Bill Leslie
About
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Bill Leslie: Renowned Football Commentator
Broadcasting Career
Bill Leslie is a highly respected British football commentator, known for his extensive work across multiple platforms. He began his career at Capital Gold in London, where he initially worked as a football reporter and secondary commentator. After Jonathan Pearce’s departure to the BBC in 2002, Leslie stepped into the lead commentator role, marking the beginning of his rise in football broadcasting.
His first foray into television commentary came in 2002 when he covered the UEFA Under-21 Championship for Channel Five. This experience helped pave the way for his successful transition to Sky Sports in 2003, where he began covering UEFA Champions League matches.
Sky Sports and Key Roles
Leslie played an instrumental role in launching Football First in 2004, Sky Sports’ matchday show that featured live coverage of the Premier League. His debut on the show came with the first “Game of the Day,” covering the match between Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic at the start of the 2004–2005 season.
In 2006, following Ian Crocker’s move to Setanta Sports, Leslie became Sky’s principal commentator for Football League coverage. He also contributed to Sky’s coverage of Scottish football, where he commented on Scotland’s home matches, the Scottish Cup, and various other key fixtures including the 2007 Scottish Cup Final and Scotland’s memorable home victory over France in the same year.
Premier League and UEFA Coverage
Leslie’s first live Premier League commentary for Sky came in the 2004–2005 season, when he covered a match between Birmingham City and Aston Villa. His first commentary of the Premier League season was the Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion match. Over the years, Leslie has commented on numerous high-profile Premier League games, establishing himself as a leading voice in football commentary.
In addition to his extensive coverage of the Premier League, Leslie has also been the voice behind Celtic’s UEFA Champions League matches, having commented on all of their games in the competition, with the exception of those involving Manchester United.
Current Role
Today, Leslie is a lead commentator for Sky Sports‘ Premier League and EFL Championship coverage, continuing to be a staple voice for football fans across the UK. His distinctive commentary style and passion for the game make him a popular figure in British football broadcasting.
With his wealth of experience across multiple leagues and competitions, Bill Leslie remains one of the most respected commentators in the football world.