Now ITV Sport’s lead presenter for horse racing coverage, Chamberlin was Sky Sports’ main football host from 2011 until 2017 where he covered a swathe of iconic matches and moments – especially when it comes to the Blues.
Here are his musings ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side’s fixture with Russell Martin’s.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST SAINTS MATCH YOU PRESENTED?
The first Southampton game I’d ever presented on our return to the Premier League in 2012 was actually at City. I’d love to say I have great memories, but they’re terrible memories of that return. I was so excited about presenting Southampton matches, I had done the job for a couple of years, but that was the first time I had Southampton in the Premier League. It was the opening weekend at the Etihad and we went 2-1 up. It went from being the best day of my life to the worst. Steven Davis scored the second goal and the entire away end turned round and celebrated with me in the studio. I tried not to engage because I tried so hard to stay impartial and just smiled wryly as everyone celebrated. That then turned into despair because we lost 3-2.
WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF SOUTHAMPTON’S START TO THIS SEASON?
It’s still early days and I still don’t think there’s a need for panic just yet. I like what Russell Martin is saying and the belief in what he’s doing. It feels agonising again but I can watch on from afar unlike last time when I was at the heart of it. The intensity is the biggest difference from the Championship. That’s what’s been the shock to the system I think. I loved our Championship season last year, I really enjoyed it. Lots of games and lots of wins. Everything happened at a slower pace and they’ve gone in at the deep end now and the way we play, you can’t afford to make mistakes because you get severely punished in the Premier League.
WHAT WERE YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES FROM THE PROMOTION LAST TERM?
There were so many to be honest. I loved not having VAR. I loved going to games and experiencing that joy. There were so many games and for my 15-year-old who is Southampton mad, he was having the time of his life. I can’t go to Saturday games as I’m working but there were still plenty of games I could go to and then I had never experienced a play-off final before. It was an unbelievable experience. The game was just so intense and the last 20 minutes felt like an absolute lifetime. We went up as if we won a World Cup final, it was the most amazing experience which my son described as ‘the best day of his life’. We loved it.
WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE HOPE FOR SAINTS THIS SEASON?
I think like anyone really - survival and a cup run would be great. We’re a really well-run club these days and I’m more involved with the club now maybe than I was when I presented the Premier League. On the field I think it’s going to be a long and difficult season, I have no doubt about that.
DURING YOUR FOOTBALL PRESENTING DAYS, WHAT WAS IT LIKE COVERING SAINTS?
It was horrendous! If it was the first game then you’d be on air for hours after Southampton has got beaten. If it was the second game you’d still have time afterwards and it was so hard to keep going. You had to keep smiling and the defeats we were having in 2012/13 were absolute agony at times. I remember Jose Fonte nicknamed me ‘the curse’ because I couldn’t present a Southampton win for love nor money at first. That City defeat was the first one I did in August 2012, then I didn’t present a Southampton win until Dusan Tadic scored against Manchester United in a 1-0 win in January 2015. It felt like an eternity. No wonder Jose called me ‘the curse’ because whenever I presented a Saints game everyone would groan and think we’d have no chance. I covered that Manchester United win with Gary Neville and that was one of the best days of my life.
HOW DO YOU VIEW THE MATCH ON SATURDAY?
I always go to City with absolute fear. I was interviewed one year at City Square, it took six or seven hours to get up from Southampton and we were 4-0 down after about 17 minutes. I think we conceded six in the end and it was a long journey home, but a great experience. I look at this weekend’s trip not too dissimilarly, it’s such a difficult but special place to go because City are going through such a brilliant era with such a brilliant manager. There’s a lot of trepidation there. I’d like to think we can get something, but it’s highly unlikely. We’ll put a shift in and make life difficult for them, though. Flynn Downes is the type of player you want to play against City to protect the defence and we may offer a threat on the break with our wide players and a bit of pace. But from previous experience it’s not a trip I’m particularly looking forward to.
WHICH CITY MOMENTS FROM YOU CAREER STANDOUT?
There are countless, the first would be my first-ever Monday Night Football in 2011. Gary Neville and I thrown in on Monday night, I’d never been so nervous before in my life. I looked at him for reassurance and he said ‘Ed, I’ve haven’t been this nervous since standing in Wembley’s tunnel at Euro 96’. To be honest it didn’t all go to plan that evening. We were both petrified, but it was Sergio Aguero’s debut against Swansea and the evening culminated in one of the most infamous interviews of all time with Gary Neville speaking to Roberto Mancini. It was slightly car crash television, but we got through it. I’d like to think we got better from there!
AND YOU PRESENTED THE 93:20 GAME AGAINST QPR TOO?
When I’m asked about my greatest moments in broadcasting I would probably say two. One would be when Rachel Blackmore won the Grand National, the other undoubtedly would be the Aguero moment. What a privilege to have presented that. Arguably one of the most dramatic days in sporting history, let alone Premier League history. I remember so much of it so vividly. I’d thrown away my City notes, everything was about United somehow winning the title and then Gary said ‘no, Ed something’s happening’. How right he was because City scored through Edin Dzeko then that incredible moment. What an honour to be there let alone be presenting it. Graeme Souness was speechless, Gary Neville was furious obviously! Hopefully it was just great telly, great sport.
HOW DO YOU THINK PEP HAS INFLUENCED THE ENGLISH GAME?
The biggest form of flattery is when so many people try to imitate you. There are endless coaches, not just in the Premier League, but around the world trying to emulate what Pep’s doing. He’s transformed the way football is played for so many reasons. In racing which I present now, we’ve got Aidan O’Brien and there are many similarities between him and Pep Guardiola. Both geniuses in their own right. Both build incredible teams, surround themselves with great people on and off the pitch and know the importance of a team ethic. Pep is so similar in the way he builds. He puts an emphasis on character as much as ability.
FINALLY, HOW DO YOU SEE THE MATCH PLAYING OUT?
I go to City with a mixture of fear but also the feeling we’re also playing against one of the great Premier League sides of all time. I hope it doesn’t play out like the time I was there and Saints lost 6-1. I don’t think it’s in Russell Martin’s nature to go there and pack everyone behind the ball and we’re going to have to soak up a lot of pressure and cause a few problems on the break. We’ve got a lot of heart so hopefully we can come away with our heads held high. History makes me fearful. It’s important to say this, whatever happens at City won’t decide our season and with Saints, we’ve got the character to bounce back if it does go wrong. We’ve shown it numerous times over the past few years. We have character in abundance.
