Gabby Logan has spoken of her nerves as she returned to television presenting for the first time since the death of her father, Terry Yorath, earlier this month. The 52-year-old presenter was back on screen for Amazon Prime’s Champions League coverage of Arsenal’s win at Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Logan had been forced to leave midway through a previous edition of Match of the Day after receiving a phone call about her father, who died aged 75 on January 7. Mark Chapman stepped in, informing viewers that Logan was dealing with a “family emergency”.
Speaking after Tuesday’s match, Logan admitted: “It was a bit of trepidation. The last time I was presenting a football show I received a phone call that has rocked our world. So there were unfamiliar nerves and a bit of trepidation travelling to Milan.” She added that the football community had been supportive and that being back at work felt good, particularly with Arsenal providing a great story.
Logan and her family had attended Leeds United’s home game against Fulham the previous weekend, where fans observed a minute’s applause in honour of Terry Yorath. Yorath, a Leeds legend, played for the club from 1967 to 1976, winning the First Division title in 1973-74 and reaching the finals of the European Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and FA Cup.
In an emotional tribute after his passing, Logan revealed that she had sat by his bedside in St James Hospital, Leeds, discussing food preferences. She noted that he was looking forward to watching Newcastle versus Leeds before he died, and that he is now reunited with her brother Daniel, who died aged 15.
