Gary Newbon

With more than forty-five year's experience as a sports speaker, broadcaster and journalist Gary Newbon has covered some of the most thrilling football games of the last few decades, interviewed some of the biggest names in sports and borne witness to some of the most notorious moments in Britain’s sporting history. Born in Cambridgeshire Gary Newbon began his journalistic career as a junior reporter in his home town, however, he quickly made the move into sports journalism and began working as a freelance journalist in London’s publishing district, Fleet Street, where he covered tennis and rugby union stories. From here Gary quickly carved out a niche for himself within the industry and, by the early 1970’s, Gary had secured a position at ATV working under former England Captain and then Controller of Sport, Billy Wright.

As part of a small but elite team of sports speakers Gary presented all the sports coverage for ATV’s ATV Today programme and, following Wright’s retirement, found himself Controller of Sport (West Midlands). From here Gary moved on to work for Central Television, where he was the football speaker and preferred host for darts and boxing matches. Gary Newbon is probably most well-known for the time he spent as a football speaker and host for ITV Sport. Doing this for more than 35 years, Gary reported on football matches, interviewed players, led discussions with fans and questioned managers for ITV as well as presenting the sports news for the broadcasters news programmes.

It was during his time at ITV that Gary found himself in the midst of some of the most infamous and memorable moments of his career, including 'that kiss' from the late Brian Clough after the Everton v. Nottingham Forest game. Since September 2004 Gary has been working as a television presenter with Sky Sports, presenting shows such as Sporting Heroes, Time of Our Lives and You Are on Sky Sports. As well as working as a football speaker for the broadcaster Gary also continues to present live boxing events. During his long and prestigious career Gary has covered seven World Cup football finals, three Olympic Games, both national and club European Champions football and numerous world boxing championships.

Alongside his work as a football speaker, Gary has also covered both speedway and greyhound racing as well as presenting a number of radio programmes for talkSPORT. Gary’s talents extend beyond those of a radio and television presenter, he has held a number of executive roles at some of Britain’s biggest broadcasting companies, serving as both Controller of Sport for Central Television for 23 years and Deputy Head of ITV Sport. Known for his ability to cultivate and nurture the talents of others Gary Newbon helped to kick start the careers of some of the biggest names in contemporary sports journalism including Jimmy Greaves who began his television career with Gary on ATV in 1980, not to mention Manish Bhasin, Sarah-Jane Mee and Mark Bolton. During his time as a sports speaker, Gary Newbon has presented over 10,000 TV programmes, conducted some of the most impressive interviews and hosted some of the most popular phone-in programmes of the last twenty-five years.