Soccer AM’s most memorable moments, from host Tim Lovejoy getting punched in the face to Kasabian guitarist’s volley
AFTER almost 30 years we have to say goodbye to an iconic TV show.
Soccer AM will bid us farewell in just 10 weeks, following the decision to pull the plug on the cult SKY TV production.
Over its time, hosts including Tim Lovejoy, Helen Chamberlain, Andy Goldstein, Max Rushden and more kept us throughly entertained.
While crew members like Tubes and Rocket provided much-needed relief and hilarity.
And who can forget the guests who provided many a magical moment.
Here’s the best bits we can remember from Soccer AM.
Tim Lovejoy getting punched
Although there was a smugness about Tim when on hosting duties, the smooth Chelsea fan was the best man for the job.
He formed the perfect partnership with Helen Chamberlain, who often knocked him down a peg or two.
But, there was one memorable time when he was filming a sketch with two of the crew dressed up in Aussie Rules kits.
One of those chaps was Fenners (John Fendley), who took over presenting duties in recent years.
Accidentally, the over-eager Fendley connected with a fake punch – right in Lovejoy’s kisser.
Laughter roared around the studio, as Lovejoy clutched his face. It was an iconic, to say the least.
On the volley!
Kasabian’s Sergio Pizzorno has become synonymous with football audiences.
Not only has he written terrace-sung songs for the band, he’s been vocal about his love of Leicester City and was a regular in the Soccer Aid line-up.
And in the latter, he memorably lobbed David Seaman for the Rest of the World team – showing off his skills in the 2012 charity match.
None of that, though, compared to the time he took part in the Road to Wembley segment, flicked the ball up with his winkle pickers, before slamming the ball home on the volley.
Even better, he celebrated by whipping off his jacket, running out to the car park and swaggering out the studio.
Soccerettes
In a nod to the lad’s mag era of the early noughties, Soccer AM celebrated the female form with their Soccerettes feature.
Every week, a woman football fan would come on to the show and model the team she followed’s jersey.
There was innuendo, gags – most amusingly when the fan would be asked about her marital status, which could be followed by rampant cheers if “single”, while a crew member would run on without a shirt and react.
Famous Soccerettes have included Natalie Sawyer, Jennifer Metcalfe, Lucy Pinder, Tamsin Greenway, Gemma Atkinson and Louise Cliffe before it was scrapped in 2015.
Tubes
Peter Dale was better known to viewers as Tubes.
A valued crew member, his famous segment ‘One question and one question only’ would see him grill a studio guest.
Sometimes, he even made it out the studio to interview celebrity talent.
One amusing moment saw him learn how to rap with 50 Cent.
Another time, he propositioned The Inbetweeners star Emily Atack.
His off-beat humour saw him become a fans’ favourite.
Guests
Due to its cult status, guests flocked to be on Soccer AM.
Often, it was a place for bands who would wax lyrical about their music and favourite football teams.
Memorably, The Libertines turned up minus Pete Doherty in one appearance, who jumped out of the cab on the way to the studio during the height of their fame.
Occasionally, A-list stars like Jude Law, Stephen Graham and Ray Winstone would pop up on the couch too.
While Oasis legend Noel Gallagher was a regular.
Lee Trundle
Striker Trundle was renowned by Swansea fans for his impeccable eye for goal.
He was a real hero for the Swans – but outside of Wales and mostly the third division, many hadn’t heard of him.
That was, until, Soccer AM made the burly forward something of a cult hero.
A famous clip of him showboating made it onto the show – and that became a regular theme – the best being the famous shoulder roll (below).
Apparently, Trundle himself used to contact producers with footage of him in action, according to Tim Lovejoy in his autobiography.
Back in January, aged 46, he took part in the You Know The Drill Live! segment and proved he’s still got it with some subliminal touches.
The crossbar challenge
It’s become synonymous with tekkers now.
But, before it was really a thing, Soccer AM had the crossbar challenge.
Each week, their cameras would turn up at a football league club’s training ground.
The entire squad, including coaches, were filmed one-by-one introducing themselves before attempting to hit the crossbar.
It was Wolves who achieved the most in history – hitting the crossbar a whopping four times in 2009.
However, a special mention has to go to former Arsenal keeper Graham Stack.
He has hit the bar three times for three different clubs (Wolves, Plymouth and Millwall).