John Motson
{{Short description|English football commentator (1945–2023)}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|name = John Motson
|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
|image = John Motson 2018.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Motson in 2018
|birth_name = John Walker Motson
|nickname = Motty
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1945|07|10}}
|birth_place = Salford, Lancashire, England
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2023|02|23|1945|07|10}}
|death_place = Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire, England
|education = Culford School, Bury St Edmunds
|employer = {{hlist|BBC Sport|Talksport}}
|occupation = Football commentator
|spouse = {{marriage|Anne Jobling|1976}}
|children = 1
}}
John Walker Motson {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|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.[https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/collectionsnews/object-of-the-week-john-motsons-sheepskin-coat/ "Object of the week: John Motson's sheepskin coat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302155303/https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/collectionsnews/object-of-the-week-john-motsons-sheepskin-coat/ |date=2 March 2023 }}. Retrieved 23 February 2023. 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.{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/sep/05/john-motson-football-commentator-ready-to-retire | title= John Motson almost ready to hang up his sheepskin and end the boys' own story | first=Paul| last=MacInnes| work=The Guardian | date=6 September 2017 | access-date=8 April 2019}} In July 2018, he announced he was returning from retirement to work for Talksport.{{cite web | url= https://talksport.com/football/403213/john-motson-comes-out-of-retirement-to-join-talksport/ | title= John Motson comes out of retirement to join talkSPORT| work=Talksport | date=24 July 2018 | access-date=8 April 2019}} In 2019, Motson provided commentary for the Miniclip mobile game Head Ball 2.{{Cite tweet |number=1081087981203656705 |user=HB2Official |title=2018 was an awesome year for all of us! Thank you for your limitless support! We couldn't have done it without you!! Now get ready... Here come the LEGENDARY COMMENTATOR JOHN MOTSON... ...and a new GAME MODE!! |date=January 4, 2019 |access-date=April 20, 2025 |link=https://x.com/HB2Official/status/1081087981203656705}}
Early years
Motson was born in Salford, Lancashire, where his father was a Methodist minister.{{cite news |title=Fame and fortune: John Motson |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2782904/Fame-and-fortune-John-Motson.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location= London |access-date=5 June 2012}} He 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.Boston United v Sheffield United football programme, 11 December 1982, p5.
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.{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-motson-the-full-motty-856104.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-motson-the-full-motty-856104.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=John Motson: The Full Motty |work=The Independent |date=28 June 2008 |access-date=23 August 2008 | author=Lawon, James |location=London}}
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.Boston United v Sheffield United programme, 11 December 1982, p. 5
Broadcasting career
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.{{cite news|title=John Motson: BBC legend set for final live commentary this weekend|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43337062|work=BBC Sport|date=9 March 2018}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/site/motdlistings/home/1971-72 |title=1971–72 |access-date=14 December 2014 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713202244/https://sites.google.com/site/motdlistings/home/1971-72 |url-status=dead }}
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.{{Cite web |title=Classic third round upsets |last=Association |first=The Football |work=www.thefa.com |date=4 January 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |url= https://www.thefa.com/news/2023/jan/04/fa-cup-third-round-classic-upsets-20230401}}{{Cite web |title=Ranked! The 26 greatest cup shocks in English football history |author=Ryan Dabbs |work=fourfourtwo.com |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |url= https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-26-greatest-cup-shocks-in-english-football-history}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8JahEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA59 |pages=59–63 |title=Best, Pele and a Half-Time Bovril: A Nostalgic Look at the 1970s – Football's Last Great Decade |author=Andrew Smart |publisher=Kings Road Publishing |year=2014|isbn=9781782198864 }} 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.{{cite web | url = https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fa-cups-greatest-ever-upset-hereford-vs-newcastle-told-ronnie-motty-and-supermac | title = The FA Cup's greatest-ever upset: Hereford vs Newcastle as told by Ronnie, Motty and Supermac | last = Moynihan | first = Leo | date = 16 February 2018 | website = fourfourtwo.com | access-date = 11 May 2018 | quote = "Oh what a goal! Radford the scorer. Ronnie Radford! And the crowd are on the pitch. What a tremendous shot by Ronnie Radford" John Motson, Match of the Day, 5 February 1972"}}
Motson's first FA Cup Final as a commentator was the 1977 match between Manchester United and Liverpool. Motson was drafted in as a late replacement for David Coleman, who was in a contractual dispute with the BBC. When Martin Buchan of Manchester United climbed the steps of Wembley Stadium to receive the trophy, Motson commented that it was "fitting that a man called Buchan should be the first to climb the 39 steps", referring to the novel The Thirty-Nine Steps by Scottish author John Buchan.{{Cite news|last=Motson|first=John|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/17/facup.sport8|title=This will be a record for me, unless I'm very much mistaken|date=17 May 2003|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 March 2020|issn=0261-3077}} Between 1979 and 2008 (except 1995 and 1996), Motson commentated on all the FA Cup finals that the BBC covered.{{cite news |author=Jim White |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/jimwhite/2300668/FA-Cup-final-whistle-to-blow-on-John-Motson.html |title=FA Cup final whistle to blow on John Motson |work=The Telegraph |date=17 May 2008 |access-date=24 February 2013}} In total, Motson covered 29 FA Cup finals.
