Wasn't his first ever match at The Valley? He did a talk at a screening of a Charlton film years ago at the Greenwich Picturehouse. Seemed like a lovely man.
Dickie Davies this week, Motty today... hope someone's checked in on Des Lynam.
Absolutely gutted. Like many of us growing up back in the day he was THE voice of football. His knowledge of the game was astounding, he puts many of today's commentators in the shade, by a country mile. God bless Motty, thanks for the many years of superb commentary. RIP sir, my condolences to family and friends. A very sad day! X
Incomparable. The absolute football man in a pre Sky era where football could be both glorious and humble. Motson provided a bridge for many to develop deeper love for the game, as iconic as the brilliant Match of the Day music. My best wishes to what I assume will be the many hurt and touched but his passing. His first pro match was at the Valley as I believe his dad was a Vicar in Plumstead, so RIP to somebody I like to think was one of our very own.
For my generation he is the voice of football commentary. Growing up in the 90s when I first fell in love with the game it was the voice of Saturday night if I was allowed to stay up and watch match of the day, hearing him yell “Cantona” or “Shearer” was iconic to me, and then we reached the prem hearing him say “Rufus” and “Kinsella” was the answer to all my prayers, the moment where I remember thinking wow Charlton are in the big time.
Met him a couple of times through work, would have been early 2000s. doing Football Focus. He was very nice, and surprisingly nervous and in need of reassurance just before going on air, when most others doing that stuff are happy to chat/smoke/whatever until a second or two before going live. Apparently when he went away for tournaments one of the producers had to make sure that there was always somewhere nearby that he could get steak and chips.
Shocked he was 77, but then it was over 50 years from the game that made him. He along with Barry Davies and Brian Moore were the sound of football during my childhood. RIP to an iconic commentator and lover of the game.
RIP Motty. As so many have said his voice is one of the sounds of football.
It's an odd one but none of the newer breed of commentators have the right "voice" if that makes sense. Probably because the likes of Motson, Moore and Davies were the ones you grew up with.
I've been sitting at my desk, welling up like I've lost someone close to me. But when you think of how many games he has commentated on that we've all watched, whether you support the teams playing or not, we've listened to him more than we've listened to anyone else close to us.
If you can stand the adverts every 15 mins, Talksport has had some brilliant stories about him from the likes of Bob Wilson, Mark Lawrenson and Clive Tyldesley this morning.
When my dear friend, the late and much-missed Graham 'Buster' Tutt and I were putting the finishing touches to Buster's autobiography 'Never Give Up' we needed someone to supply a foreword. We chewed over a few names before I suggested John Motson. Buster was immediately smitten with that idea. 'Motty' was the commentator when Buster suffered that terrible injury in front of the Match of the Day cameras on 21 February 1976 while playing in goal for Charlton at Roker Park. I wasn't sure I could get him but with the help of a couple of BBC contacts I was put in touch with him. He remembered the day vividly and said he had often thought about what happened to Graham. He was an absolute gent to deal with, good-humoured, modest and couldn't do enough for us. While it was a privilege for Buster and I to have Motty supply the foreword, Motty said it was a privilege for him to be asked. I cannot speak highly enough of him as a man, let alone as one of the most legendary and iconic football commentators of all time. Two great men no longer with us. RIP Buster and Motty.
I met him at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018. He was very much into his horse racing but we chatted and because of his history he admitted that he had a real soft spot for Charlton, knew exactly what the situation with RD was at the time as well as every key moment in our history. His professionalism had meant he couldn't commit to supporting one club over another but now that he had retired you could see that he had empathy with the club. On that day he was the only one of us to come out significantly better off on the days racing. Absolute legend. RIP John
Comments
Very sad. RIP
God bless Motty, thanks for the many years of superb commentary.
RIP sir, my condolences to family and friends.
A very sad day! X
The absolute football man in a pre Sky era where football could be both glorious and humble.
Motson provided a bridge for many to develop deeper love for the game, as iconic as the brilliant Match of the Day music.
My best wishes to what I assume will be the many hurt and touched but his passing.
His first pro match was at the Valley as I believe his dad was a Vicar in Plumstead, so RIP to somebody I like to think was one of our very own.
RIP John Motson.
RIP
It's an odd one but none of the newer breed of commentators have the right "voice" if that makes sense. Probably because the likes of Motson, Moore and Davies were the ones you grew up with.
But when you think of how many games he has commentated on that we've all watched, whether you support the teams playing or not, we've listened to him more than we've listened to anyone else close to us.
If you can stand the adverts every 15 mins, Talksport has had some brilliant stories about him from the likes of Bob Wilson, Mark Lawrenson and Clive Tyldesley this morning.
Absolute legend. RIP John