Following the death of legendary football commentator John Motson, we look back at his most iconic broadcasting moments.
‘Motty’ spent the best part of five decades working for the BBC, covering 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals across an illustrious career. Below, we rank Motson’s best commentary quotes.
5. “The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club.”
Kenny Daglish’s Liverpool were clear favourites to win the 1988 FA Cup final, while Wimbledon’s “Crazy Gang” were seen as big underdogs. However, Wimbledon upset the odds to clinch a famous triumph at Wembley Stadium.
While iconic players like Vinnie Jones, Lawrie Sanchez and Dave Beasant paraded the trophy around the pitch, Motson said: “The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club.” This will always be remembered as one of Motson’s best commentary moments.
4. “Here’s Gascoigne. Oh brilliant! Oh yes! Oh yes!”
The 1996 European Championship dished up an all-British clash between England and Scotland at Wembley. Alan Shearer put the Three Lions ahead early in the second half before Paul Gascoigne scored a memorable goal to seal a 2-0 win for his side.
After flicking the ball over Colin Hendry’s head with his left foot, Gascoigne unleashed an unstoppable right-foot volley before performing the iconic ‘dentist’s chair’ celebration. Meanwhile, Motty exclaimed: “Here’s Gascoigne. Oh Brilliant! Oh yes! Oh yes!”
3. “Radford again... what a goal! What a goal! Radford the scorer.”
When non-league Hereford United played top-flight Newcastle United in the third round of the 1971-72 FA Cup, Motson was a little-known name in the commentary industry. However, the game proved to be a major turning point in his broadcasting career.
Against all the odds, Hereford stunned Newcastle in extra-time, with Ronnie Radford scoring a sublime goal to equalise for the underdogs. Following his famous Match of the Day commentary, Motson soon found himself calling high-profile matches on a regular basis.
2. “Hold the cups and glasses at home. You can smash them now! David Beckham has scored for England!”
England and Argentina’s group-stage clash during the 2002 World Cup was always destined to produce fireworks. Thankfully, Motson was on hand to narrate the showdown and produce an iconic line for the game’s key moment.
“Hold the cups and glasses at home,” Motson said as David Beckham prepared to take a penalty on the stroke of half-time. “You can smash them now! David Beckham has scored for England!” Needless to say, Beckham converted the penalty – and Motty dished up the fitting commentary.
1. “Oh, this is getting better and better and better. One, two, three for Michael Owen!”
Given that Motson singled out the famous 5-1 victory over Germany as his favourite England match to commentate on, it only makes sense that a line from that clash occupies top spot on our list of Motson’s greatest quotes.
When Michael Owen completed his hat-trick in the World Cup qualifier in Berlin, Motson said: “Oh, this is getting better and better and better. One, two, three for Michael Owen!”
“I had experienced so many disappointments with England as a commentator, so this was a match that really will live long in the memory,” Motty later recalled. Similarly, his commentary will live long in the memories of millions of football fans.
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