Legendary sports commentator John Motson has died aged 77. Motson – known as Motty – worked for 50 years for the BBC and commentated on more than 2,500 games on television and radio.
John Motson cause of death: How did John Motson die?
Motson’s family released a short statement: “It is with great sadness that we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today.” The legendary broadcaster retired in 2018. He said at the time: “I just thought my 50th year in the BBC is 2018 and it has to end some time and I thought that would be a good note to go out,” he said. “I also don’t want to go into the area where people say: ‘He’s been there too long, he’s lost it, he’s not what he was.’ I wanted to go out while I was still commentating as well – or as badly – as I have for all those years. I didn’t want to carry on and then people say: ‘Oh dear me, we’ll have to get rid of him.’”
After starting as a newspaper reporter in Barnet and at the Sheffield Morning Telegraph, Motson joined the BBC in 1968 as a sports presenter on Radio 2. His commentary on Ronnie Radford’s famous long-range strike which helped non-league Hereford knock top-flight Newcastle out of the FA Cup in 1972 saw him take top billing on Match of the Day.
It then thrust him into the spotlight and the affections of the sporting public. His long career also took in two Olympic Games and Wimbledon’s memorable 1988 FA Cup final triumph against Liverpool at Wembley as the Crazy Gang beat the Culture Club.
