John Motson, a renowned BBC football commentator known as the voice of football, passed away at the age of 77.
According to the Independent, Motson spent more than 50 years working on the BBC’s premier Match of the Day program. During that time, he covered more than 2,000 televised matches, including 10 World Cups and 29 FA Cup finals.
His words became a crucial complement to the footage of Ronnie Radford’s renowned long-range goal during that match, which was featured prominently on Match of the Day.
Motson, born in Salford, Lancashire, joined the BBC in 1968 as a sports presenter on Radio 2 after stints as a newspaper reporter in Barnet and at the Sheffield Morning Telegraph.
‘Motty’, as he was affectionately known, shot to limelight with the way he handled the match in which non-league Hereford’s famously slayed giant Newcastle United in 1972.
His career, which spanned more than 50 years, 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.
Motson was awarded the OBE in 2001 for services to broadcasting. He hung up his microphone for the BBC at the end of the 2017-18 Premier League season.