Jeff Stelling shares Elton John phone call in emotional Soccer Saturday goodbye

28 May 2023 , 19:10

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Jeff Stelling revealed he received a message of thanks from Elton John as he gave his final monologue as host of Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, showing his appreciation for "the best job that anybody could have possibly wished for".

The host was in charge of his final show after nearly 30 years on the weekend show. A successor to the 68-year-old has yet to be announced, but Sky are expected to promote from within their ranks.

Before Stelling's farewell, a montage of some of his finest moments was played - including more than a few celebrations relating to his beloved Hartlepool United. A number of messages from Soccer Saturday panelists including Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson were also played before Stelling himself had the chance to say goodbye.

Stelling covered his face with a mask, attempting not to show any emotion, as the four panelists from his final show gave him a round of applause. He joked about changing his mind on leaving the show, before giving his final sign-off.

"That was brilliant, thanks very much to whoever did it and thanks for the applause," Stelling said after watching the montage. "This is tricky, because I've changed my mind... just kidding, I haven't changed my mind this time.

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"It was fantastic to see people we've all worked with, the likes of Alan Mullery I haven't seen for years, and Frank McLintock and Clive Allen as well as all the old gang. I've had some fantastic messages over the last few days... Gordon Strachan was texting me this morning, Neil Warnock, Ritchie Humphreys, who was a Sheffield Wednesday and Hartlepool legend, as well. Kammy, of course, and people from outside football."

What is your favourite Jeff Stelling memory? Let us know in the comments section

Jeff Stelling signed off after 30 years

"Georgie Ainslie, we know here as Georgie Thompson, who is Ben Ainslie's wife. Elton John rang me this week. Somebody asked me the other day have I ever been starstruck, and yeah, I was starstruck when Elton John rang me at home to say 'thank you very much for all you've done'.

"He said 'every week I watch this show, every week you tell me Watford are losing and every week you tell me Hartlepool are losing, so I feel like we're kindred spirits'. And there's something in that, isn't there.

A selection of clips were shown before the host said his goodbye

"The great things is, what people don't know is it's a team game. It's a team game right from the people in the call centres who take your calls if something's going wrong, right through to the runners who work on the show, the production team, the people behind the cameras, and obviously the people who are here.

"We heard from a lot of them there, Thommo [Phil Thompson] and Charlie [Nicholas] and Matt Le Tissier... and this gang of four as well, it's all been absolutely fantastic. So everybody I've worked with over the last 30 years, I'd like to say thank you for that.

"It's not just on this show, by the way. I just want to mention people on The Winning Post, the horse racing [show] that I did for many years as well. Times of Our Lives, which was a series with Mark Pearman that I absolutely adored doing. The live snooker, darts, greyhound racing, pool. The last four there, my then boss - the late, lamented Vic Wakeling, said to me 'They're all working class sports, son, you can do all of those'. It was true, wasn't it!

Stelling received messages of support from several Soccer Saturday panelists

"It's been absolutely wonderful in that respect. It's been the best job that anybody could possibly have wished for. My wife Lizzie takes great pleasure in saying 'you are the luckiest man ever to take a breath'. I don't tell her this often but she's right.

"But look, the principle success was Soccer Saturday and I just want to say this before we go. It's you lot at home who have given us unswerving support, both for the programme and for me personally.

"So that's it. Soccer Saturday will be back next season. I'll be watching when Hartlepool are not playing, but for me, goodbye."