Iconic Match of the Day commentator John Motson, who spent 50 years with the British Broadcasting Corporation, has passed away at the age of 77.
Motson worked heavily with the BBC during his career, commentating on almost 2,500 televised games. Those included 29 FA Cup finals, ten World Cups and ten European Championships.
“It is with great sadness we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today (Thursday),” a statement from Motson’s family read.
‘Motty’ worked for Match of the Day from 1971 until his retirement from the organisation in 2018. He joined talkSPORT later that year.
The commentator was renowned for his signature sheepskin coat and became the voice of football for a generation, presiding over a number of memorables moments in English and world football history.
He worked for the Barnet Press and Sheffield Morning Telegraph at the start of his career before becoming a freelancer with BBC Radio Sheffield. He joined the BBC on a full-time basis in 1968 and made his MOTD breakthrough when Hereford shocked Newcastle in a famous 1972 FA Cup replay.
It was the first time a non-league club had beaten a top-flight club in England in competitive competition since Yeovil’s 1949 triumph over Sunderland.
