Motty: Forty Years in the Commentary Box

Description

The life of legendary football commentator, John Motson, in his own words From Ronnie Radford to Wayne Rooney, John Motson's knowledge and passion for football are unrivalled. In Motty, he shares his story for the first time and guides us through a career which has spanned forty years and over 2,000 matches. From reporting on the exploits of the giant-killing Hereford team in the 1972 FA Cup that made his name on Match of the Day, to the estimated twenty-million viewers who tuned in to his commentary on England's match with Portugal at the 2006 World Cup, Motson's time in the commentary box has delivered some unforgettable anecdotes. In dozens of fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, we hear about the greatest football matches he has watched and the greatest players and managers he has been privileged to know. Many of them are football icons; Bill Shankly, Alex Ferguson, Brian Clough, Alf Ramsey, and Matt Busby, amongst countless others. Motty is essential reading for anyone who has grown up with the undisputed voice of football.

John Motson is the nation's best-known football commentator. The son of a Methodist minister, he became a junior member of the Match of the Day staff in 1971 and soon became one of its key commentators. Since 1979, he has been the BBC's main TV commentator for major cup finals. He continues to work for Match of the Day and BBC Radio 5 Live. In 2001 he received an OBE for services to sports broadcasting.

Motson has been the finest television football commentator for the best part of 25 years, and perhaps ever -- Rod Liddle * The Times * Football's grand master of the microphone -- Lee Clayton * Daily Mail * Motty's sheepskin coat has become a trademark almost as familiar as Kenneth Wolstenholme's "They think it's all over ... it is now" as Geoff Hurst completed his World Cup Final hat-trick in '66 * Harry Harris * John Motson is the nation's-favourite, statto-mad, sheepskin-wearing voice of football -- Barney Ronay * Guardian * We'd be lost without Motty's unique insights. * Martin Kelner *