Ben Shephard says he’s “incredibly proud” of Chris Kamara following MBE news

Ben Shephard said he was “incredibly proud” of his pal Chris Kamara after the legendary soccer star received an MBE in the New Year Honors list.

The ITV presenter, 48, tweeted a sweet selfie of himself with the former Sky Sports pundit, 64, and explained how the honor was “well deserved” after his “tough year”.

The former Bradford and Stoke footballer and manager was recognized for his services to football, charity and anti-racism.

‘So incredibly proud’: Ben Shepherd gushed about pal Chris Kamara on Twitter on Friday as the legendary soccer star received an MBE in the New Year Honors list

Ben put an arm around Chris in the throwback photo as he gushed how Chris “never stopped supporting charities” while suffering from speech apraxia.

He wrote: “So incredibly proud that @chris_kammy has been awarded an #MBE. Despite such a difficult year personally, he has never stopped supporting the charities and causes he believes in.

“It’s so totally deserved – and yes, he already insists I bow/salute whenever I see him! #kammy’.

‘It’s so totally deserved’: The ITV presenter, 48, shared a sweet selfie of the couple as he gushed how ‘incredibly proud’ he is of the 64-year-old Sky Sports pundit

Congratulations! The former Bradford and Stoke footballer and manager was recognized for his services to football, charity and anti-racism

Chris revealed the exciting news of his MBE on Twitter earlier that day and thanked everyone for their support.

He wrote: “The news is out there now and would you believe it. I received an MBE for services to football ⚽️ charity and anti-racism work.

“The scruffy child of the Boro would like to thank everyone for the support you have all given me. You really are incredible.”

‘Despite such a tough year personally’: The Tipping Point host gushed about how Chris ‘never stopped supporting charities’ while suffering from speech apraxia

There was a huge outpouring of support for Kamara on social media when he went public with his diagnosis of Apraxia of Speech (AOS).

It was the end of an era for Chris as he quit his Sky Sports jobs after 24 years at the end of last season due to illness.

AOS can make it difficult to pronounce words correctly and often led people to think Chris was “drunk” due to his slurred speech.

He said he feels “as a fraud” as a broadcaster after learning earlier this year that he had the condition.

Exciting: Chris revealed the exciting news of his MBE on Twitter earlier that day and thanked everyone for their support.

Earlier this month, a documentary titled “Lost For Words” aired about Kamara coming to terms with the illness.

Apraxia is a neurological condition that affects the body’s ability to perform natural motor functions, with many sufferers developing speech problems.

He was also diagnosed with an underactive thyroid last year and has retired from most of his broadcast roles due to the problem.

The Middlesbrough-born presenter left Sky due to the demands of live broadcasting but continued to work for ITV on a range of recorded television programmes.

So sad: There was a huge outpouring of support for Kamara on social media as he made his diagnosis of Apraxia of Speech (AOS) public and withdrew from presenting

Kamara has struggled to overcome his language issues and recently returned to screens to co-host The Games and Ninja Warrior UK.

Fans initially worried for the expert when they noticed he was slurring some of his words when covering matches live, with Kamara eventually revealing he had been dealing with the issue for two years.

Born in Middlesbrough, Kamara is of Sierra Leonean, English and Irish descent. She served in the Navy before coming to Portsmouth for the first of two terms.

Work: The Middlesbrough-born presenter left Sky due to the demands of live broadcasting but continued to work for ITV on a range of recorded television programmes

He made over 200 appearances at two Swindon stations and also played for Brentford, Stoke, Leeds, Luton, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Bradford.

He also led the Bantams to promotion to today’s championship in 1996.

Kamara’s MBE recognized his contributions to football, charity and anti-racism.

He spoke in 2020 about how a Wetherby pub had refused to serve him on the way back to Portsmouth after he played for Pompey in 1975 because of the color of his skin.