Jeff Stelling’s old pal Chris Kamara was the first to congratulate his Sky Sports colleague on receiving his MBE from Princess Anne.
Kamara tweeted his slogan ‘Amazing Jeff’ at the legendary football presenter after receiving the award for raising £1.7million in the fight against prostate cancer by completing 34 marathons.
Stelling, 69, who was the frontman of the hugely popular Sky Sports show Gillette Soccer Saturday from 1994 to 2023, received the honor today at Buckingham Palace.
He was received by the Princess Royal who formally appointed him a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to sport, broadcasting and charity.
Stelling said: “I do a job that most people would give an arm and a leg for. So, although I have had a wonderful and happy career, I am happy that the MBE is more than anything a recognition of charitable work.
He began his career as a journalist for the Hartlepool Mail and grew to become the UK’s most iconic football presenter.
Legendary football presenter Jeff Stelling, who fronted the hugely popular Sky Sports show Gillette Soccer Saturday from 1994 to 2023, received the honor today at Buckingham Palace.
Stelling’s long-time Sky co-star Chris Kamara is best known for his work on the much-loved program Soccer Saturday.
He was received by the Princess Royal who formally appointed him a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to sport, broadcasting and charity.
The legendary broadcaster spent almost three decades at the helm of the popular show
He joined Sky Sports in 1992 and built his legend there for over 30 years, including hosting the country’s favorite Football Saturday for over 25 years.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Stelling said the honor was “incredible, unexpected, exciting and, on that day, nerve-wracking”.
“I remember growing up on a council estate in Hartlepool and, you know, your main aspiration was actually to get a job to earn a living, because unemployment was so widespread.
“You wouldn’t dream of something like this – it’s literally a cliché, beyond your wildest dreams.”
Stelling’s award comes as her Sky co-star Chris Kamara won the same award last year.
Kamara’s inability to contain his enthusiasm for the game and propensity for gaffes during live video links from the stadium on Sky’s Soccer Saturday program has become the stuff of legend, often leaving the program’s host Stelling and other guests from the studio in stitches.
“Amazing Jeff” became Kamara’s recurring catchphrase in reference to Stelling’s host, and it felt like the end of an era when his departure from Sky after 24 years was confirmed two years ago.
Stelling is also an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK and said destigmatising the disease was the “raison d’être” of his charity work.
He said: “With men, especially, we all think we are big, burly and strong.
“We don’t go to the doctor – especially if it’s a problem below the waist.”
“So trying to change people’s perspective on this means a lot.”
Figures from Cancer Research UK estimate that 12,000 lives are lost to prostate cancer each year in the UK.
But in recent years he has focused on raising money for the fight against prostate cancer and has run 34 marathons across the UK with thousands of supporters.
He has raised more than £1.7 million for vital research and visited 106 football clubs while traveling more than 890 miles.
On his iconic show Soccer Saturday, watched by millions, he would also wear his Man of Men badge which encourages men to know their risks and what they could do about them.
Kamara, the highly-rated former pundit, shared a joke with the Prince of Wales after receiving his MBE in March 2023
Kamara, from Wakefield, proudly showed off his MBE medal after the investiture ceremony
Stelling first joined Soccer Saturday in 1994 under his previous title of Sports Saturday.
His departure sparked countless messages of support, such is the scale of his impact.
Popular pundit Ally McCoist (pictured) hosts the talkSPORT breakfast show alongside Stelling
On his iconic show Soccer Saturday, watched by millions, he would also wear his Man of Men badge which encourages men to know their risks and what they can do about them.
At one of his first football fundraising marches, he was introduced to a woman who said she saw the badge and found out what it meant.
Stelling said: “Lo and behold, her husband had all the symptoms. He went to get tested, received treatment. She just wanted to thank you – that just by wearing the badge, you saved my husband’s life and he will be okay.
“The cancer was so advanced that if she hadn’t Googled him, he would have died.”
Since leaving Sky Sports, Stelling has continued to support the fight against prostate cancer by wearing his Man of Men badge on Prime Video’s Every game, every goal.
The long-time Hartlepool United fan has also worn the badge on his talkSPORT’s Breakfast show every Monday and Tuesday alongside Ally McCoist since its launch on December 4.
One of his most memorable walks took place in September 2023, when he walked his 34th marathon in honor of his fellow prostate cancer ambassador, the late broadcaster Bill Turnbull, who died of the disease in 2022 .
Jeff Stelling has completed dozens of marathons to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. Pictured: at Adams Park, Wycombe in March 2023
One of his most memorable walks took place in September 2023, when he walked his 34th marathon in honor of his fellow prostate cancer ambassador, the late broadcaster Bill Turnbull (pictured), who died of illness in 2022.
Robbie Stelling (left) warmly described his father (middle) as ‘the best there ever was’ when he left Sky.
He had set a target of £250,000, but managed to raise more than £390,000 in a walk which started at Wembley Stadium and ended at Bill’s beloved football club, Wycombe Wanderers.
Stelling said the highlight of his 40-year career would “probably be hosting the Champions League final at Wembley for the first time”, which he described as an “incredible” experience.
“But I was lucky,” he added.
“I was not a sportsman, I did not play sports, but I spent my life working alongside top athletes and many of them became close friends.
“Again, this is something I could never have dreamed of.”
Upon hearing the news of his award, Stelling said, “I am very proud to have had this opportunity. It’s great to help raise awareness of prostate cancer, but the fundraising was made possible by the hundreds and hundreds of people who come and walk with me.
“I’m just putting one foot in front of the next and lending my name to the steps.”
Laura Kerby, chief executive of Prostate Cancer UK, who walked alongside Jeff in September, said: “We are delighted that the ‘incredible’ Jeff Stelling has been honoured.
“For almost a decade, Jeff has been and remains an incredible ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK, helping us to raise awareness of the disease throughout the football community.
“He inspired football fans to learn more about this cancer that affects one in eight men, and many took action that saved lives.”
Stelling lives with his wife Liz, whom he married in November 1998. Together the couple have three children, Robbie born in 1998, Matthew born in 1999 and Olivia born in 2003.
His net worth is estimated to be over £2 million and his contract with Sky is worth around £125.00 per year.
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