A few years ago, Martin Tyler said of his commentating: “I've been doing this for 35 years and could lose my reputation in 35 seconds," writes John Payne.

Luckily, the word-perfect 69-year-old remains the most revered voice on the box having this week been named commentator of the year by the Football Supporters' Federation.

It is particularly remarkable an organisation that marched on the Premier League earlier this season should choose a man whose voice has provided the soundtrack since English football's top flight was changed beyond all recognition in 1992.

Before making the switch to the satellite channel whose zillions would transform the sport, Tyler had played second fiddle to the late, great Brian Moore at ITV, but nowadays his place alongside the commentating greats – think Kenneth Wolstenholme, John Motson, Barry Davies, David Coleman and radio’s Peter Jones – is assured.

The genius of Tyler is that it all feels so natural. Not for him too much corporate spiel for his employers or the people who run the Premier League, perhaps because while he is at the top of his game he is steeped in the grassroots.

He comes across as the unbiased fan with the microphone, although his colours were long since nailed to Woking, a club where he helped paint the gates as a young boy.

Tyler hasn’t even really allowed it to be common knowledge on a national scale the active role he has played on the football scene in these parts for many years.

He sounds as fresh and as relevant as ever and seems to read the game as well as the players he is watching.

His experience as a player with Corinthian Casuals and as Alan Dowson’s trusted first-team coach at Walton & Hersham, Kingstonian and Hampton & Richmond helps.

How fitting the player-of-the-year he shared centre stage with this week brings back memories of a goal commentary that still sends shivers through the spine: Agueeeeeeeerrrrrroooo.