Iconic football commentator Clive Tyldesley has decided to step down from his duties with talkSPORT from next season.
Tyldesley, one of TV’s most recognisable and best loved voices, will be working for CBS on the Champions League final this Saturday, having also done regular Premier League commentaries for the commercial radio station in 2022/23. But Tyldesley made the decision to step away as, whilst not looking to preach to others, felt uncomfortable at being expected to promote gambling companies and odds during live commentaries.
Former ITV commentator Tyldesley has huge respect for talkSPORT and has made a purely personal decision. He also understands the notion of football and the media relying heavily on advertising from bookmakers.
But Premier League clubs have agreed to stop shirt advertising in the future and Brentford striker Ivan Toney’s high-profile case and subsequent ban has put the debate into sharp focus. Toney got an eight month ban for breaching Football Association rules on gambling - but was expected to wear a Brentford shirt which has a bookmaker as its main sponsor.
England boss Gareth Southgate also spoke up in support of the player. He made it clear that he will have no hesitation in picking Toney again once his ban is finished and he is available to play in January.
Tyldesley has already agreed to do some work with Big Step which is a charity trying to end all gambling and bookmaker advertising in football. The organisation also aims to bring people harmed by gambling together, enabling them to urge their clubs to end and reject gambling related sponsorship deals.
The 62-year-old has narrated football matches for more than three decades, most notably as a senior commentator at ITV where his second stint ran from 1996 through to 2020. And the Champions League final will inevitably trigger memories of one of his most famous pieces of audio, that dates back to Manchester United's incredible comeback against Bayern Munich in 1998/99.
"Can Manchester United score? They always score," he said, seconds before their equalising goal, to which he remarked: "Name on the trophy." He then reacted to the winner with the iconic line of: "And Solskjaer has won it. Manchester United have reached the Promised Land."
Tyldesley also led the broadcasters commentary team at four World Cups and four European Championships, winning a string of awards in the meantime. He was awarded the prestigious Royal Television Society Sports Commentator of the Year in 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2005, and was voted the Sony Radio Awards' Sports Broadcaster of the Year in 1983.
