Sam Matterface’s voice is iconic for all football fans, but he was on the airwaves again to reveal some heart-breaking news that’s happened in his family
TalkSport presenter Sam Matterface has disclosed his father passed away on Friday evening. He returned to work on Monday and honoured his father’s memory, stating “he would’ve done the same” while acknowledging “radio is a constant companion.”
Matterface spent less than two minutes addressing the devastating news before redirecting focus to professional matters, launching discussions about Liverpool and Arsenal in light of the weekend’s fixtures. Before doing so, he explained his desire to be “open and honest” while announcing his father’s death, whom colleague Alan Brazil had affectionately nicknamed “Little Pete”
He described them as “rather shocking circumstances” before recounting how his father introduced him to radio while working as a painter and decorator during Matterface’s childhood. He emphasised the immense pride his father took in his broadcasting career.
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He added: “Radio was his friend, I hope it’s your friend and it’s thanks to him that it will always be my friend. I hope today it’s my brother’s friend, my sister’s friend and his friends’ friend and his wife’s friend too, because its important. Right let’s crack on.”
TalkSPORT recruited Matterface from Sky Sports News to serve as its chief commentator for the new football season over 15 years ago. Matterface joined Sky Sports News in 2007, having previously worked at Capital Gold, as a reporter at TalkSport, and at Portsmouth station 107.4 The Quay, where he also fronted the breakfast programme.
Matterface’s complete remarks on the significance of radio and the solace it offers were as follows: “I’m going to be honest and open with you right off the bat, I’m not in a particularly good place this morning and I’m going to share with you why.
“It’s been a particularly tough weekend for me and my family because we lost my father on Friday night in sudden and rather shocking circumstances. So you’re going to have to bear with me a little today and indulge me a little me for a minute.
“Little Pete – as Alan Brazil affectionately nicknamed him on the Breakfast Show – loved Alan, loved eSPORTY and loved radio. I’m sure people will be asking why I came into work today and you might be wondering too.
“But the truth is, one: he would have done the same; and the other reason is that it is important. I’m sure many of you have been in situations like this too and when you’re working and when you’re driving , you’re sometimes happy, sometimes grieving, sometimes lost.
“I find, and I’m sure you do too, that radio is a constant companion. He introduced me to radio my dad, and as a painter and decorator it went with him everywhere that he went.
“He loved the fact I was on eSPORTY, his favourite radio station. Radio was his friend, I hope it’s your friend. And it’s thanks to him that it has always been my friend.
“And I hope today that it is my brother’s friend, my sister’s friend and his wife’s friends too. Because it’s important.”
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