For generations of British football fans, Saturday mornings were defined by one legendary television show. Soccer AM, the iconic Sky Sports programme that first aired in 1994, became a cultural touchstone before its final broadcast in May 2023 after 29 unforgettable seasons.
The End of an Era and New Beginnings
The show's cancellation marked the end of a broadcasting institution that shaped fan culture with its memorable catchphrases, hilarious sketches, and beloved segments like the Crossbar Challenge. But what became of the familiar faces who made it so special? Their journeys since have been varied, touching on comebacks, health battles, and new ventures.
Tim Lovejoy, who co-presented the show with Helen Chamberlain from 1996 to 2007, has been busy in weekend television. After stints on BBC's Something for the Weekend and Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, he launched what fans have called a 'comeback' for the Soccer AM spirit. In August 2025, he debuted Soccer Amen, a hybrid video-podcast that reunites talents like Robbie Knox and Peter 'Tubes' Dale, blending football culture and comedy for a new audience.
Health Scares and Honest Reflections
One of the show's most popular behind-the-scenes figures, Peter 'Tubes' Dale, faced a terrifying health crisis. In 2018, aged just 36, he suffered a major heart attack while playing football. He credits a quick-thinking manager with saving his life by substituting him moments before the attack hit on the pitch.
"If it happened two years ago when I was drinking and smoking loads, they said I'd have died on the spot," Tubes revealed. Now 43, he has left his battle with alcoholism behind and focuses on a YouTube golf channel with his brother, titled Tubes and Ange Golf Life.
The show's end hit others hard emotionally. Long-serving presenter and producer John 'Fenners' Fendley admitted the cancellation plunged him into a "dark place." He felt a sense of humiliation and struggled to find equivalent work, despite relentless efforts. His salvation came in the form of a podcast partnership with another Soccer AM favourite, Jimmy Bullard. Their project, FC Bullard, involves building imaginary football clubs from scratch with various guests.
Life After the Saturday Morning Sofa
Helen Chamberlain, the show's other iconic host, left in 2017 after nearly 23 years. She has since traded the studio for a quieter life in the countryside. "I had the farm to see to. I wanted to rescue more dogs and breed sheep and chickens," she explained. Now 58, she enjoys metal-detecting and sharing her finds on social media, having stepped away from the relentless pace of television.
Jimmy Bullard continues to entertain through his podcasts, including the fishing-focused Off The Hook. Andy Goldstein, who had a brief stint filling in for Lovejoy, now fronts the Drive show on talkSPORT. Meanwhile, former intern James 'Rocket' Long has carved a successful production career, becoming Head of Production at Baller League in February 2025 and running a nostalgic YouTube channel, Soccer PM.
The legacy of Soccer AM lives on not just in clips and memories, but in the diverse paths its family has taken since that final whistle blew in 2023.
