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"Actually, I was a bit nervous" | John Giles on his TV punditry return

John Giles, Liam Brady and Eamon Dunphy were back on TV again as a punditry trio this week. They ...



Soccer

"Actually, I was a bit nervous" | John Giles on his TV punditry return

John Giles, Liam Brady and Eamon Dunphy were back on TV again as a punditry trio this week.

They are covering some the Premier League games over the festive period with Premier Sports.

The trio had previously worked together as a panel on RTE from 1998 until 2016.

John joined Off The Ball as always on a Thursday and he told Richie McCormack that he had felt a little bit nervous.

"Well, it was three years since I was on [TV]. Actually, I was a bit nervous before the programme," he said.

"I think it worked out okay. From what I can hear, it got a good response which was good.

"But like I said, it was three-and-a-half years since I was doing it and definitely I was a little bit nervous. Once I got going I was okay. It was just the lead-up to it - I hadn't done this for a while."

Paul McGrath

Speaking of TV, John also shared a Paul McGrath anecdote. His fellow Ireland legend turned 60 this week, leading to a deluge of tributes.

John described him as a "terrific lad" before recalling the time he persuaded McGrath to join for a spot of TV punditry.

"A few years ago, I think Eamon and I were on," he said.

"He came in with a friend of his just to have a look around. And I said, 'Why don't you come on with us tonight?'

"He's a very shy lad and he said, 'I couldn't do that'. But I said, 'Look, Eamon and I are there, Bill [O'Herlihy]'s there, if you get stuck it will be okay'.

"He came on and he was brilliant. He's a very articulate lad and a very, very intelligent lad with a really good knowledge of the game."

You can also watch the full chat with John Giles below via our YouTube channel.


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Eamon Dunphy Football John Giles Liam Brady Off The Ball Premier League Premier Sports