Jeff Stelling has unveiled that he once supported a Premier League football team despite not knowing where the club was based.
The former Soccer Saturday host has also revealed the reasons why he chose to support the side, before switching his allegiances to his beloved Hartlepool.
Stelling, who made his first appearance on talkSPORT earlier this week after announcing he would be leaving Sky Sports, has been a long-standing supporter of the National League side, regularly having football fans in stitches for his hilarious celebrations when Hartlepool score on Soccer Saturday.
He admitted that his love for the Clarets stemmed from how the club used to give him souvenirs and memorabilia for free.
Jeff Stelling has revealed that he once supported a Premier League club despite not knowing where they were located
The talkSPORT presenter is well known for his avid support of Hartlepool United and is also the president of the club
‘I used to be a boyhood Burnley fan,’ he said on talkSPORT breakfast on Tuesday.
When asked whether they were the team he still supports in the Premier League, he replied: ‘They’re not my team anymore. I love Burnley.
‘The reason I supported Burnley was because as a kid you used to write to all the big teams and ask for programmes and any free memorabilia and most of them just ignored you completely.
‘But Burnley always sent back a load of stuff. I didn’t even know where Burnley was!’
After 25 years with Sky Sports, Stelling announced he’d be stepping down as the host of Soccer Saturday at the end of the 2022-23 season and was succeeded by Simon Thomas.
He began his new position with talkSPORT on Monday, striking up a partnership with Ally McCoist on their new breakfast show.
The broadcaster was also appointed the president of Hartlepool United back in 2015 and still holds the position.
And while many have congratulated Stelling on his new position at the radio station, former Burnley star Frank Casper, who played for the club between 1967-79 delivered a heartwarming video message to the presenter.
‘Hi Jeff, it’s Frank Casper, your boyhood hero,’ the former Burnley forward said.
But Stelling revealed that he was a boyhood Burnley fan, claiming that he supported Burnley as they used to send him souvenirs
Stelling recently left his position as Sky Sport’s lead host for their program Soccer Saturday
‘I just want to wish you all the best in your new job at talkSPORT.
‘I’m sure you’ll be fantastic and can’t wait to listen to you. All the very best, Frank.
Stelling replaced Laura Woods on the talkSPORT breakfast show, with Woods moving to TNT Sports.
He recently paid his congratulations to Woods, who left the show after three years, saying ‘you have put in a real shift. Good luck in the future. Enjoy the lie ins!’
