THERE may not have been any live games, late winners or red cards for them to report on, but the banter and laughs were flying around in a live version of a popular football TV show.

The Pundits Tour show saw some of the stars of Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, both past and present, take to the stage at Bradford's St George's Hall last night.

Sky Sports’ Jeff Stelling who presents the show, was joined by pundits and former footballer stars; Paul Merson, Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas for a night of laughs and happy football memories.

 

All five of them could easily swap punditry for stand-up comedy as they each took it in turn to take the microphone and had the crowd in stitches.

They shared stories from their playing days, time in the Soccer Saturday studio and encounters with managers including Brian Clough, Alan Ball and Bill Shankly.

Stories included Clough locking Nicholas in a room just before a match and Thompson taking the newly-won European Cup to a pub in Liverpool.

It was a show of two halves as the first hour saw Jeff asking the questions to the boys, while the second hour featured an auction of signed football shirts.

Bradford's audience also got the chance to quiz the panel with a questions and answers section of the show.

Jeff gave plenty of references to Bradford City during the show including sharing that the Bantams' FA Cup giant-killing win over Chelsea in 2015 was one of his favourite memories from his 27 years hosting Soccer Saturday.

He also had a statistic about the brilliantly-named former Bantams trialist, Nortei Nortey.

Jeff also took great delight in recalling when Rodney Marsh had his head shaved on the pitch at Valley Parade in 2000 after he wrongly predicted the Bantams would get relegated from the Premier League.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Merson says he liked playing at Valley Parade and recalled winning 5-0 there on the last day of the season while he played for Portsmouth in 2003 and all of his side wearing white boots.

He may not have appeared on stage, but one of the stars of Soccer Saturday with big Bradford connections was also featured.

Jeff gave his memories of former Bradford City player and manager-turned match reporter Chris Kamara.

These Kammy memories included a viral clip where he failed to realise a Portsmouth player had been sent off, only to be prompted by Jeff himself.

Jeff says Kammy was featured on Australian TV the day after his blooper under the on-screen caption; 'Is this the worst football reporter?'