BBC Radio 5 Live

Kieran Maguire, football finance expert and co-host of the Price of Football podcast, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "John Motson provided the soundtrack of my youth. Match of the Day was something I always looked forward to - to hearing his enthusiasm for the game, which always came through.

"As football fans you realised he was one of us, but also happened to be a professional in terms of the job that he did. He enhanced the game and it is a very sad loss."

BBC Radio 5 Live

ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "As a sixth-former I wanted to be John Motson, or at least I wanted his job. I was fortunate enough to get my break not too many years after that and even more fortunate for John to become a personal friend.

"He has probably influenced me more than any other commentator that I have listened to, both in the way I prepare for games and in the way I commentate.

"He is quite simply a national treasure - part of that venerable list [that includes] Peter O'Sullevan, Bill McLaren, Dan Maskell, Brian Johnston, Henry Longhurst, John Arlott.

"He, certainly along with Barry Davies and Brian Moore, was one of the three voices of football, as far as I was concerned.

"There will never be a voice of football again - there is too much football on television and too many commentators for anybody to have that relationship with his audience that John had."

Another memorable Motty moment.

When Ronaldo was missing from Brazil's 1998 World Cup final teamsheet.

Alexander: Sometimes, it is the smallest privileges in life which are the largest. I only got to say "hi" to Motty in the same room a few years back but we were merely passing. His influence in my footballing life can never be understated. He was more than just a commentator

Chris: RIP John Motson. A very sad day for English Football. The voice of football for a generation.

Shaun: John Motson RIP

Steven: RIP John Motson the best voice of football

John Motson faced down former Derby and Nottingham Forest boss Brian Clough in 1979.

Martin Tyler
Sky Sports commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

More from Sky commentator Martin Tyler speaking about his old friend John Motson on BBC Radio 5 Live: "He was a beacon to all us broadcasters. It was a real shock to me. I wanted to come on to pay tribute to him but it has knocked me sideways, to be honest with you.

"My first game was in 1974. Motty sent me a telegram saying 'good luck, talk little but say a lot' and I think that sums up John Motson."

The English Football League, in a tribute to John Motson published on its website, external, featured part of a speech the former BBC commentator gave on accepting the EFL's Contribution to League Football Award in 2018.

Upon accepting the honour, Motson said: “I was a Football League commentator when I started in 1971 and I’ve always been an admirer of how the League has stuck together over the years.

"To get this award was a huge surprise to me – I didn’t realise it was going to be the first award tonight or that there would be so many nice words spoken.

“I am really grateful. It has been a great privilege and a great thrill to do what I’ve done. I’ve had some celebrations this season because it is the last one before I retire, but I have to say, this EFL Award tops the lot.”

John Murray
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

Desperately sad news. It's quite a shock for all of us who knew him.

If you speak to a whole range of commentators of my generation and younger, he was certainly someone who everyone that came after him looked up to and, really, aspired to be him.

He was 24-carat gold broadcasting royalty. He was synonymous with football for generations of football followers.

If you think of the millions of people who will have hung on his every word during a golden age of sports broadcasting when there were only so many channels on the television.

The BBC and ITV were the only teams in town when it came to covering all of the top sport. There was a very small stable of commentators and all of those commentators were household names, but John Motson was right up there at the top of them.

Every commentator has a little bit of John Motson in him. He cultivated this geeky, statty style - that was very much his thing - but he was incredibly professional.

He loved his commentary and he lived it.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Heather, of Charlton Athletic Supporters' Trust, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live: "John Motson passing really means something to Charlton fans because his very first game as a fan was at Charlton Athletic. His dad took him when he was a boy.

"I think it is going to mean a huge amount to our supporters. I am feeling very emotional about it. He kind of guided me through my childhood and I think we should all wear a sheepskin coat in his honour today."