EXCLUSIVE
Jeff Stelling is Hartlepool’s most famous fan but Premier League club were his first love
Jeff Stelling’s passion for Hartlepool United may have been played out on television for years but the north-east club was not his first love.
The new host of talkSPORT Breakfast lit up living rooms across the country with his infectious on-screen personality and had fans in stitches when celebrating news of Hartlepool’s goals.
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Just as entertaining at times was Stelling’s reaction to the National League club conceding, often leaving studio guests in fits of laughter.
But now Stelling has issued the surprising revelation that he supported Premier League club Burnley as a young boy.
“I used to be a boyhood Burnley fan,” he revealed during his breakfast show on Tuesday.
“They’re not [my team] anymore. I love Burnley. The reason I supported Burnley was because as a kid you used to write to all the big teams and ask for programmes and any free memorabilia and most of them just ignored you completely.
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“But Burnley always sent back a load of stuff. I didn’t even know where Burnley was!”
Stelling's revelation was greeted by another gift from the Clarets on Tuesday when he received a touching video message from former Burnley ace Frank Casper.
He said: "Hi Jeff, it’s Frank Casper, your boyhood hero. I just want to wish you all the best in your new job at talkSPORT. I’m sure you’ll be fantastic and can’t wait to listen to you. All the very best, Frank."
Despite Burnley’s kind gestures to a young Stelling, the legendary broadcaster decided long ago that Hartlepool was where his heart belonged.
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He was appointed president of Hartlepool in 2015 after accepting a request from the club's owners – a position he still holds.
The 68-year-old has been an important figure in raising money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK.
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Stelling incredibly completed 15 marathons in 15 days alongside then Hartlepool Chief Executive Russ Green in 2015 before walking from the club’s home ground Victoria Park to Wembley in 2016.
His efforts helped raise over £800,000 for the charity and Stelling was recognised when he was subsequently named JustGiving’s Fundraiser of the Year.
Listen to Jeff every Monday and Tuesday from 6am on talkSPORT
Ahead of his talkSPORT Breakfast debut, broadcasting royalty Jeff Stelling tests his knowledge and names as many EFL clubs as possible in 60 seconds