Chris Kamara
Encyclopedia
Chris Kamara is a retired English
footballer. He ended his playing career in 1995 and last managed a club in 1998. He is now a presenter and football analyst on Sky Sports
.
to a father of Sierra Leone
an roots. After serving with the Royal Navy
, Kamara joined Portsmouth
in 1975, beginning a professional footballing career that saw him move between nine clubs, scoring 71 goals in 641 league appearances. The clubs he played for included Brentford, Luton Town and Leeds United - where he won the Division 2 Championship title.
Kamara was the first English player to be convicted of assault
, after breaking player Jim Melrose
's cheekbone with a punch straight after the final whistle in 1988.
Kamara spent short spells as manager of Stoke City
and Bradford City
, which saw him nearly relegated with the former but gaining promotion with the latter. He steered The Bantams to promotion in the 1995-96 season
after winning 2–0 in the play-off final
against Notts County
.
Chris is a great friend of Middlesbrough
chairman Steve Gibson
whom he grew up with on Middlesbrough's Park End council estate. He and Gibson regularly attended matches together.
show and provides additional commentary on some of Sky's
televised matches. He also appears on the Soccer Saturday
programme, where he usually appears over live video link providing brief updates on whichever match he is watching. He is well-known on the programme for his highly excitable nature, propensity for comical gaffes and tendency to come out with unusual sayings that baffle host Jeff Stelling
and the other studio pundits, such as his observation that the Tottenham
players were "fighting like beavers" in their match against Arsenal
. In one of his more famous on-air gaffes, he failed to realise that Anthony Vanden Borre
had been sent off in the game he was watching between Portsmouth
and Blackburn
. He has also coined the popular phrase "Unbelievable Jeff!".
Kamara also guest-stars on Soccer AM
where he brings live link ups hours before games from various stadia. Since the beginning of the 2010-2011 season he has appeared weekly on Soccer AM fronting a challenge sketch titled "Kammy do it". This involves him going on various challenges, at the request of the viewers, across the UK against professionals or other celebrities. So far his activities have included Clay pidgeon shooting, weight lifting and challenging Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle
to a game of table tennis. Kamara was formerly the chairman of the panel which chooses the Football League Championship Manager of the Month
award, but left the role for the beginning of the 2009-2010 season.
Kamara became an Ambassador of the Special Olympics Great Britain
Organisation in April 2011 after taking part in the Special Olympics Unity Cup as a celebrity partner before the Germany v Argentina quarterfinal match in Cape Town, during the 2010 World Cup.
campaign supported by 20,000 people. Cabanga is an African word meaning ‘to think’ or ‘imagine’. Before the World cup UK-based neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis conducted a number of experiments into the field of positive thinking. In the experiments, conducted at Sussex University March 2010, Dr Lewis found ‘Cabanga’ to be a particularly resonant word. Many England fans supported the Facebook campaign in the hope that it could help England win the World Cup.
format. The game is seen as the inspiration for the FIFA Street
series by EA Sports
, this is due to the game allowing you to play on pitches inside of a volcano or on top of a skyscraper. He was also the commentator for This Is Football
2005 along with Peter Drury
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer. He ended his playing career in 1995 and last managed a club in 1998. He is now a presenter and football analyst on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
.
Playing career
Kamara was born in MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
to a father of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
an roots. After serving with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, Kamara joined Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in 1975, beginning a professional footballing career that saw him move between nine clubs, scoring 71 goals in 641 league appearances. The clubs he played for included Brentford, Luton Town and Leeds United - where he won the Division 2 Championship title.
Kamara was the first English player to be convicted of assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
, after breaking player Jim Melrose
Jim Melrose
James Millsop "Jim" Melrose is a Scottish retired professional footballer who played as a striker. Melrose made nearly 400 appearances in the Scottish and English Football Leagues between 1975 and 1990, scoring nearly 100 goals.-Career:...
's cheekbone with a punch straight after the final whistle in 1988.
Kamara spent short spells as manager of Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
, which saw him nearly relegated with the former but gaining promotion with the latter. He steered The Bantams to promotion in the 1995-96 season
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
after winning 2–0 in the play-off final
1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final
The 1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 26 May 1996, at the end of the 1995–96 English league season to determine the final promoted side from the Second Division. Bradford City beat Notts County 2–0 to join Swindon Town and Oxford...
against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
.
Chris is a great friend of Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
chairman Steve Gibson
Steve Gibson (chairman)
Steve Gibson is an entrepreneur and the chairman and owner of Middlesbrough Football Club. He is acclaimed in Middlesbrough for being a local working class man who made good...
whom he grew up with on Middlesbrough's Park End council estate. He and Gibson regularly attended matches together.
