RIP John Motson

[Colly]

John Motson's died, which has hit me a lot harder than I thought it would. Feels weird to even consider that football exists without him, even if just fleeting appearances these days.

Wasn't sure which thread to put this in, might deserve his own.

[Bobfoc]

He's still the voice of football to me, even years after his full-time retirement. He also had strong family links with my town, which was an all too rare source of pride for people around here.

[Hobo]

Sheepskin coats all around.

[Lineker]

The voice of football. Devastating loss for the game - even if he had been less active for the past handful of years.

[Hobo]

 

[Adam]

I don't think words can quite convey how important Motty is to English football. Certainly he was a huge inspiration to me pursuing sports journalism and football in general, he was the voice of the sport for me growing up.

You can't really think of Match of the Day without thinking of John Motson and his sheepskin coat. There are far too many great calls to name - Ronnie Radford, Crazy Gang beating the Culture Club, Beckham's free kick, The Michael Owen Final - the list goes on and on.

He was also the lead commentator on the FIFA games when I was first playing them, alongside Lawro and then Andy Gray.

This is a really sad day.

[Chris2K]

Very sad news. He was certainly the voice of football for me growing up, and probably ranks alongside Murray Walker and Richie Benaud in my personal list of iconic commentators.

Perhaps the most important thing that he brought was a genuine interest in the game, no matter who was playing, and the research he did beforehand was evident for every game. There's certainly a few commentators these days that could learn from listening to his work.

[The Lusophone]

 

[DavidMarrio]

For so many people and generations he was the person behind the microphone. Such a recognisable voice, great commentator and a wonderful person by all accounts. 

He was passionate and that translated to his commentary and he could build interest in a game no matter who was playing or how the game was perceived in terms of importance. 

RIP Motty

[METALMAN]

Yeah Motson was great. Back from a time when commentators had a bit of personality and fun about them, rather than the interchangeable bland guys with Home Counties accents that tend to do it now.

One to be missed.

[TheGrandAvatar]

What sad news to find out. He was truly the voice of football for me while growing up. 

[Benji]

God, this makes me so sad. Commentators are such a golden thing to any kind of sports viewing and Motson was up there with the best of them. Absolute icon of football and broadcasting

[Adam]

This is the game Motty said a few years ago was his favourite to have called.

Three iconic calls from him just in this alone.

"This is getting better and better and better!"

"Emily Heskey, could it be 5? Yes it is!"

"Listen to this: Germany 1, England 5."

[9 to 5]

9 hours ago, Hobo said:

 

Remember having an interview at SI in London that day of the Germany/Ireland game (my brother now works for them funny enough) and managing to get into a pub just in time for that Robbie Keane goal.

Sad loss. To put it in terms for American/non UK people it's like Jim Ross dying when he commentated on most of our childhood wrestling memories.

[The Kraig]

A legend. I hope he had a wonderful (semi)retirement after all those memorable calls. I always loved that you could hear his smile.

Pretty sweet playlist I just stumbled across.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9C3C3005F1B44E7F

 

[Nelson]

[Colly]

Weird shit.

 

 

[The Kraig]

13 minutes ago, Colly said:

Weird shit.

 

 

Daily Fail, living up to it. Utter scum.

[Chris2K]

Maybe I've not been paying enough attention, but I don't remember Sam Matterface or Guy Mowbray going off on a 20 minute lecture about the effects of global warming during an FA Cup 5th round tie.

[The Kraig]

Apparently he was enjoying the football at the pub before his passing.  

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64759055