Top 41 Quotes & Sayings by John Motson

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a British celebrity John Motson.

Last updated on December 25, 2024.

John Walker "Motty" Motson, OBE, is an English football commentator. Beginning as a television commentator with the BBC in 1971, he has commentated on over 2000 games on television and radio. From the late 1970s to 2008, Motson was the dominant football commentary figure at the BBC, apart from a brief spell in the 1990s, when his friend and rival Barry Davies was selected for two FA Cup final commentaries, the 1994 World Cup final and the UEFA Euro 1996 semi-final between England and Germany.

British - Celebrity | Born: July 10, 1945

Source: Wikipedia

I just thought my 50th year in the BBC is 2018, and it has to end sometime, and I thought that would be a good note to go out.

John Motson

Even now, I still get a bit apprehensive before a game because I am worried about whether I have done enough preparation or if something is going to catch me out. But the fear factor has gone - as it should have done by now, really, after nearly 50 years.

John Motson

I still use felt tip pens for my notes, on a white board that I carry around with me. I am not into the computer technology - you can say that quite safely.

John Motson

The FA Cup as a tournament was very good to me. I'd like to think I can still have some association with that because it was the Ronnie Radford goal for Hereford against Newcastle which really put me on the map in 1972.

John Motson

I've been fortunate enough to witness some of the biggest moments in football history mere yards away from the action, but I wanted to go out on a high rather than stay too long. I didn't want to get to the stage where people say, 'Oh blimey, Motty's lost it. He's getting the players wrong, and his voice is going.'

John Motson

It looks like a one man show here, although there are two men involved.

John Motson

I'm not a celebrity whose face is recognised everywhere I go, like Gary Lineker, but my voice does make people sit up and pay attention from time to time.

John Motson

That shot might not have been as good as it might have been.

John Motson

The whole London football scene is now financially more powerful and ambitious than ever before. That reflects the city's economic might and its multiculturalism. Now West Ham have a new , and Spurs and Chelsea will follow. And the London clubs have widened their areas of support.

John Motson

Brazil - they're so good it's like they are running round the pitch playing with themselves.

John Motson

Its Arsenal 0 - Everton 1, and the longer it stays like that the more you've got to fancy Everton.

John Motson

I do remember once going to Salzburg in Austria. Liverpool were playing a European game there, and they put me in a box behind glass. I hate being behind glass; I always want to feel part of the action.

John Motson

I think this could be our best victory over Germany since the war.

John Motson

I have had a wonderful time. I don't think things could have gone any better for me because I was football-mad as a boy, and to get a job watching the game and going to all the major events I have been to has been very rewarding.

John Motson

The competition to get above the rest and be the lead commentator, or whatever you want to call it, is much fiercer than it was when I was starting out. By the same token, there were not as many jobs going back then, so to get one was an achievement in itself.

John Motson

I've watched us go out on penalties so often. I really thought we'd make it at Euro '96, especially after Gazza's goal against Scotland. I still go to every England game as a spectator.

John Motson

It is now a pleasure to go to any of the Premier League grounds. They are so welcoming, not just to me but to all the broadcasters - all media, really, you have to say.

John Motson

I might feel a little bit empty, and it might get to me for a short time, but I'm hoping to keep my association with football and with broadcasting - I'm not retiring from everything; I'm retiring from the BBC. I'm certainly not going pipe and slippers.

John Motson

The World Cup is a truly International event.

John Motson

And Seaman, just like a falling oak, manages to change direction.

John Motson

Not the first half you might have expected, even though the score might suggest that it was.

John Motson

My favourite English player of my time was Paul Gascoigne. I interviewed him several times, always entertaining.

John Motson

It looks like things are changing in north London. Tottenham have gone down a road they've never been down before. They've kept their best players and pushed young English ones through. They've started to match Arsenal - who were light years ahead - by building a new stadium.

John Motson

Nearly all the Brazilian supporters are wearing yellow shirts - it's a fabulous kaleidoscope of colour.

John Motson

I did a bit of boxing when younger. Once I was joined by Muhammad Ali as my co-commentator. I've got a picture of the two of us together ringside at the Albert Hall on my wall at home.

John Motson

Ruud Gullit was able to impose his multi-lingual skills on this match.

John Motson

Northern Ireland were in white, which was quite appropriate because three inches of snow had to be cleared from the pitch before kick off

John Motson

Defoe was level and anyone who says otherwise is picking hairs

John Motson

Owen scores and breaks Lineker's competitive scoring record. Although this being a friendly it doesn't actual count, so he hasn't quite done it yet.

John Motson

For those of you watching in black and white, Spurs are in the all-yellow strip.

John Motson

Not the first half you might have expected, even though the score might suggest that it was

John Motson

The game is balanced in Arsenal's favour.

John Motson

Gary Lineker has now scored 37 goals. That is precisely twice as many as last year.

John Motson

In a sense it's a one-man show... except there are two men involved, Hartson and Berkovic, and a third man, the goalkeeper.

John Motson

Arsene Wenger has got to unlock the purse strings

John Motson

The goals made such a difference to the way this game went

John Motson

Northern Ireland are ten minutes away from their finest victory. There's 15 minutes to go here.

John Motson

The match has become quite unpredictable, but it still looks as though Arsenal will win the cup

John Motson

The unexpected is always likely to happen.

John Motson

The Czech Republic are coming from behind in more than one way now.

John Motson

And I suppose they [Spurs] are nearer to being out of the FA Cup now than any other time since the first half of this season, when they weren't ever in it anyway.

John Motson

Top 41 Quotes & Sayings by John Motson

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