Budleigh's talented football commentator
WITH the eagerly-awaited football season now underway, the voice of well-known commentators such as John Motson and Jonathan Pearce will be hard to avoid over the next ten months. Matt Cotton, of East Budleigh Road, Budleigh Salterton, is keen to follow
WITH the eagerly-awaited football season now underway, the voice of well-known commentators such as John Motson and Jonathan Pearce will be hard to avoid over the next ten months.
Matt Cotton, of East Budleigh Road, Budleigh Salterton, is keen to follow in the footsteps of such acclaimed soccer media men.
And, in preparation of a career in the field, the 17-year-old covers home games at Exeter City FC, commentating on games for the visually impaired.
Matt said: "Reporting on matches for people who can't see means you have to be more precise. You can rarely pause and have to commentate on every possible little detail.
"With all respect to people like John Motson who is a good commentator, what I do is very difficult."
Matt reports on games using a transimitter which relays audio to visually impaired people who listen via a receiver and headphones.
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The Arsenal fan started working at St James Park when he was 15-years-old and commentated on their recent pre-season friendly against Tottenham.
He said: "It is very gratifying to do because of the difference you are making to people's lives.
"There was one Exeter fan, for instance, who was quite badly visually impaired and whose mother came up to me after a game and was grateful for the commentary I gave.
