Rays Stubbs and Rebecca Lowe
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Ray Stubbs is the host of ESPN's football coverage, joined by co-hosts Rebecca Lowe and Kevin Keegan. Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Darrell Currie also join Ray and Rebecca on the presenting team. Jon Champion and Derek Rae are ESPN's commentators, with years of top-flight match commentary between them. Jon is assisted by former England footballer Chris Waddle. With a combined broadcasting experience spanning BBC television and radio, ITV, Sky, CNN, Channel 5, Setanta and ESPN, the new signings bring football fans an incredible wealth of sporting knowledge as well as energy and enthusiasm.
Ray Stubbs worked for the BBC for 26 years, presenting and reporting on a number of sports, including football, darts and snooker. He fronted Football Focus from1999 until 2004, leaving to become the presenter of Score on the BBC Red Button (formerly BBCi) as well as Final Score on BBC One. He also presented live matches for the BBC and either worked as a presenter or reporter at all 10 of the major international tournaments from 1990 until 2008.
Rebecca Lowe's rise to fame through the BBC's Talent Search for a football reporter has lead her to work on Final Score, Football Focus and Match of the Day, as well as reporting from the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Kevin Keegan is the lead analyst for ESPN's Barclays Premier League coverage this season. One of the most popular football figures of recent times, the former Newcastle United, Manchester City and Fulham manager will take his seat in the studio alongside host Ray Stubbs. As a player, Kevin Keegan won almost everything there was to win, making 592 club appearances for the likes of Liverpool and Hamburg, scoring 204 goals and twice being named European Footballer of the Year in 1978 & 1979. He made 63 appearances for England, scoring 21 times, and brings a wealth of experience as he casts his critical eye over the Barclays Premier League teams.
Heading up ESPN's Barclays Premier League match commentary as chief commentator, Jon Champion brings with him over 20 years of broadcasting experience, from FA Cup and Premier League matches through to cricket, swimming and rugby.
Chris Waddle, the internationally renowned former England footballer and FA Cup winner, with a playing career encompassing spells with clubs including Newcastle, Spurs, Olympique de Marseille and Sheffield Wednesday, will be a regular commentator alongside Jon Champion. Since retiring, his post-football career has included frequent appearances on BBC Radio Five Live as a summariser at Premier League matches, as well as writing a column for The Sun. Waddle also recently worked with Setanta as a commentator on England away matches.
With previous producing, reporting and presenting roles for Radio Clyde, BBC Scotland Television, CNN International Sport and Setanta, Darrell Currie's experience includes coverage of The Clydesdale Bank Premier League, Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and Magners League Live Rugby.
Sports presenter, journalist, BBC 5 Live anchor and Radio 1 DJ, Mark Chapman has recently presented Match of the Day, anchoring the BBCs live coverage of Italy v Northern Ireland. Mark has also hosted Five's live Serie A coverage, Football Italiano, as well as its weekly football show, Football Night.
Having established herself as one of the main faces of Sky Sports News, Kelly Cates (formerly Kelly Dalglish) also went on to cover the World Cup and European Championships. Kelly's work on television includes coverage of live Premier League and FA Cup matches and, on the radio, Kelly was talkSPORT's first female host and continues to work regularly on BBC Radio Five Live.
Heading up ESPN's Clydesdale Bank Premier League matches, Derek Rae is a former British Sports Broadcaster of the Year, and a hugely popular voice of ESPN, commentating on over 150 football matches a year for ESPN over the last 12 years.
