Football fans woke up to the news on Tuesday morning that Soccer AM is set to be axed after 28 years of comedy gold for football downs throughout the UK.
Having kicked off in 1995, presenters Tim Lovejoy and Helen Chamberlain galvanised the programme to become one of the most anticipated shows of the week throughout the nation, with the show becoming a match day morning routine for many, before heading off to the 3pm games of their choice. But reports on Tuesday found that employees of Soccer AM had been told that they only have 10 episodes left before the end of the season before cameras will stop rolling once and for all.
In almost three decades of weekly showings, Soccer AM has given us all memories for life through goofy antics, puns worthy of a failed 'Dad joke' annual, memorable moments caught on video and the endless amounts of laughter that will undoubtedly have captured the hearts of many. Record Sport takes you through the motions with 13 of the best moments caught live on the multi-generational relic.
Stuart McCall falls off a car...drunk
Now this wasn't strictly Soccer AM as such, but it was picked up on - a lot - by those on the show as a cult reference. McCall, who spent seven years at Rangers throughout their dominance in the 1990's, had just celebrated Bradford City's promotion to the Premier League as they just pipped Ipswich Town to the second promotion spot in the league.
Having had a drink or two, McCall went to climb a car in celebration in front of an onlooking Bantams crowd, managing to get one foot on the bonnet before slipping and comically sliding off the car and onto the floor. Props to the former Motherwell boss - his can stayed firmly intact.
Ally McCoist's jibe at Scott Brown
The 'Crossbar Challenge' was a hallmark of the glory days of Soccer AM, where cameras would go to training grounds up and down the UK to film the squad attempting to hit the woodwork from the halfway line. In this case, the Scotland squad did so but on the Hampden Park pitch.
As a young Scott Brown, with a head full of hair and bordering on a mohican, stepped up to the plate, Rangers hero Ally McCoist shouted to Brown: "Remember, it's Scott Broon!" in a jibe to the Celtic legend, which drew a hilarious reaction from the Tartan Army squad. He hit the post, which was much better than Ally's effort...
Scott Brown in a mankini
...and that wasn't Brown's only memorable Crossbar Challenge appearance. With the cameras rolling up at Lennoxtown, former Celt Daryl Murphy put the ball down as he aimed to smack the ball onto the frame. Out of the corner of his eye, the Irishman was set to witness something that nobody should ever want to see again.
Brown was sprinting across the pitch in a lime green mankini, running between Murphy and the ball in a bid to unsettle the target man. It worked - Murphy's effort was way off target. You do begin to wonder where the mankini came from - did Brown purchase it beforehand, or was it stored away from previous use in the dressing room? I guess we'll never know.
When Tubes freaked Jennifer Aniston out
Back in the day, famous global stars from around the world such as Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Seth Rogen and even Jennifer Aniston appeared on set which were huge pulls for the TV show in its prime. But Aniston's appearance was largely a strange one - with Soccer AM icon Tubes' character being as awkward as ever.
The Brit sat down with Aniston and the face of Ted Lasso, Jason Sudeikis, before hitting himself in the face numerous times. He came out with: "You are Jen, and you are Jase, when I get bored, I smack my face", before hitting himself 16 times. Her face told the picture of many watching the programme.
Wolves breaking the Crossbar Challenge record
You'd be lucky if even one player in the Crossbar Challenge managed to succeed, but that wasn't the case at Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the English side seemingly finding their shooting boots when the TV show came to the Black Country.
No fewer than four players hit the crossbar under pressure, decimating any previous records that stood before them and it still remains a record to this day. Unfortunately, Sky have removed the tape - you just had to be there to remember it.
Danny Ings' Skill Skool
Skill Skool was a challenge where youth teams of the best club sides in the country would nominate two players to have a banter-filled 'skill off' against one another, with teammates' reactions often going over the top as they showcased their talents on national television.
By far the best one ever was at AFC Bournemouth; then a relative unknown, future England and Liverpool star Danny Ings took on fellow teammate Muzzy Holmes. Chaos ensued, with Ings winning the tie after some outrageous technique and a striking pose to match. Holmes managed to reveal his leopard-print briefs and pushed Ings over after some top-notch freestyling - it's well worth the watch.
The various Soccer AM Dance Offs
One of the most anticipated talent shows of the year. No, we aren't talking about Strictly Come Dancing, Britain's Got Talent or the X Factor - the annual Dance Off was tuned into by many sports and non-sports fans alike.
Production staff at Soccer AM would all line up outside of the main stage before embarking on some brilliant yet bizarre dancing that wouldn't go amiss at a late-night wedding reception with people all over the country tuning in. We'll never know how SuBo would've got on in this talent show despite her previous exploits on Britain's Got Talent.
Serge's Volley
Kasabian star Serge Pizzorno certainly didn't look like a footballer when he turned up to Soccer AM in an outfit that incorporated a tribute to Jack Sparrow for the volley challenge. But much to the amazement of those watching, the guitarist genius leathered the ball into a gap which will remain in British folklore forever.
He did so again three years ago, this time donning his beloved Leicester City's away strip - and although we knew of his talents by then, his first volley will not be forgotten in a flash. Just look at that outfit.
Alan Hutton hitting top bins
The Scottish Cafu, as many called him throughout his career, was not famed for scoring goals throughout his career - never mind wonder goals. But, like many, he turned up to the Soccer AM pitch with a point to prove.
After a few shots that had hit the post, Hutton struck a volley into the top left bin - a literal bin that has been sealed to the corner - though he looked as surprised as anybody.
The episode when Paolo Nutini's dad burst into song in his chippy
'Propa nawty' Frankie Fryer's character on Soccer AM was one to marvel at. Dressed head to toe in flash football casual gear, his cockney accent could be heard from a mile away as he visited grounds up and down the country to give a detailed review of the town.
On one particular visit to St Mirren, he went to the chip shop where Paolo Nutini's dad famously works - engaging in conversation with him before getting their karaoke heads on to sing his son's tune 'New Shoes' - customers must've been in awe at what was happening.
Mido's crossbar challenges
Mido had an odd career. The Egyptian striker spent six years in the Premier League with Tottenham, Middlesbrough, West Ham and Wigan from 2005-2010, though he only scored 22 league goals in 93 appearances before heading back to Egypt and finishing his career at Barnsley.
It is still unknown whether he meant to hit the ball this badly both times he stood up to the Crossbar Challenge, but the 6ft 2in striker's efforts both went out for throw-ins whilst at Tottenham and Wigan. Can't even tell him to stick to the day job.
James Tavernier *didn't* know the drill...
James Tavernier, as we all know, is one of the more consistent performers in the Scottish top-flight, and there aren't many who you would rather bet your house on when it comes to hitting the target.
But when Jimmy Bullard rocked up at Milngavie to shoot a 'You Know The Drill' exercise with the Light Blues legend, he got it all wrong, with some balls ending up miles behind the goal from close range. Best not do that on the Ibrox Turf, James - they'd end up at Hampden.
The Hamilton soccerette and the Proclaimers
The 'Soccerette' was one of the main features of Soccer AM for quite some time, where female football fans would don their favourite teams' shirts and do a catwalk alongside presenters Max Rushden, Andy Goldstein and Tim Lovejoy. In one particular episode, a Hamilton Academical fan, Maddie, was the chosen candidate. After her interview, two Scotsmen dressed in full kilt and Braveheart gear burst into a rendition of the Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be". The longer you watch, the weirder it gets.
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