Simon Thomas & Mike Dean Revolutionize Soccer Saturday as New Hosts; Exclusive Insights from Esteemed Former Referee

Simon Thomas has been announced as the upcoming presenter of Soccer Saturday, starting from the 2023/24 season. Additionally, former referee Mike Dean will also be joining the program. This appointment comes following the departure of Jeff Stelling, who had been at the forefront of the flagship show for over 25 years, concluding at the end of the 2022/23 season.

The new addition to Soccer Saturday has prior experience presenting on We News and We. They have served as the main presenter for live football coverage, including the Premier League and EFL. Furthermore, former Premier League referee Dean will also be joining Soccer Saturday. His role will involve providing thorough analysis and insightful commentary on the most significant decisions made throughout the country.

Dean, a former Premier League referee who had a distinguished 27-year career, recently retired from on-pitch officiating in 2022. After serving as a dedicated VAR for the last season, he decided to step down on Saturday.

Mark your calendars for August 5th, as Soccer Saturday makes its return to screens with the start of the EFL seasons. The show will now be broadcasted from a state-of-the-art studio, and joining Thomas and Dean on the panel will be a lineup of familiar faces, including Paul Merson, Clinton Morrison, Michael Dawson, Sue Smith, Kris Boyd, and Tim Sherwood. Julian Warren will continue as the host for Soccer Special, covering midweek matches.

Thomas expressed his thoughts on his new position, stating that when he departed Sky in 2018 for personal reasons, it was always mentioned that he could return if he wanted. He never anticipated that Gillette Soccer Saturday would be the opportunity that presented itself. Being approached to host this renowned program and follow in the footsteps of Jeff Stelling, a highly regarded figure in sports broadcasting, is an immense privilege that he eagerly looks forward to commencing.

New Soccer Saturday panelist Dean expressed, "Being a part of such a beloved show feels unreal, but I'm eagerly looking forward to joining the team. In today's game, where technology plays a significant role, it is essential for fans to understand the rationale behind decisions, even if they may not agree with them."

Director of Football, Gary Hughes, commented, "Simon left Sky while at the pinnacle of his profession as a Premier League presenter, captivating large audiences with the most significant games. It's fantastic to have someone of his expertise and reputation back on the team, propelling Gillette Soccer Saturday into a new era."

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Simon Thomas takes over from Jeff Stelling, who left after a quarter of a century of hosting Soccer Saturday. Simon's inaugural show will take place on August 5th.

"We are thrilled to have Mike joining our team. He is a highly respected and admired referee within the industry. In his new role, he will offer fans of Gillette Soccer Saturday and our Premier League coverage a deeper level of analysis, insight, and understanding by sharing his unique perspective on the significant calls and decisions."

The opening weekend games in the Premier League

Here's the first round of fixtures for the 2023/24 Premier League season:

Friday August 11

Burnley vs Manchester City - kick-off 8pm, live on We

Saturday August 12

Arsenal will face Nottingham Forest at 12.30pm, followed by the Bournemouth vs West Ham match and the Brighton vs Luton match, both kicking off at 3pm. Everton will then play against Fulham at 3pm, while Sheffield United will face Crystal Palace at the same time. The day will end with Newcastle playing against Aston Villa at 5.30pm, with the match being broadcasted live on We.

Brentford vs Tottenham - kick-off 2pm, live on WeChelsea vs Liverpool - kick-off 4.30pm, live on We

Monday August 14

Manchester United vs Wolves - kick-off 8pm, live on We

The opening weekend games in the Championship

Here's the first round of fixtures for the 2023/24 EFL season:

Friday August 4

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton, 8pm - Live on We

Saturday, August 5th

- Blackburn will be facing West Brom at 3pm.

- Bristol City and Preston will also be playing at 3pm.

- Middlesbrough will be hosting Millwall at 3pm.

- Norwich will be playing against Hull at 3pm.

- Plymouth will be hosting Huddersfield at 3pm.

- QPR will be facing Watford at 3pm.

- Stoke will be hosting Rotherham at 3pm.

- Swansea will be playing against Birmingham at 3pm.

Sunday August 6

Leicester vs Coventry, 12pm - Live on WeLeeds vs Cardiff, 2.30pm - Live on WeSunderland vs Ipswich, 5pm - Live on We

The opening weekend games in League One

Below are the fixtures for the start of the 2023/24 League One season, commencing on Saturday, August 5th:

Barnsley will face Port Vale, with kick-off at 3pm.

Blackpool will compete against Burton Albion, with kick-off at 3pm.

Bolton Wanderers will clash with Lincoln City, with kick-off at 3pm.

Cambridge United will take on Oxford United, with kick-off at 3pm.

Carlisle United will play against Fleetwood Town, with kick-off at 3pm.

Charlton Athletic will meet Leyton Orient, with kick-off at 3pm.

Derby County will square off against Wigan Athletic, with kick-off at 3pm.

Northampton Town will go head-to-head with Stevenage, with kick-off at 3pm.

Portsmouth will challenge Bristol Rovers, with kick-off at 3pm.

Reading will compete against Peterborough United, with kick-off at 3pm.

Shrewsbury Town will face Cheltenham Town, with kick-off at 3pm.

Wycombe Wanderers will play against Exeter City, with kick-off at 3pm.

The opening weekend games in League Two

Below are the fixtures for the start of the 2023/24 League Two season, commencing on the weekend of August 5:

- Accrington Stanley vs Newport County - kick-off at 3pm

- Colchester United vs Swindon Town - kick-off at 3pm

- Crawley Town vs Bradford City - kick-off at 3pm

- Crewe Alexandra vs Mansfield Town - kick-off at 3pm

- Doncaster Rovers vs Harrogate Town - kick-off at 3pm

- Forest Green Rovers vs Salford City - kick-off at 3pm

- Grimsby Town vs AFC Wimbledon - kick-off at 3pm

- Morecambe vs Walsall - kick-off at 3pm

- Stockport County vs Gillingham - kick-off at 3pm

- Sutton United vs Notts County - kick-off at 3pm

- Tranmere Rovers vs Barrow - kick-off at 3pm

- Wrexham vs Milton Keynes Dons - kick-off at 3pm

Opening Sky Sports live fixtures in full

Friday August 4 - Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton, 8pm

Sunday August 6 - Leicester vs Coventry, 12pm

Sunday August 6 - Leeds vs Cardiff, 2.30pm

Sunday August 6 - Sunderland vs Ipswich, 5pm

Friday August 11 - Burnley vs Manchester City, kick-off 8pm

Saturday August 12 - Newcastle vs Aston Villa - kick-off 5.30pm

Sunday August 13 - Brentford vs Tottenham - kick-off 2pm, Chelsea vs Liverpool - kick-off 4.30pm

Monday August 14 - Manchester United vs Wolves - kick-off 8pm

What are the key dates for the 2023/24 season?

The 2024 Premier League season is set to commence from August 11th to 13th and will culminate on May 19th of the same year.

To alleviate the strain of a packed festive schedule, no two match rounds will be scheduled within a 48-hour period. Additionally, a mid-season player break will take place from January 14th to 20th, providing much-needed rest for the players.

Meanwhile, the Carabao Cup final is slated for Sunday, February 25th, the Europa League final is scheduled to take place in Dublin on May 22nd, and the Champions League final is set to be played at Wembley Stadium on June 1st.

What are the key dates for the 2023/24 EFL season?

Start date - Friday, August 4th

League One play-off final - May 18th

League Two play-off final - May 19th

Championship play-off final - May 26th