One of the best sports commentators with an unmistakeable voice, very sad to hear of his passing.
He obviously had a soft spot for Charlton, a few years ago we were in the Keith Peacock Suite and he was having a meal there with a large group of friends.
Very sad to hear. I had the privilege of meeting 'Motty' back in 2017 when he was at the Valley to present a shirt to Mark Marshall as his shirt sponsor. I went across to talk to John who I had not met before and he said " Hello Brian lovely to see you" I was amazed as we had never met but he knew my name. A smashing man who always did his research but I never knew it extended to knowing the announcers name!!! Thanks for the memories 'Motty'
Very sad, like someone said earlier some famous peoples passings feel a lot worse than others. I never met him, but one of the fellas on here knew someone who played for his sunday team, surely would have been the ultimate "ringer" when it came to a sports quiz night.
Possibly a fitting tribute would be for The Red Red Robin to be sung as a tribute by all in the Covered end, Curbishley and West Stands. John Motson chose it as one of his Desert Island Disks and I think we know the words!
RIP. Barely feels like he’s stopped commentating, nobody has replaced him as the iconic voice of major World Cup / England games (least of all effing matterface) and in my mind he is still that. All those major tournaments in the 90s and 00s , he is the voice I hear when I think of world cups AND of fa cup finals when fa cup finals were still the showpiece of the season.
Rip John Motson. Hearing the urgency in his voice no matter which game, always made you sit up feeling like you are witnessing a great event. Missing him already...
John prepared every game on an A4 sheet - what price this Charlton V Middlesbrough?
“I keep a few of them in a pile,” he says, “and when charities ask me for personal mementos, I’ll sign one and send it off – it’s nice to know it can raise £200 for a good cause.”
John's explanation
“It’s not specifically colour-coded, although I do the numbers in green because no team wears green. The different colours are so each bit of information stands out.
"That’s also why I always do the facts on the back of the board in blue, black, green and red. When the game is going on, it’s pretty rare that I look down at the board, but if I do, I need the information to hit me pretty quickly.”
Star names
“A star by a player's name means he’s never scored for the club, so I’m ready if it happens!”
Lining up linesmen
“You always have to check which side of the ground the two referee's
assistants are on – if one of them makes a key offside decision, you have to know their name.”
Team Tinkering
“I write all this out before the game, with what I think the team will be. Quite often you get to the ground, and there’s a late team change – if a player I thought would play in this game isn't in the team, I use a sticker to take his name out.”
Live updates - by pen
“I update the notes during the game too – the Y/C mark stands for yellow card. The ON/OFF obviously means a player has been taken off or come on, but I often find I don’t have time to write that down – the broadcast is often too quick for me to keep up!
"If all possible subs are made (three by each side), that’s 12 names I have to change. At the end of a game, that’s quite a test of my concentration!”
RIP to a gentleman and a true icon of the game. Seth hit the nail on the head when describing Motty as "The absolute football man in a pre Sky era where football could be both glorious and humble." I doubt that we'll see the like of him or Brian Moore again.
His wife used to help him in his copious pre-match research. Leaving aside the stats, though, what shone through every commentary he ever did was his child-like enthusiasm and sheer love of the game. What a guy.
Absolutely loved Motty. I remember there was an event at Charlton, maybe an open day and Motty was there. He seemed and I am sure he was a lovely man. I think fans all over the country thought he supported there club such was the warmth of the man. RIP Motty.
John prepared every game on an A4 sheet - what price this Charlton V Middlesbrough?
“I keep a few of them in a pile,” he says, “and when charities ask me for personal mementos, I’ll sign one and send it off – it’s nice to know it can raise £200 for a good cause.”
John's explanation
“It’s not specifically colour-coded, although I do the numbers in green because no team wears green. The different colours are so each bit of information stands out.
"That’s also why I always do the facts on the back of the board in blue, black, green and red. When the game is going on, it’s pretty rare that I look down at the board, but if I do, I need the information to hit me pretty quickly.”
Star names
“A star by a player's name means he’s never scored for the club, so I’m ready if it happens!”
Lining up linesmen
“You always have to check which side of the ground the two referee's
assistants are on – if one of them makes a key offside decision, you have to know their name.”
Team Tinkering
“I write all this out before the game, with what I think the team will be. Quite often you get to the ground, and there’s a late team change – if a player I thought would play in this game isn't in the team, I use a sticker to take his name out.”
Live updates - by pen
“I update the notes during the game too – the Y/C mark stands for yellow card. The ON/OFF obviously means a player has been taken off or come on, but I often find I don’t have time to write that down – the broadcast is often too quick for me to keep up!
"If all possible subs are made (three by each side), that’s 12 names I have to change. At the end of a game, that’s quite a test of my concentration!”
Ah man, another name stood out from that team sheet. Ugo Ehiogu. He's been gone almost 6 years now.
Comments
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10156635981759474
He obviously had a soft spot for Charlton, a few years ago we were in the Keith Peacock Suite and he was having a meal there with a large group of friends.
RIP Motty you were the man when it came to football commentary.
Football legend.
RIP
at I believe a Bromley CASC do. Still got the ticket and autograph.
Not been agood year so far . RIP John.
RIP Motty
RIP…..John……RIP
city?
on another note, what a brilliant atmosphere at a 8205 attendance at the Valley. We were few in numbers but loud and proud.
Hearing the urgency in his voice no matter which game, always made you sit up feeling like you are witnessing a great event.
Missing him already...
John prepared every game on an A4 sheet - what price this Charlton V Middlesbrough?
“I keep a few of them in a pile,” he says, “and when charities ask me for personal mementos, I’ll sign one and send it off – it’s nice to know it can raise £200 for a good cause.”
John's explanation
“It’s not specifically colour-coded, although I do the numbers in green because no team wears green. The different colours are so each bit of information stands out.
"That’s also why I always do the facts on the back of the board in blue, black, green and red. When the game is going on, it’s pretty rare that I look down at the board, but if I do, I need the information to hit me pretty quickly.”
Star names
“A star by a player's name means he’s never scored for the club, so I’m ready if it happens!”
Lining up linesmen
“You always have to check which side of the ground the two referee's
assistants are on – if one of them makes a key offside decision, you have to know their name.”
Team Tinkering
“I write all this out before the game, with what I think the team will be. Quite often you get to the ground, and there’s a late team change – if a player I thought would play in this game isn't in the team, I use a sticker to take his name out.”
Live updates - by pen
“I update the notes during the game too – the Y/C mark stands for yellow card. The ON/OFF obviously means a player has been taken off or come on, but I often find I don’t have time to write that down – the broadcast is often too quick for me to keep up!
"If all possible subs are made (three by each side), that’s 12 names I have to change. At the end of a game, that’s quite a test of my concentration!”
His wife used to help him in his copious pre-match research. Leaving aside the stats, though, what shone through every commentary he ever did was his child-like enthusiasm and sheer love of the game. What a guy.
He seemed and I am sure he was a lovely man. I think fans all over the country thought he supported there club such was the warmth of the man. RIP Motty.