was assigned to cover an FA Cup replay between Hereford United and Newcastle United for Match of the Day. Newcastle were expected to win easily, but Hereford won in a huge upset. Motson's commentary when Ronnie Radford scored the equalising goal was "Oh what a goal! Radford the scorer. Ronnie Radford! And the crowd are invading the pitch. What a tremendous shot by Ronnie Radford." Motson later described this match as the story of the season. His commentary caused BBC executives to assign him higher-profile TV matches, and he subsequently signed a three-year contract with the broadcaster.
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John Motson
John Walker Motson OBE (10 July 1945 – 23 February 2023) was an English football commentator. Beginning as a television commentator with the BBC in 1971, he commentated on over 2000 games on television and radio. From the late 1970s to 2008, Motson was the dominant football commentary figure at the BBC, apart from a brief spell in the mid-1990s.
Motson often wore a sheepskin coat (his 'Motty' coat) during winter months after he reportedly "battled horizontal sleet showers ahead of Wycombe Wanderers' FA Cup tie with Peterborough United" in December 1990. These coats became Motson's trademark look, making him instantly recognisable to his audience.
In 2008, Motson announced his retirement from live television commentary. He continued to cover games for Match of the Day highlights and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live as well as commentating on CBeebies' Footy Pups. In September 2017, he announced his full retirement from BBC commentary, having commentated on 10 FIFA World Cups, 10 UEFA European Championships, and 29 FA Cup finals. In July 2018, he announced he was returning from retirement to work for Talksport. In 2019, Motson provided commentary for the Miniclip mobile game Head Ball 2.
Motson was born in Salford, Lancashire, where his father was a Methodist minister. He grew up in Lewisham, London, and was baptised in Boston, Lincolnshire, and spent childhood holidays there. As a child, he was a follower of Boston United and recalled the club's victory over Derby County in the FA Cup in 1955.
He was educated at Culford School, near Bury St Edmunds. Culford is a public school where football was generally frowned upon at the time; rugby union, field hockey, and cricket were the main sports for pupils.
In 1963, Motson's career began as a newspaper reporter in Chipping Barnet. In 1967 and 1968, he worked for the Sheffield Morning Telegraph where he first covered football.
Motson joined the BBC in 1968 as a sports presenter on Radio 2. His first radio commentary was for a football match between Everton and Derby County in December 1969. In October 1971, he began appearing as a regular commentator with the BBC television programme Match of the Day, his first commentary being a 0–0 draw between Liverpool and Chelsea.
On 5 February 1972, Motson had what he later described as his big breakthrough, when he was assigned to cover an FA Cup replay between Hereford United and Newcastle United for Match of the Day. Newcastle were expected to win easily, but Hereford won in a huge upset. Motson's commentary when Ronnie Radford scored the equalising goal was "Oh what a goal! Radford the scorer. Ronnie Radford! And the crowd are invading the pitch. What a tremendous shot by Ronnie Radford." Motson later described this match as the story of the season. His commentary caused BBC executives to assign him higher-profile TV matches, and he subsequently signed a three-year contract with the broadcaster.
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