The BBC stopped broadcasting Match of the Day in 1985 amid an increased appetite for live football rather than highlights, and ITV securing the rights to broadcast the English Football League. Motson continued to commentate regularly, however, as the BBC covered midweek fixtures in European tournaments, and he remained a principal commentator when the Match of the Day show returned in 1992 following the launch of the Premier League.{{cite web |title=Renewed appetite for "movable feast" may restore the old order |date=10 August 1992 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119517091/the-daily-telegraph/ |page=35}}
In April 1989, Motson commentated on the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest when the Hillsborough disaster occurred. Motson found himself commentating on a tragedy rather than a football match, and he later appeared as a witness at the Hillsborough inquiry.{{cite news |last1=Conn |first1=David |title=Hillsborough inquest hears police gave 'entirely false' story about a forced gate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/nov/19/hillsborough-inquest-police-story-forced-gate-liverpool-supporters |access-date=23 February 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=19 November 2014}}
The BBC lost the right to broadcast Premier League highlights to ITV in 2001, meaning Match of the Day was no longer a weekly schedule fixture.{{Cite web |title=BBC 'sour' over football deal |author= |work=BBC Sport |date=15 June 2000 |access-date=23 February 2023 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/791268.stm}} Motson returned to BBC Radio 5 Live for its coverage of the Premier League, although he still commentated for TV for games in which the BBC held rights to. Match of the Day resumed broadcasting the Premier League again in 2004 and returned with it, although he still occasionally commentated for 5 Live up to 2018.{{Cite news |title=Match of the Day returns in a game of two halves |date=14 August 2004 |work=The Daily Telegraph |page=Sport 8 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119517322/the-daily-telegraph/ |via=newspapers.com}}
In 2001, speech therapist Jane Comins conducted a voice profile analysis to study the patterns of eight top television and radio commentators. The criteria included pitch, volume, rhythm, and tone, and Comins found that Motson scored the best results. In an accompanying survey of football fans, 32% voted him Britain's favourite commentator.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/1579178.stm Motty's Perfect Pitch] BBC Sport
file:John Motson.jpg at Old Trafford on 10 February 2008.]]
