The Soccer Saturday reunion dinner brought together some of the show’s most iconic names, including Tony Cottee, Phil Thompson, Alan McInally, and Chris Kamara. Unfortunately, Rodney Marsh, who had worked on the show for 11 years, was not invited after being sacked in 2005 for making an inappropriate joke about the tsunamis in Thailand.
Despite their past differences, Jeff Stelling, the former presenter of Soccer Saturday, and Rodney Marsh had a heartwarming exchange on social media. Stelling had previously referred to Marsh as the “most difficult colleague” he had worked with. However, after an article was published about Marsh’s response to the reunion dinner photo, the two engaged in a friendly banter.
Marsh jokingly stated that when he first met Stelling, he thought he was a “total prat.” Stelling responded by humorously mentioning that the flight from Florida would have cost less than the meal they had.
Stelling went on to express his appreciation for Marsh’s contribution to Soccer Saturday, stating that without him, the show may not have lasted beyond its third birthday. He also wished Marsh well.
The article also provides updates on the current endeavors of the other former Soccer Saturday stars. Stelling can now be found presenting talkSPORT’s Breakfast show alongside Ally McCoist. Meanwhile, Chris Kamara has been raising awareness for people with Apraxia after leaving Sky in 2022 due to his illness.
Other former stars, such as Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson, have found new avenues to share their football views. Nicholas has a newspaper column in Scotland and recently appeared in a BBC Scotland documentary. Thompson shares his thoughts with bookmaker Paddy Power. Matt Le Tissier has been appearing on podcasts, sharing conspiracy theories.
Tony Cottee frequently appears on talkSPORT and recently made an appearance on SunSport’s The Tap In. As for Rodney Marsh, he has been hosting the program “Grumpy Pundits” on American broadcaster Sirius XM since 2015. Finally, Paul Merson is the only member of the old gang who still regularly appears on Soccer Saturday.
The article highlights the camaraderie among the former Soccer Saturday colleagues, despite their different paths after leaving the show. It demonstrates that friendships can transcend professional differences and reminds readers of the impact these individuals had on the popular sports program.