Legendary football commentator John Motson dies aged 77
The legendary football commentator John Motson has died aged 77.
A statement from his family read: "It is with great sadness we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today (Thursday 23 February)."
The commentator - known as 'Motty' - had a 50-year career with the BBC, working on almost 2,500 televised matches.
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He worked as a freelancer for BBC Radio Sheffield before he joined the BBC on a full-time basis in 1968, before progressing to Match of the Day in 1971.
He went on to commentate on 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals for BBC Sport, before retiring from the organisation in 2018.
Later that year, he came out of retirement to work for Talksport.
The commentator, who was known for wearing sheepskin coats, became an OBE in 2001 for services to sports broadcasting.
Tributes to Motty have been pouring in on social media.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher tweeted: "RIP John Motson.
"An absolute Legend of the game.
"So many of us grew up listening to this man describe the action & goals on MOTD & cup finals. Sad loss."
David Baddiel wrote: "John Motson. Oy. Feels impossible: a voice that, at one time, *was* football. RIP."
Son of a Methodist minster, Motson was born in Salford, Lancashire on 10 July 1945.
Motson, though, grew up in Lewisham, south-east London and attended the local Ennersdale junior school in Hither Green.
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.
Selhurst Park was the venue for his last Match of the Day commentary, as the 2017/2018 Premier League season drew to a close with Crystal Palace beating West Brom.
Afterwards, Motson went on to collect the Special Award by BAFTA, back at the Royal Albert Hall, in recognition of his distinguished career in broadcasting – which was swiftly dedicated to all at the BBC sports department who had helped him along the way.
Jake Massey