Not Only John Motson But Darren Fletcher

Just about everybody knows that John Motson got his big break in commentating when he was at Edgar Street in 1972 watching Hereford defeat Newcastle in the FA Cup.

For Darren Fletcher, who covered both Champions League semi-finals this week for BT Sport, the circumstances were slightly different but once again Hereford United was involved when he started and it was an FA Cup game.

Back in January 1992, Hereford United were drawn away at Nottingham Forest in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Some 24,259 watched the game.

However Fletcher was too raw to be trusted with live commentaries, so his bosses let him commentate off air with the highlights broadcast out if they were sufficiently error free.

"I was only 19 or 20," he told NottinghamLive.

"For Sheringham's goal, I wanted to say Teddy Sheringham stole a yard on his marker. It was a rubbish line anyway, but I blurted out 'he stole a mard on his yarker'. I thought 'you aren't cut out for this son'." 

Nottingham won the game 2-0.

Fast forward 27 years and this week's games.

"It's the most extraordinary two days I've been involved in in sport, not just football," said Fletcher.

And on June 1st he will commentate on the Champions League final between Liverpool and Spurs.