25 May 2023 , 12:59
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Chris Kamara has admitted to "getting my tribute in early" after lauding Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling.
After joining Sky 31 years ago, Hartlepool's most famous football fan has fronted the programme's afternoon coverage since 1998. Ironically though, he'll make his final bow in a special edition this Sunday to cover the final day of the Premier League season.
Stelling initially announced he was stepping down last at the end of the 2021/22 season, before reversing his decision and opting for another year. But this time he's insisted there will be no turnaround, and long-term colleague Kamara has offered a glowing appraisal of the 68-year-old's work.
"This Sunday sees the last day at Sky for the best broadcaster I have ever met @JeffStelling," he tweeted. "I am getting my tribute in early because Jeff has been a massive part of my life and I love him to bits. One of the things I do miss is working with the maestro."
And Kamara, who himself left Sky Sports 12 months ago before opening up about his battle with speech apraxia, rounded off his tribute by referring to a once famous live-on-air exchange between the two: "There will never be another. You are 'Unbelievable Jeff' - and always will be."
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The tribute was widely endorsed with fellow presenter Tom Ross, who has worked for talkSPORT, replying with: "You are 100% spot on a brilliant broadcaster who engaged with his audience and was one of them a football lover- with no side to him whatsoever. He will be missed."
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@sgordon_the87 added: "Couldn’t agree more Kammy. Soccer Saturday as we knew and loved has been slowly dismantled over the last few years and this is proper end of an era stuff. Good luck to whoever’s following Jeff, but they’ve got huge shoes to fill," while @marktottenham added: "It won’t be the same without either of you there."
The charismatic Stelling has been making the most of his final shows, dancing live on air on May 8 when Hartlepool equalised in their final game of the League Two season against Stockport. Sure enough, it proved the last time he would be able to celebrate his team scoring on air.
And on his penultimate appearance last Saturday, he tearfully addressed the camera and the thousands watching, and delivered an emotional plea about the march for the #DumpTheScales campaign which was taking place in London that afternoon. The march was to raise awareness on mental illness and eating disorders.