Career statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
27 November 1995 | 6 January 1998 | 122 | 40 | 26 | 46 | |
| Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
22 January 1998 | 8 April 1998 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 8 | |
| Total | 136 | 41 | 31 | 54 | |||
Commentator and presenter
Kamara presents Sky Sports' Goals On SundayGoals On Sunday
Goals on Sunday is a British TV Show on Sky Sports 1 that shows highlights and analysis of Premier League and Football League matches. Shown on a Sunday morning, the programme is fronted by Chris Kamara and Ben Shephard...
show and provides additional commentary on some of Sky's
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
televised matches. He also appears on the Soccer Saturday
Soccer Saturday
Gillette Soccer Saturday is a weekly television programme broadcast on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland during the football season. The programme updates viewers on the progress of association football games in the United Kingdom and Ireland on Saturday afternoons. The current host is...
programme, where he usually appears over live video link providing brief updates on whichever match he is watching. He is well-known on the programme for his highly excitable nature, propensity for comical gaffes and tendency to come out with unusual sayings that baffle host Jeff Stelling
Jeff Stelling
Robert Jeffrey "Jeff" Stelling is an English sports journalist and sport television presenter, of Gillette Soccer Saturday for Sky Sports and other programming for the satellite broadcaster. In January 2009 he took over as host of the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown...
and the other studio pundits, such as his observation that the Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
players were "fighting like beavers" in their match against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. In one of his more famous on-air gaffes, he failed to realise that Anthony Vanden Borre
Anthony Vanden Borre
Anthony Vanden Borre is a male Belgian footballer who plays for Racing Genk.-Club career:His natural position is at right back or right winger but he made his debut both for Anderlecht and for Belgium at right back. He can also play as a central defender and as a midfielder where his range of...
had been sent off in the game he was watching between Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
and Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. He has also coined the popular phrase "Unbelievable Jeff!".
Kamara also guest-stars on Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
where he brings live link ups hours before games from various stadia. Since the beginning of the 2010-2011 season he has appeared weekly on Soccer AM fronting a challenge sketch titled "Kammy do it". This involves him going on various challenges, at the request of the viewers, across the UK against professionals or other celebrities. So far his activities have included Clay pidgeon shooting, weight lifting and challenging Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle
Owen Coyle
Owen Columba Coyle is a Scottish-born Irish international former professional player and professional association football manager . He is currently the manager of Bolton Wanderers....
to a game of table tennis. Kamara was formerly the chairman of the panel which chooses the Football League Championship Manager of the Month
Football League Championship Manager of the Month
The Manager of the Month is an association football award that recognises the manager adjudged best for each month of the season in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
award, but left the role for the beginning of the 2009-2010 season.
Kamara became an Ambassador of the Special Olympics Great Britain
Special Olympics Great Britain
The Special Olympics Great Britain was founded in 1978 by Chris Maloney MBE. It was one of the first European programmes of the ....
Organisation in April 2011 after taking part in the Special Olympics Unity Cup as a celebrity partner before the Germany v Argentina quarterfinal match in Cape Town, during the 2010 World Cup.
Change of surname
Before the 2010 World Cup, Kamara changed his name by deed poll to Chris Cabanga in response to a FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
campaign supported by 20,000 people. Cabanga is an African word meaning ‘to think’ or ‘imagine’. Before the World cup UK-based neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis conducted a number of experiments into the field of positive thinking. In the experiments, conducted at Sussex University March 2010, Dr Lewis found ‘Cabanga’ to be a particularly resonant word. Many England fans supported the Facebook campaign in the hope that it could help England win the World Cup.
Computer Games
In September 2000 Chris Kamara's Street Soccer was released on the original PlayStationPlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
format. The game is seen as the inspiration for the FIFA Street
FIFA Street
FIFA Street is a sports video game developed by Alex Shulmann and published by Electronic Arts. It is commentated by MC Harvey of the So Solid Crew....
series by EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
, this is due to the game allowing you to play on pitches inside of a volcano or on top of a skyscraper. He was also the commentator for This Is Football
This Is Football
This Is Football is a football video game series of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe by London Studio. It first appeared on the PlayStation in 1999. Subsequent installments have appeared for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, the most recent being This Is Football 2005...
2005 along with Peter Drury
Peter Drury
Peter Drury, born 1968, is ITV Sport's number two football commentator, a role he has held since joining the network in 1998.A politics graduate from Hull University, Peter began his career as a journalist with Hayters sports agency before joining BBC Radio Leeds in 1990 as a football and cricket...
.
External links
- Photos and stats at sporting-heroes.net
- Chris Kamara's funniest moments