With the news that Jeff Stelling is up for Sports Broadcaster of the Year Award at the Sports Journalism Awards, it’s time we featured him on these pages. Super Jeff has picked up the award for broadcaster of the year for the past two years, so if he wins this year, it’ll be a sublime hat-trick for the silky anchor.
Jeff has the unenviable task of reporting on every single game in the entire universe (no matter how big or small) every Saturday on Sky Sports News, and as a result, has become famed for his catchphrases and mistakes. Jeff’s popularity has grown so much that he’s even got his own fanclub (click here to pay your dues). Read over for some of the highlights from Stelling’s motor-mouth
Jeff Stelling’s finest quotes…
When Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu scored for Sheffield Wednesday, Jeff quipped “Local boy makes good”.
When Daniel Agger scored a spectacular goal against West Ham United at Anfield during the 2006–07 season, Jeff remarked “Just how did Agger-do that?”
Jeff often quips “There’s been a penalty awarded at Old Trafford – I don’t think you need me to tell you which way it’s gone.”
Jeff comically refers to footballer Fitz Hall as “good old one-size”.
Probably Stelling’s finest hour came when the Welsh team Total Network Solutions won a game which resulted in European football. Jeff, sensing the magnitude chirruped “They’ll be dancing in the streets of Total Network Solutions tonight”.
When Brian Wilson of Bristol City scored last year, Stelling commented that Wilson had just moved from Cheltenham and that “He Gets Around”. While commenting on the score later in the game Stelling asked “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” if Wilson got another, before going on to say that if the opposition equalised then Wilson would have to “Do It Again”.
Whenever Darren Mansaram scores, Jeff says “Wham-Bam-Mansaram”
Once, Jeff excitedly said “It’s end to end stuff, all at one end!”
A reporter: “They have literally been throwing the kitchen sink at them in the last few minutes.”
Jeff Stelling: “If they’re literally throwing the kitchen sink at them, one piece of advice – duck!”
Godlike genius… enough to make an anti-sporter dig football!
I think that Jeff. Stelling is not settling into Countdown. He has little personality and his manner seems contrived, he does not appear to be totally at ease on the programme. How long is his contact for?I am sure thgere must be plenty of other personalities, like Des. O’connor, who would fot the bill more easily.