Jon Champion

Jonathan Martin Champion (born 23 May 1965) is a British sports commentator currently working as an association football commentator for ESPN and NBC Sports. Champion is a well-established and experienced commentator who has also worked for the BBC and ITV over the last 20 years.[2] Champion currently covers the FA Cup for ESPN and the Premier League for NBC Sports.

Jon Champion
Born
Jonathan Martin Champion

(1965-05-23) 23 May 1965
Harrogate, England
NationalityBritish
EducationArchbishop Holgate Grammar School, York, University of Leeds (Trinity & All Saints College)[1] (1988)
Occupation(s)Journalist, Television sports commentator, and Pro Evolution Soccer commentator

His late father David Champion was the deputy headmaster of the independent school Bootham School, York. Jon's commentaries can also be heard on the worldwide feed of many Premier League and League Cup matches worldwide.

Early life

Jonathan Martin Champion[3] was born on 23 May 1965[4] in Harrogate, West Riding of Yorkshire.[5]

BBC Sport

Champion joined BBC Sport in the late 1980s and worked as a football commentator on BBC Radio Five Live between 1992 and 1996. He worked alongside Alan Green, Mike Ingham, Ron Jones, Rob Hawthorne, and Jonathan Legard covering Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Football League matches for the network. During this time, Champion commentated on the 1994 and 1996 First Division play-off Finals, and the 1996 UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and Ajax. His fellow commentator on that evening was future ITV colleague Peter Drury.

In 1995, an opportunity arose to further Champion's career at the BBC. John Motson took a three-month break from his role as a commentator on Match of the Day, allowing Champion to be drafted in to cover. Champion spent the whole of the 1995–1996 season combining his Five Live duties with appearances as a commentator on Match of the Day. He was successful enough to move across to TV permanently the following season, after Clive Tyldesley left the BBC and rejoined ITV.

Champion spent five seasons between 1996 and 2001 as a full-time member of the BBC's commentary team, covering edited highlights of the Premier League and the FA Cup, in addition to occasional matches from the UEFA Cup. At the 1998 World Cup, Champion commentated on highlights of England's 2nd Round exit at the hands of Argentina. He also commentated on rugby league Challenge Cup games on BBC television, typically taking the televised Sunday game of each round with Ray French commentating on the Saturday game.[6]

ITV Sport

In the summer of 2000, ITV surprised the BBC with a successful bid for Premier League highlights. This kicked in from 2001 and left the BBC without any regular week-by-week football. Champion therefore moved to join ITV in 2001, and was a regular part of ITV's commentary team for the Premier League, League Cup, Football League, and the UEFA Champions League. He was loaned back to ITV for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012, usually working alongside his ESPN colleague Craig Burley. He returned to ITV Sport for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, where he paired with Ally McCoist.[7][8] The duo was one of the broadcast teams of commentators for Prime Video Sport's UK Premier League coverage.[9]

Setanta and ESPN

In 2007, ambitious new-boys Setanta Sports UK signed up Champion as their lead FA Premier League play-by-play announcer. Champion remained contracted to ITV but was loaned out to Setanta. For two seasons, he thus managed to combine his ITV duties with 'live' matches on Setanta. During the 2008–09 season, Champion was increasingly heard more on Setanta who had also secured rights to the FA Cup. In May 2009, Champion commentated on his first FA Cup Final.[10]

Within a month, Setanta had gone into administration and were forced to relinquish their football rights. These were scooped up by the Disney-owned sports broadcaster ESPN, who rapidly established a brand new sports channel ESPN UK for the U.K. and Ireland and starting broadcasting Premier League football in August 2009. Champion was the natural choice as their lead play-by-play commentator and moved across from ITV permanently. He also commentates on the Europa League and the FA Cup in addition to being ESPN's lead Premier League commentator. On 14 May 2011, he commentated the FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Stoke City with Chris Waddle. He then was loaned back to ESPN for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016 alongside former Arsenal player Stewart Robson.[11][12] Champion now part-time commentates for USMNT friendlies alongside Kasey Keller when lead commentator Ian Darke is not available. From 2019 to 2022 MLS seasons, Champion was named MLS on ESPN and USMNT lead play-by-play commentator and UEFA Euro 2020 #2 play-by-play announcer alongside lead color commentator Taylor Twellman.[13][14] After ESPN/ABC lost MLS rights, he is their lead announcer for ESPN's coverage of the FA Cup and EFL Cup working alongside Stewart Robson or Danny Higginbotham.

NBC Sports

Champion joined NBC Sports on July 11, 2023 to commentate the Premier League for Sunday matches. He will continue his work for ESPN/ABC.[15][16][17]

TV credits

Other media

Champion was the commentator for the first time in the Pro Evolution Soccer series from Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 to Pro Evolution Soccer 2015. He worked alongside analyst and former Irish international Mark Lawrenson from Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 to Pro Evolution Soccer 2010. From Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 to Pro Evolution Soccer 2015, he worked together with analyst from ITV, Jim Beglin. He was then replaced by Peter Drury as the commentator for Pro Evolution Soccer 2016.

World Cup

Champion was selected as a commentator for ITV at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. For the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil he commentated for ESPN/ABC's coverage in the U.S.[11][12] During the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, he was praised for his commentary partnership with Ally McCoist.[7][8]

Personal life

Champion is a supporter of York City F.C.[18]

References
  1. "Leeds Trinity University – Notable Alumni and Famous Faces". Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  2. He has commentated on four FA Cup Finals and six League Cup Finals, as well as numerous games across the Premier League, Champions League and Football League. Gibson, Owen (31 July 2009). "Familiar faces drive ESPN's kick-off on UK screen". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  3. "Jonathan Martin Champion". Companies House. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  4. "Jon Champion". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  5. Lewis, Stephen (8 May 2009). "Capital gains". The Press. York. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  6. "Jon Champion Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  7. "Interview: Jon Champion and Ally McCoist, ITV's cult World Cup commentary duo". The Independent. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  8. "The surprise team of the World Cup? Jon Champion and Ally McCoist". The Guardian. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  9. Simms, George (28 December 2022). "i's guide to the pundits, commentators and presenters for festive football on Amazon Prime". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  10. Metrowebukmetro (29 May 2009). "FA Cup final commentator to Tweet live action from Wembley". Metro. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  11. "ESPN TV Commentators For World Cup 2014". World Soccer Talk. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  12. "ESPN's Darke, Champion to call all Euro 2016 games on site". AP NEWS. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  13. Hofheimer, Bill (10 December 2018). "Renowned British Broadcaster Jon Champion Will Move to the United States as ESPN's New Play-by-Play Voice for Major League Soccer". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  14. "ESPN to have most Euro matches called from Bristol studio". AP NEWS. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  15. Keeley, Sean (28 June 2023). "Report: Jon Champion joining NBC's Premier League coverage, will continue calling matches for ESPN". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  16. "JON CHAMPION JOINS NBC SPORTS AS PREMIER LEAGUE PLAY-BY-PLAY COMMENTATOR". NBC Sports Pressbox. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  17. "Jon Champion named lead NBC play-by-play voice for Premier League". Pro Soccer Wire. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  18. Flett, Dave (2 July 2008). "Donations safeguard City's youth team". The Press. York. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
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