England commentator Sam Matterface has thanked well-wishers following the funeral of his father Pete.
Matterface had revealed on talkSPORT earlier this month that his father had passed away on Good Friday in ‘sudden and rather shocking circumstances’.
Following the funeral on Wednesday, Matterface posted an emotional tribute to his father on Instagram.
‘Saying goodbye is never easy. Never getting to say those words is even harder,’ Matterface wrote in a caption.
‘Hopefully you understood how much you meant to us Dad.’
Matterface thanked those in attendance at the funeral and well-wishers who have sent messages to offer their condolences in recent days.
Football commentator Sam Matterface has thanked well wishers following his father’s funeral
Matterface paid an emotional tribute to his late father Pete in a post on social media
‘Yesterday, we laid our Dad to rest. A big thank you to everyone who came and paid tribute to him and helped celebrate his life,’ Matterface wrote.
‘We tried to celebrate him, to make it as joyful as possible because he tried to do that for so many.
‘Also, thank you so much for all the messages we have received, they have all been read and we have tried to get back to everyone.
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‘Apologies if we haven’t quite managed it, but every word of support has been appreciated.
‘As a family, we have been very lucky to have so many great people to lean on during this time. Partners, friends, colleagues, kids, old friends, and neighbours. Thank you.’
Matterface, who has been talkSPORT’s lead commentator for 15 years and holds the same role for England matches on ITV, had returned to work just three days after his father’s death.
Addressing listeners earlier this month, Matterface admitted many would have been surprised by his decision to return so quickly, but said that his father ‘would’ve done the same’ as he cited his love of radio.
Matterface shared family photos on social media as he paid tribute to his father
‘Little Pete – as Alan Brazil affectionately nicknamed him on the Breakfast Show – loved Alan, loved talkSPORT and loved radio. I’m sure people will be asking why I came into work today and you might be wondering too,’ he said.
‘But the truth is, he would have done the same and the other reason is that it is important. I’m sure many of you have been in situations like this too and when you’re working and when you’re driving, you’re sometimes happy, sometimes grieving, sometimes lost.
‘I find, and I’m sure you do too, that radio is a constant companion. He introduced me to radio, my dad, and as a painter and decorator it went with him everywhere that he went.
‘He loved the fact I was on talkSPORT, his favourite radio station. Radio was his friend, I hope it’s your friend. And it’s thanks to him that it has always been my friend. And I hope today that it is my brother’s friend, my sister’s friend and his wife’s friend too. Because it’s important.’
