Motson still remembers that game

John Motson, the BBC commentator, has been talking about his career at a reception celebrating his first 35 years in broadcasting.

Motson, now on his eighth sheepskin coat, was asked various questions about his time reporting on games.

He arrived in television after three years on the radio.

"They kept my job open so that I could return if it didn't work out in TV. I didn't have a great start, either. I remember thinking how different and difficult it was, compared to radio. When my first game kicked off, I remember thinking, 'What do I say now, because everyone can see the action?'

"Malcolm Allison had a right go at me after one of my games at Manchester City. Brian Clough, funnily enough, was very kind - he felt sorry for me. It was an indifferent start. Then I stumbled across the Hereford versus Newcastle match by chance.

"All the senior commentators were covering FA Cup fourth round matches and that was a third-round replay. Ronnie Radford and Ricky George scored the famous goals, it made the top of the show and the attitude towards me changed. Suddenly they believed that I could handle covering a big game."

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