Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterThere are a few catchphrases from the world of football more ubiquitous than Unbelievable Jeff!The exclamation made famous on Soccer Saturday by footballer-turned-pundit Chris Kamara, a roving reporter for the show famed for his hilarious outbursts is often heard on everything from playgrounds to factory floors.But, as with so many catchphrases, Kamara wasnt even aware it was one until it took on a life of its own. Indeed, one night he tuned into TV in December 2000, with Soccer Saturday still in its infancy, and discovered hed even been saying it in the first place.Unbelievable: "I honestly had no idea Id been saying it"I switched on a Christmas TV bloopers show to be met by my own grinning face, Kamara tells FourFourTwo on behalf of Medichecks, who offer private blood tests and at-home health checks. It was a montage from Soccer Saturday and it was just of me, over and over, shouting, Unbelievable Jeff! at different games. I honestly had no idea Id been saying it, let alone so often. It hadnt even occurred to me.Kammys enthusiastic outbursts were just one element of a weekly football show that had become cult. His catchphrase was one of the funniest parts of a show littered with well-intentioned banter. People loved it so much, he was even honoured in university drinking game. You may like TV ace tells FourFourTwo about starting his career next to Brian Clough Kasper Schmeichel reflects on his career and Leicester City title win following retirement Kevin Keegan: how Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle fell Head Over Heels In Love with King Kev I remember one day, we got a letter to the studio from some students saying theyd been playing a Soccer Saturday drinking game, Kammy smiles. They'd all meet up in the students union and would have to drink every time something specific happened. Theyd drink when Jeff went on one of his rants or when one of the other pundits got a footballers name wrong. Whenever I said Unbelieveable Jeff! theyd have to all down their whole pints.Kamara has partnered with health testing provider Medichecks on a major campaign encouraging men to stop ignoring their symptoms and prioritize their health, following his own diagnosis with speech apraxia following a thyroid issue. Kamara feels his own condition, which affects the way his brain and mouth communicate and has led to slower, more slurred speech, may have been avoided had he been to get checked by a doctor sooner.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."Football fans can spend hours debating who's in the starting eleven, whether the manager got it right or who's coming in during the transfer window, but when it comes to their own health, a lot of blokes go completely quiet, he says.The initiative featured a "Well Man Arms" pop-up pub takeover at the Trent Navigation Inn, using football culture to tackle the alarming statistic that nearly half of men delay seeking medical advice.Backed by Medichecks' research which showed that while 92 per cent of men pester their mates to see a doctor, 47 per cent delay getting help themselves Kamara spearheaded the campaign to challenge the "tough it out" mentality among men. The drive encouraged men to take proactive steps by utilising Medichecks to check for underlying health issues."What struck me from the research is that nearly every man would tell a mate to get checked out if something didn't seem right, but many won't take their own advice, says Kamara. "We're brilliant at looking after our mates, but not always so good at looking after ourselves. I know from my own experience how easy it is to brush things off and think, 'I'll deal with it later', the problem is, later can sometimes be too late."If we can get even a few men to stop putting things off, book an appointment, get a health check or simply talk to someone about something that's worrying them, that's a win in my book."TOPICSMiddlesbroughBradford CityLeague OneChampionshipLeague TwoEd McCambridgeSocial Links NavigationStaff WriterEd is a staff writer at FourFourTwo, working across the magazine and website. A German speaker, hes been working as a football reporter in Berlin since 2015, predominantly covering the Bundesliga and Germany's national team. Favourite FFT features include an exclusive interview with Jude Bellingham following the youngsters move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, a history of the Berlin Derby since the fall of the Wall and a celebration of Kevin Keegans playing career.
