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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Richard Garnett

Why Selhurst Park will applaud in 77th minute of Crystal Palace v Liverpool match

A minute's applause will be observed during Liverpool's match against Crystal Palace on Saturday evening in memory of legendary football commentator John Motson.

The Reds are taking on the Eagles at Selhurst Park this evening, as they look to register a third successive victory in the Premier League. But spectators gathered at the South London stadium will mark Motson's passing, 13 minutes from time.

The former BBC commentator's passing, at the age of 77, was announced on Thursday (February 23) prompting an outpouring of tributes from the football world.

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Motson was widely regarded as one of the finest sports broadcasters in the history of the game, covering 10 World Cups across his remarkable 50-year career.

His unmistakable voice narrated some of the finest moments in the history of the modern game, both in England and international football, including Ronnie Radford’s unforgettable 35-yard goal for non-league Hereford United against Newcastle United in the FA Cup and France’s classic Euro 1984 semi-final against Portugal.

His contribution to Merseyside football is significant as well, having provided the words that sound tracked both Liverpool and Everton during their most successful spells in the 1980s.

It was Motson who was given the task of leading the BBC's live coverage of the Hillsborough disaster, when the skill of being able to transport from the role of sports reporter to breaking news reporter without warning tested him under immense pressure.

He would also commentate on the subsequent 1989 FA Cup final between the two Merseyside teams, acknowledging the poignancy of the occasion after Kenny Dalglish's side agreed to continue in the competition in the wake of the semi-final disaster.

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