Legendary BBC commentator John Motson looks forward to Saturday’s Brooking and Bonds themed visit of Arsenal
Legendary BBC commentator John Motson looks forward to Saturday’s Brooking and Bonds themed visit of Arsenal by recalling the career of his former colleague Sir Trevor Brooking...
Trevor Brooking, for me, was someone who I have enjoyed both commentating on and working alongside in the commentary box.
When he first retired in the mid-1980s, he spent a period of time working in the media and was my regular co-commentator for the FA Cup final and at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
He was also a co-commentator at the 1994 World Cup in the USA and for all the live England games which the BBC broadcast.
Trevor brought a new insight to the game in a day when co-commentators were a comparatively new addition to the BBC team, as before live football really took a hold we didn’t really have a pundit or a colour man, call it what you will, as the commentator did all of the game for the recorded highlights.
Working with Trevor was an absolute pleasure because he was, and is, such a gentleman. We always got on well and in those days we used to go out for a run together on the morning of the game and things like that.
He brought a new insight and always used to say when commentating on England ‘Why do we always kick the ball long?’ and ‘Why don’t we have the defenders who have the technique to bring the ball out?’
That was always his pitch, talking about ball-playing and technique and not resorting to the long ball. That was his theme throughout the time I commentated with him and of course that stemmed from his time as a player, when he was a culture master.
He had touch, vision and was gifted on the ball and was never short of praising Ron Greenwood and things he had taught him at West Ham. You could always feel the history of the club running right through him, with Ron – the High Priest of Football, as I called him – particularly to the fore. Trevor was one of his disciples.
Trevor Brooking, for me, was someone who I have enjoyed both commentating on and working alongside in the commentary box.
When he first retired in the mid-1980s, he spent a period of time working in the media and was my regular co-commentator for the FA Cup final and at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
He was also a co-commentator at the 1994 World Cup in the USA and for all the live England games which the BBC broadcast.
Trevor brought a new insight to the game in a day when co-commentators were a comparatively new addition to the BBC team, as before live football really took a hold we didn’t really have a pundit or a colour man, call it what you will, as the commentator did all of the game for the recorded highlights.
Working with Trevor was an absolute pleasure because he was, and is, such a gentleman. We always got on well and in those days we used to go out for a run together on the morning of the game and things like that.
He brought a new insight and always used to say when commentating on England ‘Why do we always kick the ball long?’ and ‘Why don’t we have the defenders who have the technique to bring the ball out?’
That was always his pitch, talking about ball-playing and technique and not resorting to the long ball. That was his theme throughout the time I commentated with him and of course that stemmed from his time as a player, when he was a culture master.
He had touch, vision and was gifted on the ball and was never short of praising Ron Greenwood and things he had taught him at West Ham. You could always feel the history of the club running right through him, with Ron – the High Priest of Football, as I called him – particularly to the fore. Trevor was one of his disciples.
I also remember being at his last game for West Ham in 1984 against Everton, who were playing in the FA Cup final the following weekend, and everyone in the ground stood at the final whistle for minutes on end and applauded Trevor Brooking. Even the kitchen staff came out to join in with that fantastic ovation.
I did an interview with him in the week he retired in his back garden in Shenfield in Essex and he said, prophetically, that ‘I don’t think you’ll see many more players like me who stay with the same one club for ten years’.
Of course, his loyalty was a fantastic trait. He came from a family with good values and Trevor always stood for very high standards and his loyalty went with it.
I don’t think he ever considered leaving West Ham, even though a lot of clubs coveted him, and the climax of course came in the 1980 FA Cup final when Brian Clough said he ‘Floats like a butterfly and stings like one’ in the morning papers and Trevor’s riposte was to score the winning goal!
*Don’t miss Part Two of John Motson’s From the Newsroom blog, focusing on the great Billy Bonds, on Thursday at 4pm!
I did an interview with him in the week he retired in his back garden in Shenfield in Essex and he said, prophetically, that ‘I don’t think you’ll see many more players like me who stay with the same one club for ten years’.
Of course, his loyalty was a fantastic trait. He came from a family with good values and Trevor always stood for very high standards and his loyalty went with it.
I don’t think he ever considered leaving West Ham, even though a lot of clubs coveted him, and the climax of course came in the 1980 FA Cup final when Brian Clough said he ‘Floats like a butterfly and stings like one’ in the morning papers and Trevor’s riposte was to score the winning goal!
*Don’t miss Part Two of John Motson’s From the Newsroom blog, focusing on the great Billy Bonds, on Thursday at 4pm!