Jeff Stelling admitted 'low point of my career' involved Chris Kamara correction
Jeff Stelling once had the tables turned on him by Chris Kamara (Image: Getty Images)
It's been two years to the day since football fans bid farewell to Sky Sports legend Jeff Stelling. The broadcasting giant, 70, hosted a special edition of Soccer Saturday on the final day of the 2022/23 season before calling it quits after 25 memorable years.
The Hartlepool United fanatic first took on the role in 1998. What followed was over two decades of laughs, drama and expert insight, all marshalled in style thanks to Stelling's first-class skills as a presenter.
While the peerless Stelling was often the man making the jokes at the expense of his studio pundits, he once confessed that a swift role-reversal was one of the 'lowest points' of his Soccer Saturday tenure.
While many of Soccer Saturday's pundits became household names, it's safe to say none drew the limelight, and love from viewers, as much as Chris Kamara did. Often hailed as Stelling's partner in crime, the duo whipped up many iconic moments together over the years.
While Kamara had a reputation for making the odd gaffe, he took great pride in getting one over on Stelling back in October 2016, to the presenter's dismay. The now 67-year-old was covering West Ham's home tie with Sunderland when he noticed that his esteemed host had strayed into a rare blunder.
"Let's go and find out what's happening at Upton Park. West Ham nil Sunderland nil, does this look like it's going to end in deadlock to you Chris Kamara?," Stelling probed.
Chris Kamara and Jeff Stelling worked together for over two decades (Image: DAILY MIRROR)
Chris Kamara and Jeff Stelling are known to be good friends on and off the TV (Image: X/@chris_kammy)
Kamara quickly replied: "The London Stadium you mean Jeff? Get it right... come on." Stelling, reeling from the realisation that he'd forgotten that the Hammers had actually left Upton Park a few months prior, didn't take the correction particularly well.
"That's the low point in my career," he quipped. "Chris Kamara telling me to get it right. Unbelievable Kammy."
The pair's on-screen chemistry also helped gift supporters one of UK sports' most comical moments. Football fans will no doubt recall Stelling yelling in typical animated fashion: "There's been a red card at Fratton Park, but for who Chris Kamara?,"
Famously, this was then met by Kamara, with an oblivious, yet hilarious response of: "I don't know Jeff, has there? I must have missed that."
Stelling initially announced he was stepping down at the end of the 2021/22 season, but went back on his decision and opted to stay for one more year. He has since been heard on radio, and was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to sport, broadcasting and charity.
Kamara meanwhile stepped down from his role on Soccer Saturday at the end of 2021/22 football season after working on Soccer Saturday for 24 years. Months prior to his exit, he revealed that "live TV might have to take a back seat" as he opened up on his diagnosis with apraxia of speech.
At the time, Stelling showed his class by sending a touching tribute to Kamara, saying: 'Kammy you still bring life, energy, fun and understanding to all of your reports on Soccer Saturday. We all love you pal, keep going!"
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