Richard Connelly

The first football league match Richard covered was Bolton versus Tranmere, in December 1999. His line wouldn't connect to the studio - back at base, the ceiling had fallen in so the station was off the air!
Joined BBC Radio Lancashire in 2000, as a sports journalist.
Started at BBC World Service Sport in 2006. Has presented Sportsworld from Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the FA Cup Final and the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana; commentating on the opening game was undoubtedly one of the highlights of his career.
He is an enthusiastic, but an erratic golfer, a five-a-side footballer whose pace has long disappeared, an occasional gig-goer and an extremely amateur actor.

"At Wimbledon in 2008, I was presenting Sportsworld from Centre Court, with one of the finest views in sport, when Sebastian Coe came into the commentary box to be interviewed, a genuine hero of mine. I started asking questions and my mind kept screaming "how on earth did you get here?" Sometimes you do know how lucky you are."

Richard Connelly