Tony Mowbray has paid tribute to BBC commentator John Motson following news of his death, calling him a 'legendary football man' whose 'love for the game' endeared him to millions of football fans. Motson, who has died at the age of 77, was the one of the voices of football for more than 50 years, and was known for wearing his trademark sheepskin coat.
He commentated on more than 2,000 games on TV and radio including 29 FA Cup finals, ten World Cups and ten European Championships. News of Motson's death broke this morning during Mowbray's pre-match press conference ahead of Sunderland's trip to Coventry City this weekend, and the Black Cats boss immediately paid a warm tribute.
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"You talk about [footballing] eras, and Motty and his sheepskin coat," said Mowbray.
"I knew John - I've been at football functions with him. And I remember as a young footballer, I think I was at Middlesbrough at the time, we were doing some indoor six-a-side competition and it was funny because Motty was still there with his sheepskin coat on and a few of the lads were having a laugh, but he played along with it.
"He was so human, really, just a normal guy. I know Dickie Davies [who anchored ITV's World of Sport for 17 years until 1985] died this week as well, another of the faces and voices we were brought up with.
"But John, goodness me, he was a legendary football man. I think people don't realise the work that goes into it to be a commentator, the homework and everything they do, the hours they spend researching is amazing.
"With Motty you could feel the love of the game, really, which is what I feel endears people to him. First and foremost, they love the game and they are serving the game by doing their work. You could feel in his voice his love for the game itself."
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.
Motson's 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 - pushing 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.
Awarded the OBE in 2001 for services to broadcasting, Motson hung up his microphone for the BBC at the end of the 2017-18 Premier League season.
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