The BBC lost the rights to cover live FA Cup football in 2008{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-has-lost-fa-cup-television-rights-442533.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213215455/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-has-lost-fa-cup-television-rights-442533.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2009|title=The Independent – 404|work=The Independent}} to Setanta Sports and ITV. Motson attempted to join Setanta, but the BBC refused permission, so he retired from live television commentary. His last live television broadcast was the Euro 2008 final. He continued to cover pre-recorded games for Match of the Day highlights.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport-old/euro2008/news/2008/06/28/john-motson-enjoys-euro-2008-final-hurrah-in-his-last-major-tournament-115875-20624142/ |title=Football: News, opinion, previews, results & live scores – Mirror Online |work=Mirror|access-date=24 February 2013}}
Motson covered a total of 10 FIFA World Cups, beginning with the 1978 tournament.{{Cite web |title=John Motson obituary: BBC commentator was 'voice of football' for 50 years |author=Frank Keogh |work=BBC Sport |date=23 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64741718}}{{cite news |date=19 June 1978 |title=Brutality and brilliance as giants clash |page=2 |work=Lincolnshire Echo |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119517562/lincolnshire-echo/ |author=Maurice Burton}} One of Motson's memorable World Cup moments came in 1998, when Ronaldo was omitted from the official teamsheet presented to FIFA 72 minutes before the final, only to be later reinstated in a modified teamsheet. Motson described the scenes in Paris as "absolute mayhem and chaos".{{Cite news |title=Motson, Ronaldo and the World Cup final teamsheet |author= |work=BBC Sport |date= |access-date=23 February 2023 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/64744702}}{{Cite web |title=World Cup stunning moments: Ronaldo falters as France win |last=Steinberg |first=Jacob |work=The Guardian |date=8 May 2018 |access-date=30 October 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/08/world-cup-stunning-moments-25-ronaldo-france |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929021532/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/08/world-cup-stunning-moments-25-ronaldo-france |url-status=live }} His final World Cup was in 2010, when he travelled to South Africa as part of the BBC team and appeared as a studio guest on the Match of the Day highlights show, as well as providing reports on the BBC website.Steve Wilson (24 June 2008). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2303981/Euro-2008-John-Motsons-finals-farewell.html "Euro 2008: John Motson's finals farewell"]. The Daily Telegraph. London. Beginning in 2015, Motson provided commentary and narration for the CBeebies football programme Footy Pups.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0664plz/credits |title=Footy Pups credits |publisher=bbc.co.uk |access-date=19 December 2015}} He also covered 10 UEFA European Championships and a total of more than 200 England national team games.
Motson was a commentator for the FIFA video games series by EA Sports, and worked alongside Ally McCoist, Andy Gray, Des Lynam, Mark Lawrenson and Chris Waddle. Motson first joined the franchise for FIFA 96; he and McCoist were replaced by Gray and Clive Tyldesley for FIFA 06 but later returned for FIFA Manager 08.{{cite web |first=Justin |last=Pearse |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/gamespot-fifa-week-john-motson-talks-about-fifa-2000/ |title=John Motson talks about FIFA 2000 |publisher=Znet |date=1999-10-21 |accessdate=2023-02-23}}{{cite news |url=https://talksport.com/magazine/virals/130609/fifa-96-flashback-video-john-motsons-commentary-debut-and-introduction-3-199219|title=FIFA '96 flashback video: John Motson's commentary debut and the introduction of 3D graphic |work=TalkSport |location= UK |author1=James Bragg |date=9 June 2013|access-date= 6 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/1654159.stm|title=Let's play: FIFA 2002 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 November 2001|access-date=11 July 2016}}
In September 2017, Motson announced that he would retire from the BBC at the end of the football season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41159991|title=John Motson: Commentator to end BBC football career after 50 years|publisher=BBC News|date=6 September 2017}} His last live radio commentary was on a match between Arsenal and Watford on 11 March 2018. His final pre-recorded TV commentary was a match between Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion and was broadcast on Match of the Day on 13 May 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44102777|title=John Motson: Legendary BBC commentator receives Bafta honour after final match|work=BBC Sport |date=13 May 2018|access-date=19 May 2018}}
During the 2018–19 season, Motson appeared in advertisements for gambling company Football INDEX.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sbcnews.co.uk/marketing/2018/08/31/iconic-commentator-confirmed-as-voice-of-football-index/|title=Football INDEX {{!}} Iconic commentator confirmed as voice of Football INDEX {{!}} SBCnews|access-date=31 August 2018}}
