A Suffolk school has told of its pride at having football commentator John Motson as a former pupil following his death at the age of 77.

Having been born in Salford, Lancashire in 1945, Motson spent his early years in south east London, before his father, a Methodist minister decided he wanted his son to attend a Methodist school, so sent him to Culford School in Bury St Edmunds.

But at the time, football was frowned upon at the school, where rugby and cricket were the main sports, but Motson found ways of coping and never lost his passion for his favourite sport.

His father Bill used to take him to matches on weekends when he was allowed to see him.

In an interview with the EADT's sister Suffolk magazine ten years ago, Motson, who was a pupil at Culford for five years, described his time there.

He said: “It was quite feudal really; the game was effectively outlawed.

"You almost had to go and hide behind a radiator to listen to the football results! But it didn’t mean I couldn’t have any interest in the game, because you were allowed to go out with your parents on three Saturdays in a term and my father used to take me to Ipswich Town or Norwich City.

"So I didn’t lose touch with football, even though I was at a school where it was barely mentioned.”

However, he maintained fond memories of his time there and had attended one or two reunions, while times have certainly changed and the school now has a well-established football academy- supported, of course, by Motson.

A spokesperson for the school spoke of its 'pride' that Motty was a former pupil.

She said: "Culford School was founded on Methodist principles and as John's father was a Methodist minister, John joined the school in 1956, spending five happy years here.

"It was during this time he discovered his passion for football, even though the teachers did not consider it a ‘proper sport’ at the time.

"John always showed a great interest in developments at Culford and was clearly thrilled by our now established football academy.

"He will be remembered by many as a legend of sports broadcasting and we are incredibly proud that Motty was an Old Culfordian."