MOTTY VS BARRY
They have been in the same room for less than five minutes, and already Barry Davies is threatening to punch John Motson. Clenching his fist and sending it very close to Motty’s jaw, Davies bursts into laughter when he realises that he’s not only taken his commentary colleague by surprise, but also FourFourTwo’s photographer.
“Too late, you missed it!” exclaims Davies, realising that his split-second pretend assault hadn’t been caught on camera.
The BBC duo were once the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of television commentators; two all-time legends sharing the stage in the same era. Their rivalry was hyped so much by the media that you could have been forgiven for thinking they didn’t get on at all, but from the moment they walk through the door together at the London Bridge Hotel, ready to meet FFT, it’s obvious that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“We’re not supposed to be seen together,” smiles Davies, as they joke around in front of the camera. Reunited for this interview, soon they are sat down with a glass of red wine, ready to discuss memories from their glittering careers...
FFT: How long have you known each other?
MOTSON: I started at Match of the Day in 1971 and Barry was already there. I think you joined in 1969, didn’t you?
DAVIES: I joined in 1969, yes.
JM: So it’s 50 years – an awful long time is the answer to that question!
BD: I still remember the first time we ever had a conversation, because Motty was the new boy. He asked if I had any tips and I said, “I’ll give you a tip right away – if they offer you the contract they offered Kenneth Wolstenholme, who’s turned it down, then take it before they change their minds.” Little did I know he was going to break all of Ken’s records...
JM: Yes, I remember that first meeting – we were on a train coming back from watching West Bromwich Albion in the old Watney Cup. Barry had commentated and I was there for radio, but he knew I was joining television. I was very nervous about moving from radio, coming into television where I’d have to mix with some powerful managers; the Shanklys and the Revies. I was nervous about meeting these people and how they’d react to me. Barry just said, “Don’t worry about that – television will help give you an identity.” He was spot on.
FFT: Some people thought that because you were both competing to commentate on the biggest games, you weren’t the best of friends – particularly as John got more of the major finals. Were you baffled by
