Chris Kamara talks health struggles, time at Sky Sports, and the “Unbelievable Jeff” catchphrase

Chris Kamara talks about his health struggles, time at Sky Sports, and the much loved “Unbelievable Jeff” catchphrase.

Kammy spoke in an interview with Justin Allen on a variety of topics, his speech apraxia, which he feared would ruin his life, but he has since made significant progress with treatment in Mexico and support from his family.

He reflected on his 25-year career at Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, and shared fond memories of his camaraderie with Jeff Stelling and the Soccer Saturday team, while also making an emotional punditry return on Amazon Prime in 2024.

More recently Chris has sang at Bradford City’s Valley Parade for the 40th anniversary of the stadium disaster, and highlighted the importance of speaking out about mental health, while sharing his excitement for new football talent, and the need for grassroots facilities in Middlesbrough to inspire young players.

Interviewer: “As you sit here today, I know you’ve had a lot of problems in the last few years with your health, but do you still sit here today thinking, even now I have an unbelievable life?”

Kammy: “Oh, amazing. Apart from the 18 months where I felt sorry for myself about my condition, I’ve had an amazing life. And then when I had my problems and I was never good at mental health, I used to think, oh come on, snap yourself out of it. And when it strikes you and you keep it all to yourself and you don’t tell anybody, not even your family, what’s going on in your head, then it’s so bad, it’s so bad. And I can apologise now to everybody who’s going through a situation like that. Speak to people, you know, speak to people. It’s so important, you know. Nobody knows what’s going on inside your head unless you tell them. And then if you tell them, they can help you or they can find someone to help you. And don’t suffer in silence like I did.”

Interviewer: “How’s your health today? How are you feeling?”

Kammy: “Oh, I’m so much better. You know, I couldn’t have done this interview two years ago. You know, I’ve got gradual improvement. I’ve been out to Mexico for treatment, three times now, my family have said enough, you’re flying, we accept you as you are, don’t keep chasing that fella who you were.”

He also spoke about how the famous quote “Unbelievable Jeff” first came about, with it regularly heard while he was reporting on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday show.

He said: “I never knew I was doing it in the first place.

“I was at Manchester City. A few players were walking around inspecting the pitch and were saying as they passed, ‘Unbelievable, Jeff.’ And I had no idea what they were talking about.

“So Sky put a compilation together and then I realised I kept saying it.

“I ended up developing a character all of my own and knew I had to do that to survive.

“Now every day I’m around someone, they say, ‘Unbelievable, Jeff’ or they will remind me about the sending-off I once missed at Portsmouth!

“And long may that continue. I’ll never get fed up with people shouting it. I will though if it was to ever stop.”

More recently, he’s been singing, and did so at half time of a game Bradford City played in, marking the 40th anniversary of the Valley Parade stadium disaster.

He said: “If I’m talking about something I love or am passionate about, my voice quickens.

“When I’m happy, it’s great — but if I’m not then finding the words becomes difficult.

“But singing is good. You can go with the flow of the music.

“I went on The Masked Singer as part of a magnificent trio with Aled and Russell Watson – oh, sorry, that should be a magnificent double act … and me!

“But it was then special to sing at Valley Parade on such a poignant occasion — capped off with the team winning promotion to League One on that last day against Fleetwood.”

On Boxing Day 2024, he also returned to punditry alongside Jeff Stelling for Nottingham Forest v Tottenham on Amazon Prime.

Kammy said: “Forest made such a huge fuss, they laid out the red carpet, put my face on the big screen, got fans to give me a round of applause. I was like, ‘Wow, football thinks that much of me!’”

On his time at Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday: “It was, ‘Unbelievable.’ When I first joined, we had Rodney Marsh, George Best, Clive Allen, Frank McLintock and Alan Mullery.

“I was the first ‘outside’ reporter so didn’t get to see those lads.

“But Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas, Paul Merson and Matt Le Tissier would stay in a hotel on Friday nights — and we’d meet with Jeff for a few beers. We created great chemistry.

“It’s the camaraderie and banter I miss.

“I still see Jeff. We worked a few weeks ago on Smoggie Queens. I can’t wait for that to be shown on TV soon.”

Kammy also spoke on Hartlepool owner Raj Singh’s decision to write to all fellow National League clubs requesting for Jeff Stelling to be banned from their boardrooms after speaking out against him.

He said: “What a bad move that was from the owner. Jeff loves that club and speaks from the heart. But anyone who dares show dissent to people in power at football clubs seem to get shunned.”

On football coverage: “When I was growing up in Middlesbrough, we got our first TV when I was eight. You had to put coins into it to keep it going and often had to thump the top of the set to get a picture. Now nearly 60 years on, you can get access to almost every Premier League game!”

On a new facilities hub for Middlesbrough: “We’ve got to get the kids off their phones and play football.

“Before the international break Arsenal brought on 15-year-old Max Dowman against Leeds. He was dynamite and won them a penalty.

“Then Liverpool brought on 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha against Newcastle late on and he scored their winner.

“And when you see what the Lionesses have done for women’s football, which is going through the roof, what more incentive do these kids want?”