KAMMY SO SERIOUS ABOUT RACISM FIGHT
Jolly TV star Chris doing it for the kids
CHRIS KAMARA has become one of football’s most-loved TV stars. From his ‘Unbelievable, Jeff!’ catchphrase to the hilarious gaffe live on air at Portsmouth in 2010, ‘Kammy’ has carved out legendary status during the past 22 years working for Sky Sports as a reporter, presenter and pundit.
Yet behind the laughter lies a serious side to the former Leeds and Sheffield United star, who admits the Covid-19 pandemic has changed his outlook on life.
The 62-year-old spent lockdown in his west Yorkshire home with Anne, his wife of 38 years, sons Ben and Jack, and their three grandchildren.
It was a special time, but it also brought home to Kammy just how much more needs to be done with the Black
Lives Matter campaign to protect the future of his grandchildren.
Kamara said:
“You work your socks off to be successful in life, but then your grandkids come along and nothing else matters any more. The biggest silver lining of lockdown for me was all my family being together. My eldest son,
Ben, his wife and their two kids came to live with us.
“Jack lives next door anyway with his partner and their daughter, so we had the best four months that you could ever dream of.” Kamara grew up in Middlesbrough before his father made him join the Royal Navy at 16.
He fought racism then and during his playing days – and it is something Kamara remains passionate about. He explained: “Black Lives Matter do a lot of good, but if you take the knee then it should be to honour the memory of George Floyd in the hope that it never happens again.
“My biggest driver is getting racism out of football because the black players of my generation worked so hard to overcome it.
“But I’m opposed to people pulling down statues and trying to erase what has happened in the past. I believe that history needs to be maintained so future generations can learn from it.” While playing football for the Navy, Kamara was spotted by Portsmouth, who paid £200 to buy him out of the Forces. His subsequent career saw him help Leeds to promotion in 1990 and represent hometown club Middlesbrough in the Premier League. He managed at Bradford and Stoke followed by his broadcasting career.
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