Motty: Forty Years in the Commentary Box [Hardcover]

'John Motson has for many years been the undisputed true voice of English football.' --Sir Bobby Robson

'Motty is, in the words of the old cliché, a legend in his own lifetime. He has brought knowledge of and passion for football direct into the homes of millions - he is a national institution, recognised and loved. He is also a thoroughly decent bloke.' --Tony Blair

'There is no doubting Motty is a footie hero ... this will be an ideal stocking-filler for dads at Christmas.' --News of the World

'Like Cheryl Cole and Lincolnshire sausages, John Motson is a national treasure to be cherished. From his verbal scraps with Brian Clough to the traumatic Hillsborough tragedy, his autobiography reveals the man behind the microphone.' --Sport Magazine

'John Motson is an institution and his commentaries on Match of the Day are part of the fabric of football. The BBC legend has been behind the microphone for 40 years, covering just about every big match going.'
--Metro

'Bright and breezy ... it reflects on a lifetime watching football matches big and small and of bumping into all the heroes of the game' --Sunday Express

'Motty's knowledge and passion for football are unrivalled as he shares his story for the first time with humour and honesty'
--Oxford Times

'Filled with a multitude of detail about Motson's background and the sporting times he lived through ... Motson is one of the most intelligent and accomplished commentators in history, a voice that has conveyed the best (and worst, depending on your allegiance) moments in the recent past of the game. His book offers a fascinating look at what goes on behind the scenes of football broadcasting, as well as a trip down memory lane for many supporters. A must-read for any football fan.'
--Sunday Business Post

The much-loved voice of BBC football commentary looks back over his 40-year career

For millions in Britain, John Motson or 'Motty' is the voice of football. In a career spanning over forty years and 2,000 matches, including commentating on fifty major finals, he has had an unparalleled insight into the ups and downs of the national game. 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 Motty, he writes about how his father instilled in him an early passion for football, his formative BBC years, the friendly rivalry between him and other talent, and the football legends he has met along the way, such as the icons Alf Ramsey, Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson. He also reflects on darker times such as hooliganism and Hillsborough, where Motson found himself commentating on a tragedy rather than a football match.

In dozens of fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, we hear about the greatest players and matches he has been privileged to watch, the many England managers he has worked with, including who he thinks is the most successful, and his take on the huge changes that have transformed football in recent years. From Ronnie Radford to Wayne Rooney, Motty's knowledge and passion for football are unrivalled as he shares his story for the first time and guides us through his career with insight, humour and honesty.

For millions in Britain, John Motson or 'Motty' is the voice of football. In a career spanning over forty years and 2,000 matches, including commentating on fifty major finals, he has had an unparalleled insight into the ups and downs of the national game.

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 Motty, he writes about how his father instilled in him an early passion for football, his formative BBC years, the friendly rivalry between him and other talent, and the football legends he has met along the way, such as the icons Alf Ramsey, Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson. He also reflects on darker times such as hooliganism and Hillsborough, where Motson found himself commentating on a tragedy rather than a football match.

In dozens of fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, we hear about the greatest players and matches he has been privileged to watch, the many England managers he has worked with, including who he thinks is the most successful, and his take on the huge changes that have transformed football in recent years.

From Ronnie Radford to Wayne Rooney, Motty's knowledge and passion for football are unrivalled as he shares his story for the first time and guides us through his career with insight, humour and honesty.

'Motty is, in the words if the old cliché, a legend in his own lifetime. He has brought knowledge of and passion for football direct into the homes of millions – he is a national institution, recognised and loved. He is also a thoroughly decent bloke.' TONY BLAIR

'What a shining star you are, my dear John. Even to the point of making a game of football sound as exciting as a horserace – well, almost!' SIR PETER O'SULLEVAN

'Motson has been the finest television football commentator for the best part of twenty-five years, and perhaps ever.' ROD LIDDLE, The Times

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 retired from commentating on internationals after the Euro 2008 final, but continues to work for Match of the Day and BBC Radio 5 Live. In 2001 he received an OBE for services to sports broadcasting.