Motty: The Best Brings Problems

Last updated : 06 August 2003 By Andy Beill

'Motty' is aiming to visit the remainder of the 92 league grounds he hasn't yet been to by the end of this season, having already been to 75 of them in his 30-year career at the BBC.

After recently adding Northampton and Scunthorpe's grounds to his list, he was blown away by the 25,000 all-seater Kingston Communications Stadium.

He said: "It's the best in the Nationwide League and one of the best in the country. The great feeling is one of space, and I love the park setting. In the Nationwide League it is out there on its own.
"I can see why fans want England games, but the only snag is the capacity."

He will be reporting on his experience in Hull on Saturday's Football Focus programme, being shown at 12:10pm on BBC1.

Motson added that the stadium's presence could bring problems for City, and he isn't banking on promotion for Peter Taylor's side: "Many teams will raise their game because coming to Hull will be like a visit to the old Wembley."

Tigers chairman Adam Pearson has echoed Motson's reservations over promotion by saying: "I find it hard to believe the bookmakers have made us favourites for the title. How can a team who finished 13th last year suddenly be the favourites?"

But, 2½ years after buying the club, Pearson still thinks City are going places: "I'm quietly confident we will at last get promotion this season."