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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

'That's the championship!' - how John Motson soundtracked Liverpool glory era

The abiding image will forever see the commentator stood shivering on a pitch wearing a sheepskin coat while reporting a piece to camera during a snowstorm.

But for Liverpool supporters of a certain vintage, John Motson will be better known as one of the key voices that soundtracked the most golden era in the club's history.

Motson, who has died at the age of 77, was the chief commentator for the BBC throughout the late 1970s and 1980s when the Reds were the dominant force in England and beyond.

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With Barry Davies given preference at major European finals, Motson was instead the voice of domestic matters, calling 29 FA Cup finals during his long career on television where he covered more 2,000 matches.

Indeed, Motson was the narrator for the 'History of Liverpool FC' documentary which was released in the late 1980s and became a must-have video (youngsters, ask your parents) for any self-respecting Reds fan.

Motson was also present at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, when what should have been a commentary on a mere football match became reportage on a tragedy. He later appeared as part of the Hillsborough inquiry as a witness.

And here are some of the most memorable Motty moments from his time commentating on the Reds (not including the crazy gang beating the culture club in the 1988 FA Cup final defeat to Wimbledon, of course).

"Kennedy came in... and again!" - Ray Kennedy scores Liverpool's final goal in the 3-0 win against Everton in the FA Cup semi-final replay in 1977

"Oh I say! At the same end he's got one back!" - Avi Cohen puts Liverpool ahead in a title decider against Aston Villa in 1980 having scored an own goal earlier in the match

"Oh! That's the championship!" - David Johnson nets a bit later in the same game

"Oh Dalglish is through... KENNY DALGLISH!" - the championship is sealed in 1982 at home to Tottenham Hotspur

"Dalglish, look at that. Rush is through. This could be history here for Ian Rush if he scores... he's hit the post. He might score now... he has! And it's the first hat-trick in a Merseyside derby since 1935... in a league game anyway" - Ian Rush scores the third of his four goals at Everton in 1982

"Whelan's curled it!" - Ronnie Whelan nets the extra-time winner against Manchester United in the 1983 League Cup final

"Danger here... and Rush... and a goal! They have done it!" - Liverpool score a dramatic last-minute winner to keep alive their title hopes at Tottenham in 1986

"And Dalglish is in here... yes! The player-manager scores the goal that may edge Liverpool nearer to their 16th championship" - Dalglish scored the winner at Chelsea to secure the championship in 1986

"And Rush is on the far side. Is this three? It is!" - the FA Cup and double is secured in a 3-1 win over Everton the following week

"He won it from Brock" - John Barnes begins the run that will end with him scoring a memorable solo goal against QPR in 1987

"Barnes, against Chettle.... haha, oh look at Barnes here, they're waiting for the pull back... Beardsley! Oh a glorious goal again for Liverpool" - Liverpool score their fourth goal in the famous 5-0 romp over Nottingham Forest in 1988

"Oh it has fallen... Gerrard... he's done it! Oh Steven Gerrard, just when he looked injured and out of it, has equalised for Liverpool with 90 minutes gone. It's 3-3 and surely the best Cup final of modern times!" - the closing moments of normal time in the 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham United

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