‘It couldn’t get any better’: Sky Sports’ Simon Thomas finds new fan in Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds on his first day helming Soccer Saturday – as fans praise ‘great choice’ replacement for legendary host Jeff Sterling
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Simon Thomas, the new presenter of Sky Sports’ iconic results service Soccer Saturday, has found a new fan in Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds as he took the helm of the show for the first time.
The Deadpool actor filmed a personalised message for Mr Thomas as he wished him good luck in his new role – but offered to ‘fight it out’ later after hearing the pundit is a Norwich fan.
The ex-Blue Peter presenter replaces Jeff Stelling after 25 years in the hot seat and humbly admitted he will be ‘happy if does even half the job’ that the legendary host did during his time on the show.
It came on the same day that Reynold’s club Wrexham played their first League Two game after promotion into the top four tiers of football for the first time in 15 years.
Reynolds invited his ‘frenemy’ Hugh Jackson to watch the match alongside co-owner Rob McElhenney, and he sent the special message to Mr Thomas from the club’s stands.
Reynolds said: ‘Good luck on your first day Simon. I hear you’re a Norwich fan.
‘I brought Hugh Jackman today, who also likes Norwich, so you have company. We’ll be happy to fight it out later though.’
Thomas looked thrilled as the camera panned back to the studio, saying: ‘My work is done. Couldn’t get any better, hey?’
He added that co-owner of Wrexham AFC Rob McElhenney had sent him a message but ‘we couldn’t broadcast it’ because it was ‘a little naughty’.
A smiling Hugh Jackman reunited with co-star and ‘frenemy’ Ryan Reynolds as they watched Wrexham’s first match back in the English Football League on Saturday.
The Wolverine actor, 54, accompanied fellow movie star Reynolds, 46, as his football team slumped to a 3-5 home defeat against MK Dons at The Racecourse Ground in Wales after being promoted to League Two back in April.
The actors, who co-star in the upcoming Deadpool 3, are currently striking amid the SAG/AFTRA labour dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Reynolds and Jackman are famously involved in a fake feud which is believed to have its origins from them co-starring in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Introducing the programme for the first time in his new role, Thomas made reference to the ‘large boots’ he had to fill this season.
He told viewers: ‘It’s a new season, we have new managers, new players and there’s a bit of a new feel as you might have already seen to Soccer Saturday.
‘We have a new studio, a new look, but hopefully everything you still love about this terrific show.
‘Now, before we go any further I just want to say this, over the last couple of weeks, one or two people said “you’ve got some rather large boots to fill”.
‘I have not brought the boots today. I have brought my own shoes, a nice comfortable pair of size 10 leather brown shoes.
‘But I want to say this, it is an absolute honour to take on the role of hosting this quite brilliant show and if I can do even half the job that the legend Jeff Stelling did over the last 25 years, I will have done something right.’
The camera then panned out to reveal the new modern studio as Thomas introduced his panel for the opening show; Paul Merson, Clinton Morrison, Neil Lennon, Sue Smith and Michael Dawson.
Thomas’ appointment will no doubt be popular among colleagues and fans. The 50-was previously one of Sky’s main Premier League presenters before stepping away from the role following the tragic death of his wife six years ago.
He saw off stiff competition from other Sky presenters Caroline Barker and Jules Warren to secure the role and looks to be settling in nicely as the new host.
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