One of the best rugby books of any era. An epic story of how the game used to be, of laughter and tears, from one of the most colourful men ever to play the game

A compelling autobiography (*****)

[A] fascinating book

Beautifully written... Wheeler's vocabulary to evoke this luminous and cruel continent appears limitless

With this wonderful biography Sara Wheeler has now vaulted into the front rank of modern British writers...this volume is so much more than a story of one remarkable man. It is among other things an exploration of the mind, a tour through the notions of national identity and pride, and a celebration of the tensile strength of the human spirit

There is insight and elegance in her writing, and the crystal-clear understanding that has made possible the ghostly re-incarnation of this elusive man

She brilliantly communicates the icy spell that holds her, and held Cherry, in its frozen grip

The Antartic world and its explorers linger long after the book is finished

Superb

This is a man in love with his calling.

Motty is, in the words of the old cliché, a legend in his own lifetime. He has brought knowledge of and passion for football direct into the homes of millions - he is a national institution, recognised and loved. He is also a thoroughly decent bloke.

John Motson has for many years been the undisputed true voice of English football.

There is no doubting Motty is a footie hero ... this will be an ideal stocking-filler for dads at Christmas

Like Cheryl Cole and Lincolnshire sausages, John Motson is a national treasure to be cherished. From his verbal scraps with Brian Clough to the traumatic Hillsborough tragedy, his autobiography reveals the man behind the microphone.

John Motson is an institution and his commentaries on Match of the Day are part of the fabric of football. The BBC legend has been behind the microphone for 40 years, covering just about every big match going.

Bright and breezy ... it reflects on a lifetime watching football matches big and small and of bumping into all the heroes of the game

Strangely compelling memoir by one of the best-known sports commentators of his generation. If you cannot remember what colour shirts Newcastle United wore in 1972 when they were drummed out of the FA Cup by Hereford ... this is the book for you

Motty's knowledge and passion for football are unrivalled as he shares his story for the first time with humour and honesty.

Filled with a multitude of detail about Motson's background and the sporting times he lived through ...Motson is one of the most intelligent and accomplished commentators in history, a voice that has conveyed the best (and worst, depending on your allegiance) moments in the recent past of the game. His book offers a fascinating look at what goes on behind the scenes of football broadcasting, as well as a trip down memory lane for many supporters. A must-read for any football fan.

The voice of the sheepskinned sage and cult hero John Motson will doubtless be heard at the 2010 tournament, and he reminisces on his career to date in the amusing Motty: Forty Years in the Commentary Box