29 December 2023 , 22:30
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Soccer Saturday legend Jeff Stelling has been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours list for his services to sport, broadcasting and charity, it has been announced.
The renowned broadcaster, 68, spent more than 30 years on the books of Sky Sports and anchored their iconic football results show for over 25 years before standing down at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
As well as earning recognition for his contributions to sport, Stelling has been recognised for his sterling charity work. He is an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK and has raised significant amounts of money for the charity in the form of a 'Football March': a 26.2 mile trek.
His most recent march saw him walk from Wembley to Wycombe 's Adams Park stadium in September in memory of the late, great Bill Turnbull; an iconic BBC broadcaster and much-loved Wycombe Wanderers supporter who sadly passed away from Prostate Cancer in August at the age of 66.
Stelling, who has done 34 walks in total since his maiden trek from Hartlepool to Wembley in 2016, gave an insight into the experience ahead of his latest march.
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He told The Mail : "In the early days, I thought how hard can this be? I'd run marathons and I thought it couldn't be as hard as that but it is, if not harder, mainly because of the wear and tear from being on your feet for so long.
"But you're walking in a group and everybody has a reason for walking, living with someone or has known someone who has had prostate cancer. There's a unique camaraderie and it isn't all doom and gloom, it's sort of joyous.
Stelling fronted Sky Sports' football results show for over 25 years (twitter)"At least for the first 17 or 18 miles. It's a long time to walk and a long time to talk to take your mind off the fact your feet are aching and something's chafing and there's 10 miles to go."
In total, it's estimated Stelling has raised over £1.6million for Prostate Cancer UK alongside a wealth of exposure for both the charity and the disease, which kills one man every 45 minutes, according to the charity.
After leaving Sky Sports earlier this year, it was announced that Stelling would join talkSPORT in December to front their breakfast show following the departure of Laura Woods.