‘He was engaging, warm and genuine’: our readers remember John Motson

John Motson helped kickstart my career in sports journalism. Aged 15, I was the runner-up in a Radio Times competition to write a 200-word match report on the 1983 FA Cup final between Brighton and Manchester United – the famous “And Smith must score” final. My prize was Motty’s signed notes board, which remains one of my proudest possessions. It’s a bit battered now – I was reluctant to frame it as there are notes on both sides – and will always show it to students when I give talks to students. I became one of the UK’s first female sports editors at the age of 19. Teresa Green

I was working at the Telegraph as a subeditor on the sports desk in the early noughties and rocked up at the sports Christmas party. These were hosted with great panache by the sports editor, the late David Welch. I should say that while I’m fairly solid on rugby and cricket, football was a grey area. I approached the bar at the same time as a silver-haired chap. “So,” I asked as my conversation icebreaker. “Why are you here? Do you know anything about sport?”. His eye may have twinkled but he deadpanned: “No, nothing at all. I just know the editor.” John Motson then very kindly ordered me a glass of champagne and I would never have known the scale of my ignorance if he hadn’t later stood up to give the after-dinner speech. I still cringe about it to this day. Janette

In June 2018, I went on the train from Oxford to London for some business meetings. I got out at Marylebone Station and was walking through the Landmark Hotel, when I heard a voice. I thought: I’m sure I know that voice. Then it struck me. Gosh, it’s John Motson! He was on the phone nearby and, of course, it was his voice that gave him away. I hung around until he finished his call,