Chris Kamara has paid tribute to 'Soccer AM' after it was confirmed the show is to end after nearly 30 years.
Chris Kamara has paid tribute to Soccer AM after it was confirmed the show is to end after nearly 30 years
The 65-year-old pro footballer-turned-pundit has remembered his 14 years of "having a laugh" on the long-running Sky football programme, on which he was a regular guest interviewing players and managers at football stadiums around the country.
He wrote on Twitter: "Just heard that @SoccerAM is finishing at the end of the season. I had 14 years of going through Premier League and @EFL clubs dressing rooms. Training with Clubs for features and basically having a laugh. Fun part of my time at Sky (sic)"
The show's best-known presenters were Helen Chamberlain, who hosted for 22 years, and Tim Lovejoy, who co-hosted with Helen from 1996 to 2007.
Regular crew member Rocket (James Long) has recalled how Tim was always trying to and encourage his co-stars to "push the boundaries" on the programme.
He told The Sun newspaper: "Every week Tim would say, 'If we are not pushing the boundaries we are not doing our job.'
"He wanted to be called into the head's office every week for something that had been inappropriate or he pushed it too far.
"But he said, 'That's when you know you're doing a good job.' That was the mentality of the show.
"Sadly I don't know if that show can exist now because if there's a reason to complain about something, generally someone will. They'll take offence.
"There's so much you could have taken offence at. We pushed it to the line a lot of the time."
There are now just 10 episodes of 'Soccer AM' left, with the final whistle on the show set to blow at the end of the current football season.
A Sky spokesperson told the publication: "'Soccer AM' has played an important role in our coverage of football for the past three decades, and we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our customers.
"We now go into a period of consultation to discuss the proposed changes with our people. We are unable to provide more detail while these consultations are underway.”
It's said staff were told on Tuesday (21.03.23) that the show would be ending, and they will be made redundant in May.
An insider said: "It was a complete bombshell. Morale is at an all-time low, they are raging.
"It's going to be an interesting watch over the next few weeks."
The popular programme - which balances the week's football news, goals and more with sketches, celebrity guests and challenges - first aired on Sky in 1995.
John "Fenners" Fendley and Jimmy Bullard currently co-host the show.
'Saturday Social' - which has previously aired before 'Soccer AM' at 9.30am - will move into its 10.30am Saturday slot.