John Motson: Football commentator dies aged 77

He covered 10 World Cups and was one of the BBC's most famous voices

BBC football commentator John Motson has died at the age of 77. Getty Images

Motson is presented with a Bafta in 2018 in London, by comedian John Bishop. Getty Images

Motson receives an award for his services to football commentary at Selhurst Park, south London, in 2018. Getty Images

'Motty' in his signature sheepskin coat at Wembley in 2017. Getty Images

A tribute at the Amex Stadium in Brighton in 2017. Getty Images

Motson holds a shirt bearing his nickname in Brighton in 2017. Getty Images

Motson with young fans in 2015. PA

Commentating on the Euro 2008 Final in Vienna, in which Spain beat Germany 1-0 with Fernando Torres scoring. Getty Images

Motson receives an OBE at Buckingham Palace in 2001. PA

Motson prepares to commentate on his 100th England international in 2001. Getty Images

With the English Premier League trophy in 1998. PA

At home with his family in 1997. Getty Images

Motson in 1985. Getty Images

Motson on the mic for an FA Cup tie between Manchester United and West Ham in 1985. Getty Images

Football commentator John Motson has died at the age of 77, the BBC has announced.

Popularly known as 'Motty' he covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals for the broadcaster before retiring in 2018. His long career also took in two Olympic Games.

"Legendary commentator John Motson, who had an illustrious 50-year career with the BBC, has died aged 77," BBC Sport said.

Millions of football fans would tune in to listen to his distinctive commentary on TV and radio for more than half a century. He was also known for his trademark sheepskin coat.

Motson's commentary on Ronnie Radford's famous long-range strike, which helped non-league Hereford knock top-flight Newcastle out of the FA Cup in 1972, led to him taking top billing on Match of the Day — pushed him into the spotlight and the affections of TV football viewers.

The game — one of FA Cup's most famous upsets — showed he could handle the pressure of commentating on big moments.

John Motson in his trademark sheepskin coat. PA

Radford famously hit a long-range strike on a quagmire pitch for the equaliser and substitute Ricky George scored the winner in extra-time.

"Radford again ... oh, what a goal! Radford the scorer. Ronnie Radford — and the crowd are invading the pitch ... and now it will take some time to clear the field. What a tremendous shot by Radford," the broadcaster bellowed.

Motson concedes Radford's goal marked the turning point of his commentary career.

"If Ronnie hadn't scored that goal and Hereford had not beaten Newcastle, I don't think I would be here talking to you now," Motson said in 2018.

"It changed my life, in the sense I was on trial that year at the BBC, I hadn't got a contract at that stage. I had been in radio, and they kind of borrowed me for a year, if you like, to see if I made out.

"That replay between Hereford and Newcastle was sort of designated to be a bit of a formality. If Newcastle had won it, the match would have been shown for about three minutes on Match of the Day.

"Then when Ronnie's goal turned it, and Ricky George, who by coincidence was a friend of mine, scored the winning goal in extra-time, the match was propelled to the top of the running order and we had an audience of about 10 million.

"From that moment onwards, maybe the BBC thought they could trust this young guy with a big match, so yes, it was a stroke of luck and a huge turning point, it was the moment which changed my career."

After starting as a newspaper reporter in Barnet and at the Sheffield Morning Telegraph, Motson joined the BBC in 1968 as a sports presenter on Radio 2.

He started at Match of the Day in 1971 and commentated on almost 2,500 televised games. In 2001, he became an OBE for services to sports broadcasting.

The son of a Methodist minister, he was born in Salford, Lancashire, but grew up in Lewisham, south-east London.

When he was 11, Motson was sent to boarding school at Culford near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, where rugby, hockey and cricket took centre stage, with the youngster having to get his football fix when taken to games by his father during holidays.

"He made me into a football nut," Motson said.