John Motson: Legendary commentator dies aged 77

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

Popularly known arsenic 'Motty', helium had worked connected Match of the Day since 1971 and commentated connected astir 2,500 televised games.

In 2001, helium became an OBE for services to sports broadcasting.

Motson, the lad of a Methodist minister, had stints arsenic a newsman connected the Barnet Press and Sheffield Morning Telegraph astatine the commencement of his career.

He besides worked arsenic a freelancer for BBC Radio Sheffield earlier helium joined the BBC connected a full-time ground successful 1968.

After starting retired arsenic a sports newsman connected Radio 2, helium made his breakthrough connected Match of the Day during the celebrated FA Cup replay betwixt Hereford and Newcastle 4 years later.

Originally billed arsenic a five-minute segment, Hereford's daze 2-1 triumph - featuring Ronnie Radford's celebrated 30-yard onslaught - saw the lucifer promoted to the main game, with Motson capturing each the drama.

From 1979 to 2008 Motson was the BBC's dependable connected large finals specified arsenic the FA Cup, European Championships and World Cup.

That tally included his record-breaking sixth World Cup last successful Berlin successful 2006 and his 29th FA Cup last successful 2008.

His last crippled for Match of the Day was betwixt Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion successful 2018.

He was invited connected to the transportation aft full-time and applauded by the fans earlier Palace manager Roy Hodgson presented him with a framed transcript of the programme from his archetypal and past matches astatine Selhurst Park and a crystal microphone.

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