Stelling is preparing to take the chair as presenter of the iconic Channel 4 afternoon programme Countdown next month – and as Hartlepool United's most high-profile fan, Saturday's second round FA Cup-tie at Fleetwood Town is also uppermost in his thoughts.

Stelling has helped to turn Sky's Soccer Saturday programme into cult viewing, and as the scores flood in this Saturday, he will be keeping a sharp eye and ear open for Hartlepool's progress at Highbury.

He has been an ardent supporter of the North East club for 45 years – and doesn't try to hide that long-standing affinity for the club known as the Monkey Hangers when presenting the Saturday show.

Whenever Hartlepool striker James Brown finds the net, Stelling performs a rendition of I Feel Good – the classic refrain from the singer of the same name – and unveils a dancing model of the American soul star!

Stelling is predicting a win for his men at Highbury but believes there will be goals on Saturday ... probably for both sides.

His support for Hartlepool goes back to the dark days of the 1960s, when they regularly had to go cap in hand to be re-elected to the Football League after finishing rock- bottom.

Stelling, 53, recalls: "In those days, if a side finished bottom they didn't go out of the League automatically, as they do now.

"They had to apply to the other clubs and it was known as an old pals' act. Back then, if Hartlepool were drawn against a non-league team in the FA Cup, the non-league team would invariably start as favourites!

"Thankfully things have changed a lot for the better. We were drawn against a non-league side in the first round last year and beat Gainsborough Trinity 6-0 away, but I'm afraid the days when we can expect to 'nil' other teams have gone.

"We are capable of scoring three or four goals in a game but we also concede regularly. Our defence is decidedly leaky.

"You always view a draw against a non-league side with some trepidation, and we can expect an early bombardment from Fleetwood on Saturday.

"If we can withstand that, then I think we will win, and I am going for a scoreline of 2-1 for Hartlepool."

Stelling first watched Hartlepool when he was eight. They were perennial whipping boys until a certain tyro soccer manager by the name of Brian Clough breezed into the club and transformed them.

A young Stelling worked on the local paper, the Hartlepool Mail, helping to collate the Saturday night 'Green Un' and writing regular articles about the club.

He said: "I didn't cover the matches. That was done by a reporter called Arthur Pickering, who is still writing about the club now, but I got to write feature articles for the football final.

"I moved to Radio Tees, which covered all the teams in the North East. Naturally, I made sure that Hartlepool got more coverage than they had before!"

Stelling has since moved into TV and now is one of the most highly-regarded presenters on Sky Sports.

His beat used to include the World Matchplay darts at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool before he turned his attention exclusively on soccer.
He now presents Champions League and Carling Cup matches as well as Soccer Saturday, which has a bank of ex-pros watching TV sets in the studio and transmitting all the excitement to the viewers as the goals go in.

ITV tried to lure Stelling for their soccer team but he was rewarded with a new Sky contract.

Last week it was announced that he is to be the new face of Countdown, following in the footsteps of the late Richard Whiteley, Des Lynam and most recently Des O'Connor.

Stelling revealed: "The series producer of Countdown, a man called Damian Eadie, was instrumental in me getting the job ... and he happens to be a Blackpool fan!

"So with Blackpool being so close to Fleetwood, he may well be switching his allegiance next Saturday afternoon!"

Stelling is looking forward to a new stage in his varied career.
Popular

"I have not done anything like Countdown before and I didn't fully realise just how popular it was until recently.

"In fact, one of the first calls I got to congratulate me was from the Hartlepool assistant manager Ian Butterworth, who told me that all the team watched the programme and were looking forward to seeing me.

"It is a fantastic job, though I did make it clear that I would not give up Soccer Saturday.

"Sky have been very good with me and have given me some Tuesday nights off to ease my workload."

Stelling says he will have his James Brown doll under the desk on Saturday, primed and ready should his soccer-playing namesake hit the net at Fleetwood.

"A fan jumped out of a car and kindly gave me the doll in Hartlepool, when I was opening a support centre there.

"He told me how much he had enjoyed me singing I Feel Good when James Brown scored and I have had the doll with me ever since."

Stelling is a big fan of Brown – the footballer – and feels he can play a key role on Saturday.

"James Brown is a very good player and was linked with a move to Celtic last season."

It will be worth seeing Stelling's face on Saturday, whether Hartlepool win, lose or draw.

What is certain is that the man who will soon be overseeing Dictionary Corner will not be lost for words!

But it will be Fleetwood fans hoping to dance to their own feelgood tune.