Personal life
Motson married Anne Jobling in 1976. They lived in Little Brickhill in Buckinghamshire[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/8wbiEgsJ3gRmyRU0ZWgc8e5nU98/appointments John Walker MOTSON – Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)] Retrieved 27 October 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2782904/Fame-and-fortune-John-Motson.html|title=Fame and fortune: John Motson|journal=Daily Telegraph |date=19 January 2008|access-date=5 March 2020|issn=0307-1235}} and had one son, Frederick (born 1986).{{Cite web |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/legendary-football-commentator-john-motty-motson-dies-aged-77/ |title='The voice of football': Legendary commentator John Motson dies aged 77 |publisher=LBC |date=2023-02-23 |accessdate=2023-02-23}}
In 2012, he stated he was a supporter of Barnet.{{cite web|url=http://www.barnetfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10431~1334435,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630223817/http://www.barnetfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10431~1334435,00.html|url-status=dead|title=Barnet – News – Latest News – Latest News – MOTTY BOOSTS THE BEES|date=30 June 2012|archive-date=30 June 2012}}
Motson was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1996, during which he was surprised by Michael Aspel at a charity event.{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/john-motson-the-voice-of-bbc-football-commentary-dies-aged-77/ar-AA17POym?ocid=UP97DHP&li=BBoPWjQ |title=John Motson, the voice of BBC football commentary, dies aged 77 |work=The Telegraph |via=MSN |date=2023-02-23 |accessdate=2023-02-23}} He also appeared on the BBC Radio 4 biographical programme Great Lives in 2007, in which he nominated Brian Clough as his "great life".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qxsb|title=BBC Radio 4 – Great Lives|website=BBC}} On 19 May 2018, BBC Two celebrated Motson's career with an evening featuring three special programmes – Motty Mastermind, Motty – The Man Behind the Sheepskin and Countdown to the Full Motty.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b49n08/mastermind-motty-mastermind|title=Mastermind – Motty Mastermind|access-date=19 May 2018|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b49n0b/motty-the-man-behind-the-sheepskin|title=Motty – The Man Behind the Sheepskin|access-date=19 May 2018|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbctwo|title=BBC iPlayer – Watch BBC Two live|website=BBC iPlayer|access-date=19 May 2018}}
Motson was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2001 Birthday Honours for services to sports broadcasting.United Kingdom {{London Gazette| issue=56237 |date=16 June 2001|pages=12 |supp=1}} He died in his sleep on 23 February 2023, at the age of 77. He had been suffering from bowel cancer since 2014, but whether or not that condition was related to his death has never been confirmed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64742833|title=Legendary commentator Motson dies aged 77|work=BBC Sport |accessdate=23 February 2023 |date=23 February 2023}}
Publications
- {{cite book|last=Motson|first=John|title=Second to None: great teams of post-war football|year=1972|publisher=Newton Abbot, Sportsmans Book Club|isbn=0-7207-0605-X}}
- {{cite book|last=Motson|first=John (with J. Rowlinson)|title=History of the European Cup|year=1980|publisher=Queen Anne P|isbn=0-362-00512-5}}
- {{cite book|last=Motson|first=John|title=Motty's Diary: a year in the life of a commentator|year=1996|publisher=London, Virgin Books|isbn=1-85227-620-7}}
- {{cite book|last=Motson|first=John|title=Match of the Day: the complete record|year=1994|publisher=BBC Books|isbn=978-0-563-37062-8}}
- {{cite book|last=Motson|first=John|title=Motty's Year|year=2004|publisher=BBC Books|isbn=978-0-563-52174-7}}
- {{cite book|last=Motson|first=John|title=Motson's National Obsession: The Greatest Football Trivia Book Ever|year=2004|publisher=Sanctuary Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-1-86074-601-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/motsonsnationalo00adam}}
- {{cite book|last=Motson|first=John|title=Motson's FA Cup Odyssey|year=2005|publisher=Robson Books Ltd|isbn=978-1-86105-903-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/motsonsfacupodys0000mots}}
- {{cite book|last=Motson|first=John|title=Motson's World Cup Extravaganza|year=2006|publisher=Robson Books Ltd|isbn=978-1-86105-936-9}}
- {{cite book
| date = 20 May 2010
| title = Motty
| last = Motson
| first = John
| publisher = Virgin Books
| isbn = 978-0-7535-1813-7
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|0609441}}
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/match_of_the_day/882124.stm Motson's biography at BBC Sport Online]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/bsp/motty/default.stm Mini-Motty]
- [http://www.longballgame.com/motson.htm Quotes from John Motson]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Motson, John}}
Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters
Category:English association football commentators
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:People educated at Culford School