The sporting world has been left in mourning following the death of legendary football commentator John Motson at the age of 77.
Known affectionately as “Motty,” he served as BBC television’s “voice” of football for nearly 50 years, commentating for Match of the Day from 1971 until his retirement in 2018.
While the details of his obituary are not yet known, it has been reported that he passed away from bowel cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2014, causing him to miss the World Cup at the time.
Reflecting on his early career, Motson recalled feeling nervous ahead of his first match as a commentator.
Liverpool played against Chelsea, and as the game kicked off, he found himself wondering what he should say.
However, as his career progressed, he established himself as a formidable commentator, admired for his energetic style and deep knowledge of the sport. He was also known for his meticulous preparation, which involved compiling detailed statistics on an A4 sheet of card in felt-tip pen for each match.
While he attributed this obsession with facts and figures to his early fears of making a mistake, he eventually became more confident and used less background information in his commentaries.
The funeral details of John Motson have not been made public at the time of writing. However, tributes have poured in from across the footballing world, with many expressing their sadness at the loss of such a respected and beloved figure.
Throughout his long and illustrious career, Motson became synonymous with the sport, earning himself a place in the hearts of millions of football fans around the world.
His distinctive voice and encyclopedic knowledge of the game made him an icon, and his influence on the world of football commentary will be felt for many years to come.
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