Five of the best FA Cup Final moments...

There’s only one John Motson, and, with the BBC losing the FA Cup rights to ITV, this could be his last Cup Final appearance. It’s a sad day for us armchair fans – Motty has taken us on a “rollercoaster ride” over the years. So sometimes he makes the odd “Motty-cism”. And sometimes he stretches too far in his attempt to explain – Motty-phors? But, more often than not, he finds the right words, the bon mots, the “bon Motsons”, you could say.

So sit back and take an armchair stroll up Wembley Way with five classic Cup Final commentary moments from Motty and friends, says Chris Condron...

Manchester United v Liverpool, 1977 (2-1)

The year of Motty’s most famous scripted ad lib, “How fitting that a man named Buchan should climb the 39 steps,” a line that proves the two Golden Rules of Commentating, and why the second always takes precedence over the first.
1 Do your research.
2 Know when to keep your mouth shut.

But nearly half the nation missed it because, back in the days of Spangles and Raleigh Choppers, the powers-that-be decided that there wasn’t enough football on the telly, so we had the Cup Final on ITV, too.

Three channels, with the Cup Final on two of them. What’s not to love?

ITV’s own man with the mike was Brian Moore, a man equally capable of both brilliance and, well, talking absolute balls. He teamed up for Cup Final duty here with Jack Charlton, who was the special Statement of the Bleedin’ Obvious correspondent.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City (replay), 1981 (3-2)

It’s easy to mock Motty, but he has the gift of saying exactly what most of us are thinking. If you don’t believe me, go into a Man City pub and shout, “And still Ricky Villa!” in your best Motty. In those four words, Motty articulates the gnawing, inevitable, time-standing-still, “He’s going to go all the way . . .” feeling as the Argentine twists and turns the City defence before slipping the ball under Joe Corrigan to win one of the great Cup Finals.

Coventry City v Tottenham Hotspur, 1987 (3-2)

This one’s got it all. Goals, fairytale stories, more Motty-phors than you could shake a mike at . . . and the “Cov” management duo of John Sillett and George Curtis hugging and gurning like a pair of toby jugs on a massive Ecstasy bender. Oh yes, and ELO’s Mr Blue Sky.

A trio of classic Motty quotes is shoehorned in among the sky-blue madness – none of them meant literally, you hope: “Keith Houchen, the man with the Midas touch in the FA Cup, strikes gold for Coventry.”

“Houchen has written his name all over the competition this season.” “The Sky Blues are sky high.”

Wimbledon v Liverpool, 1988 (1-0)

This game features textbook Motty in his pomp, as the great man delivers the classic commentary one-two – a killer line . . . and an impression of Yoda.

“The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club!” is the perfect example of the commentator’s art. Hardly finger-on-the-pulse from the sheepskin-coated one – Culture Club hadn’t had a No 1 hit in five years – but who would have remembered a reference to Fairground Attraction?

Jimmy Hill neatly sums up Liverpool’s season as “The club that played just one game too many,” before Motty goes all Return of the Jedi in the spring sunshine.

“Champions they are, nobody will deny them . . . but double winners this time they are not.”

Liverpool v West Ham, 2006 (3-3, Liverpool won on penalties)

Another contender for Best Cup Final Ever features Sky’s Andy Gray turning the hyperbole up to 11 and beyond. Though not strictly a commentator – the superb Martin Tyler holds the mike – Andy’s more of a really shouty bloke at chucking out time who’s going to do his prostate a mischief. He explains the effort needed to win a game, albeit in rather Norman Tebbit-esque style: “If you want a goal, you get on your bike.”