Farewell to Motty..and his famous sheepskin

JOHN MOTSON has delivered his final BBC radio commentary – 48 years after first appearing on the airwaves.

Motson, 72, was in the commentary box for BBC Radio 5 Live (with Steve Claridge, below) for the last time as Arsenal beat Watford at the Emirates.

The legendary BBC commentator announced in September that he will retire at the end of the season and will carry on with Match Of The Day until May.

Motty’s firstever BBC commentary was in December 1969 when Everton played Derby.

“It seems a long time ago,” said Motson, famous for his sheepskin coat. “Everton beat Derby 1-0 with a goal by Alan Ball.

“When I came back to Euston on the train that night I was walking behind two guys who were blind and I heard one of them saying to the other: ‘Wasn’t it great to be able to listen to the game?’

“I knew then how radio service could support so many people who could not watch the game on television.”

Motson, who admitted that he will miss the commentary-box banter when he finally leaves the BBC in May, said that he is regularly asked about his sheepskin coats. He added: “I have only one left, but I think I’ve had nine or 10 over the years.

“I have always had them made to measure. I didn’t set out to make the sheepskin coat anything special – it just happened when I was at Wycombe in 1990 and the snow came down. I looked forlorn and it just stuck from then on.

“Even when it is warm people still ask where the coat is.”