sport news legend Martin Buchan reflects on John Motson's famous '39 ... trends now

sport news legend Martin Buchan reflects on John Motson's famous '39 ... trends now
sport news Manchester United legend Martin Buchan reflects on John Motson's famous '39 ... trends now

sport news Manchester United legend Martin Buchan reflects on John Motson's famous '39 ... trends now

Manchester United’s FA Cup-winning captain Martin Buchan was widely-mentioned in the tributes to legendary commentator John Motson when he died last month.

Motty delivered one of his best lines: “How fitting that a man called Buchan should be first to climb the 39 steps” at the 1977 final when United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley.

The victorious skipper not only understood the reference, John Buchan’s Thirty-Nine Steps was the exact distance he walked up to receive the trophy, he’s also proud to be associated with the revered BBC broadcaster.

‘Only John Motson could have come up with that. He was the best advert for football we’ve ever had because he loved the game so much,’ says Buchan fondly.

‘One or two my friends mentioned the quote when he died and I knew John a long time, he was well-respected by all the players.

Martin Buchan reflects on John Motson's famous commentary accompanying 1977 FA Cup win

Martin Buchan reflects on John Motson's famous commentary accompanying 1977 FA Cup win

Buchan said commentary was Motson's 'dream job' because of his knowledge of the game

Buchan said commentary was Motson's 'dream job' because of his knowledge of the game

‘I remember one interview we did after I’d scored a rare goal against Everton in 1978. I teased him that I’d taken shooting lessons by Arie Haan at the World Cup in Argentina. John did a sort of double-take, he could be quite serious, so I’m not sure if he knew I was joking of not!

‘I’d never met anybody so interested and knowledgeable about the game. It really was his dream job.’

Though Buchan won the Scottish Cup with hometown club Aberdeen, played in two World Cups for Scotland – marking Jarzinho out of the game against Brazil in 1974 - and spent a decade at Old Trafford, the 1977 final against Liverpool was the career highlight.

‘We’d been to Wembley the year before and lost to Southampton. Too many of our team got carried away and thought they were going to become millionaires,’ he recalls.

‘Nine times out of 10 we would have beaten them but there was still a reception at Manchester Town Hall afterwards and so many United fans came, you couldn’t see the pavement. Our manager Tommy Docherty promised them “We will go back and win it next year” and that stuck with us.

‘I remember going up the steps after Liverpool, though I never counted them! The Duchess of Kent passed the cup to me and leaned forward to say something. I was so intent in showing the fans, I grabbed the trophy, turned round and raised it up – while the poor lady was still in mid-sentence.

‘Afterwards when I realised, I thought that was a bit rude of me! I just got caught up in the moment.

‘We had a big parade in Manchester and when it was finished, I was still carrying the cup. I asked Doc what should I do with it, he told me to take it home and bring it back in the morning.

Buchan, pictured alongside Arthur Albiston in 1977, calls lifting the trophy that year a highlight

Buchan, pictured alongside Arthur Albiston in 1977, calls lifting the trophy that year a highlight

Buchan, 74, keeps in touch with football and still goes to a gym in Warrington to keep fit

Buchan, 74, keeps in touch with football and still goes to a gym in Warrington to keep fit

‘Can you imagine that happening now? You’re not allowed to touch the cup wearing white gloves!

‘So I ended up with the cup in my local, The Wheatsheaf. Beating Liverpool stopped them winning the Treble, I was tossing and

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