John McDonald (Sports Announcer)
Encyclopedia
John McDonald, sports announcer, was born in London in 1960 as one of six children he was educatated at Latchmere and Rivermead Schools in Kingston-upon-Thames
.
He had a spell in the British Army's Parachute Regiment but found his military career shortened by a parachute accident in 1980, so after extensive rehabilitation he became a freelance photographer, working mainly in TV.
John travelled the world covering many major sporting events from 1982 until he changed career in 1994, to become a Master of Ceremonies
.
John's big break came whilst covering a championship boxing match
and commenting to a colleague that he felt he could do a better job than the MC
on duty that night.
Challenged to do so he did, launching himself into the sports announcing world. Working as a freelance voice of sport he again travelled the world this time without a gun or camera, but a microphone in his hand.
As the master of ceremonies he has carved a place in the sports industry covering, amongst other sports: boxing, snooker, 9-ball
pool, ten-pin bowling
, darts, fishing, poker, tennis, and table tennis.
He has been the UK Press Officer
for the International Boxing Organisation (www.iboboxing.com) since 1990 and is now widely recognised as Europe's foremost sports MC, regularly featured on Sky Sports
and ITV in the UK, and channels around the world via his work for Matchroom Sport
and the Professional Darts Corporation.
Married to Sharon and the father of four sons (Darren, Jonathan, Anthony, Christian) he enjoys walking and climbing and can often be seen on the mountains and hills of the Lake District
.
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
.
He had a spell in the British Army's Parachute Regiment but found his military career shortened by a parachute accident in 1980, so after extensive rehabilitation he became a freelance photographer, working mainly in TV.
John travelled the world covering many major sporting events from 1982 until he changed career in 1994, to become a Master of Ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
.
John's big break came whilst covering a championship boxing match
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and commenting to a colleague that he felt he could do a better job than the MC
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
on duty that night.
Challenged to do so he did, launching himself into the sports announcing world. Working as a freelance voice of sport he again travelled the world this time without a gun or camera, but a microphone in his hand.
As the master of ceremonies he has carved a place in the sports industry covering, amongst other sports: boxing, snooker, 9-ball
Nine Ball
Nine-ball is a contemporary form of pool , with historical beginnings rooted in the United States and traceable to the 1920s...
pool, ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
, darts, fishing, poker, tennis, and table tennis.
He has been the UK Press Officer
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
for the International Boxing Organisation (www.iboboxing.com) since 1990 and is now widely recognised as Europe's foremost sports MC, regularly featured on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
and ITV in the UK, and channels around the world via his work for Matchroom Sport
Matchroom Sport
Matchroom Sport is a sport event promotions company founded by the English entrepreneur Barry Hearn. It first came to attention in the sports of snooker and boxing and is also involved in pool, bowling, golf , fishing, darts and poker...
and the Professional Darts Corporation.
Married to Sharon and the father of four sons (Darren, Jonathan, Anthony, Christian) he enjoys walking and climbing and can often be seen on the mountains and hills of the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
.