Martin Tyler: John Motson set the standard for commentators – I admired him enormously | Football News

Sky Sports’ Martin Tyler has shared his memories of John Motson, after his friend the legendary commentator died aged 77 on Thursday.

I was shocked to hear the news. I didn’t know John had been ill and I found out now that he has been quite ill for the past year. I have not seen him so much since he disappeared from the gantry, but I saw 45 years he was on the gantry!

First of all, he is someone I admire in the profession. His preparation was second to none, his attention to detail, his desire to know everything about the game he was about to broadcast. He is a real example for me.

Before the first televised game in 1974, he sent me a telegram, which said ‘Say little, but say a lot’. And I think that sums it up John, really. He is economical with his words, but he rocks when he speaks and he has a great resonance.

He’s funny away from the microphone, a bit odd as a person, and has a great sense of humor. I have a sheepskin coat to do with the game where he did a live interview, with snow in the distance, and the coat came to the front. I don’t know if they got a supply of sheepskin coats from the manufacturer after that!

It was cold on the gantry and perhaps emphasized the point. I’m grateful to Sky for providing me with so much warm clothing over the last 30 years, so I have Motty to thank too.

He also helped many people; he certainly encouraged me at the beginning and we actually went around the world together, first of all when I worked for ITV and he was with the BBC and when I moved to Sky, the same thing applied.

What I think helped him, even if he didn’t think so at the time, was his rivalry with Barry Davies. I think the BBC did a great job of pushing both of them, with both of them supporting each other like Ronaldo and Messi, to try and achieve that high level. The Beeb is blessed to have two great voices.

I always felt stats were part of the game and John set the standard for it. He may be the first commentator in the world of television to see such details. In the early days, there was no internet or any way to know and check things without doing it yourself.

You’ll be looking for copies of the football yearbook, checking every source imaginable and talking to the club. It’s about how to implement it too and John is great. A stat for stat is probably not a good thing, but the stat is relevant for something that is happening in the key field. He is the master.

Any commentator will tell you that you should be there. I had to wait a long time for Sergio Aguero to give me the spotlight in 2012, but John was first.

It is very sad that we have lost someone who has been the pinnacle of the profession that I love. After missing Dickie Davies in the last few days as well, the broadcast has taken a double hit.

We were friends but competitors in a way too, I suppose. But I am full of admiration for him and the deepest sympathies for the family in their sudden loss.

Time moves on and John has left a great legacy with soundbites, sounds associated with many great opportunities, great goals. It’s been a great career and a great life and I’m sorry it’s over today.