Gabby Logan says speech after Lionesses' Euros triumph was ‘golden moment' of career

Telegraph

12-03-2025

Gabby Logan has described her rallying speech after the Lionesses' win at the Euros as the 'golden moment' of her career.
The BBC sports presenter and new host of Match of the Day said she 'nailed' the closing link after the 2022 victory, but admitted to being so full of adrenaline that she delivered her words too quickly.
In her closing speech after the final, she asked viewers: 'Is this a game-changing moment? Well, the record audiences on TV and crowds in the stadiums have been fantastic. Brilliant. But to really move the sport on, we need you.
'If you've enjoyed it, get yourself along to a WSL game this season, even if you only go to one or two. The Lionesses have brought football home, now it's down to the rest of us to make sure it stays here.
'You think it's all over? It's only just begun.'
Speaking to Jessica Ennis-Hill on the Gold Minds podcast, Logan said: 'My golden moment is the women's Euros success at Wembley in 2022 and, I guess, my closing link, which seemed to really resonate with people.'
She explained: 'It was on the day itself, driving to Wembley, that I had this kind of awakening moment where I was like, 'Wow, if this happens today this is going to be huge, this is the culmination of so many years of work, of toil, from these women, from people who were supporting women's sport, people pushing women's football, from the ban that the FA put on to women's football for 40 years.'
Logan wrote the speech on her iPad but worried that she would not be able to deliver it because the match ran into extra time.
'I was determined that I wanted to say this minute's closer,' she said.
'I take great pride in hitting the count. I never want to go over zero. And so I back timed it, but of course the adrenaline and everything was going,' she said of the countdown to the end of the broadcast.
'So there was one bit where I sped up too much. I've seen it back a couple of times. There's a bit where I was trying to speak too quickly. There was a bit of pressure in that respect.'
Logan said: 'I got so many messages from people from all over the place afterwards saying, 'Wow, that was a really powerful way to finish.'
'When you've worked on broadcasts like that for years and years, it's such a satisfying, delightful feeling to see it finally come to fruition.
'I felt like on that day I kind of nailed it.'
Logan is one of three presenters who will replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day next season, alongside Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates.
She has promised that the show will be 'all about the football' although Samir Shah, the BBC chairman, suggested in a recent interview that the show will be changing direction.
Match of the Day 'should not be built around highlights. It should be built around analysis and examination of the match to give viewers a deeper insight', Mr Shah said.