Meet ‘new Match of the Day host’ Kelly Cates, who is the daughter of a Liverpool icon and studied maths at university
Share:
KELLY CATES is reportedly set to quit Sky Sports and move to the BBC. The 49-year-old, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman will reportedly share hosting duties of Match of the Day and MOTD 2 next season, when Gary Lineker stands down. Cates has worked for the BBC on and off since 2013, for Radio 5 Live.
She presented iconic fan phone-in show 606 alongside Ian Wright on Sunday's between 2013 and 2018. After joining Sky Sports her role was reduced, but Cates returned to host midweek sports show, 5 Live Sport, mostly on Tuesday's, while she also provided coverage of the 2022 World Cup.
The daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish became a TV presenter at Sky Sports, working on several Premier League shows including Friday Night Live. Sky Sports bosses are reportedly sad to see her leave - but she was understood to be the BBC's leading external candidate to take over from icon Lineker.
It completes a remarkable journey for Cates, who has had an impressive rise in sports broadcasting. It was a role she had no intention of taking when she was at university studying maths!. Kelly grew up with football around her. It was mum, Marina who would take her to games dad Kenny was playing in.
"When I was a baby my mum took me to matches to watch my dad play," she said in an interview with magazine When Saturday Comes. "I don't remember a time when I didn't go to football games – my earliest memories are of being in the players' lounge with the other players' children.".