Jim Proudfoot
Encyclopedia
Jim Proudfoot is an English football commentator, who has worked on national radio and television since the late 1990s.
Proudfoot was born in the West Country on 16 December 1972, but moved to the Midlands at a young age. He was educated at Solihull School
.
His professional broadcasting career started in 1991 with the now defunct DevonAir, for whom he was a football reporter and later DJ. Proudfoot subsequently worked as a journalist and newsreader for TFM in the North-East of England before moving to Capital Gold
in 1994, where he was part of the award-winning team headed by Jonathan Pearce
. Later stints followed as a commentator on South Coast Radio
and Xtra AM
in Birmingham
before a move to national radio station talkSPORT
in 1999.
Initially employed as the station's number two commentator behind Alan Parry
, Proudfoot became talkSPORT
's lead commentator in time for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
, a role that he has held for the vast majority of time since. He has subsequently commentated on both the UEFA Euro 2004 Final, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Final for the station, and has long been established as talkSPORT's lead Champions League commentator.
Proudfoot also worked for satellite broadcaster Sky Sports
for a number of years, specialising in commentating on Masters Football (six-a-side football for veteran and ex-players) and youth internationals. However Proudfoot was also one of the commentators on Sky's Premiership highlights programme 'Goals on Sunday' and, from 2004, 'Football First'. In 2006 he followed Sky Sports
colleague Ian Crocker
to Setanta Sports
, where he initially commentated on Italian football but, increasingly, on the Scottish Premier League. Despite being based in Scotland, Proudfoot was also seen on a number of English Premier League games, as well as regularly commentating on FA Cup and England under-21 games. His total of more than 300 matches for the station makes him the most prolific commentator in Setanta's short history.
Following the administration of Setanta Sports's UK division in June 2009, Proudfoot's contract at the company was terminated. In July 2009, he joined ESPN as a commentator, mainly focusing on European football including Bundesliga
and Serie A
, but also domestic competitions from time to time.
Jim was talkSPORT
's principal commentator at the 2010 World Cup, but announced his departure after eleven years with the station to become commentator on Absolute Radio's coverage of the Premier League.
He is a keen follower of Torquay United.
Proudfoot was born in the West Country on 16 December 1972, but moved to the Midlands at a young age. He was educated at Solihull School
Solihull School
Solihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
.
His professional broadcasting career started in 1991 with the now defunct DevonAir, for whom he was a football reporter and later DJ. Proudfoot subsequently worked as a journalist and newsreader for TFM in the North-East of England before moving to Capital Gold
Capital Gold
Gold is a network of oldies radio stations which was formed by the merger of the Capital Gold network and the Classic Gold Network in August 2007...
in 1994, where he was part of the award-winning team headed by Jonathan Pearce
Jonathan Pearce
Jonathan Pearce , is a British football commentator for the BBC.Known for his loud, exuberant commentaries, he has worked for both Radio Five Live and Match of the Day, as well as participating in other lower key sports programmes.- Early life and career :Pearce wanted to become a footballer, but...
. Later stints followed as a commentator on South Coast Radio
South Coast Radio
South Coast Radio was a commercial radio station which broadcast on Medium Wave on the South Coast of England between 1991 and 1998.-History:...
and Xtra AM
Xtra AM
Xtra AM was a United Kingdom radio station which was on the air between 1989 and 1998. It was broadcast to much of Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire and was the 'oldies' station which took over the mediumwave frequencies of both BRMB and Mercia FM...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
before a move to national radio station talkSPORT
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
in 1999.
Initially employed as the station's number two commentator behind Alan Parry
Alan Parry
Alan Parry is a British sports commentator, born and raised in Garston, Liverpool, concentrating on football and athletics. He has commentated for all three main broadcasters of football in the UK - the BBC, ITV and Sky TV, as well as for both BBC and commercial radio.Starting his career at BBC...
, Proudfoot became talkSPORT
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
's lead commentator in time for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, a role that he has held for the vast majority of time since. He has subsequently commentated on both the UEFA Euro 2004 Final, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
Final for the station, and has long been established as talkSPORT's lead Champions League commentator.
Proudfoot also worked for satellite broadcaster Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
for a number of years, specialising in commentating on Masters Football (six-a-side football for veteran and ex-players) and youth internationals. However Proudfoot was also one of the commentators on Sky's Premiership highlights programme 'Goals on Sunday' and, from 2004, 'Football First'. In 2006 he followed Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
colleague Ian Crocker
Ian Crocker (commentator)
Ian Crocker is a football commentator who works for Sky Sports.Crocker originally joined BSkyB in 1997. Prior to his television career, Crocker commentated for Capital Gold in London, alongside Jonathan Pearce and Steve Wilson...
to Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
, where he initially commentated on Italian football but, increasingly, on the Scottish Premier League. Despite being based in Scotland, Proudfoot was also seen on a number of English Premier League games, as well as regularly commentating on FA Cup and England under-21 games. His total of more than 300 matches for the station makes him the most prolific commentator in Setanta's short history.
Following the administration of Setanta Sports's UK division in June 2009, Proudfoot's contract at the company was terminated. In July 2009, he joined ESPN as a commentator, mainly focusing on European football including Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
and Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, but also domestic competitions from time to time.
Jim was talkSPORT
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
's principal commentator at the 2010 World Cup, but announced his departure after eleven years with the station to become commentator on Absolute Radio's coverage of the Premier League.
He is a keen follower of Torquay United.