Gabby Logan broke down in tears as she recalled the time she had to ‘protect’ her late father Terry Yorath because he ‘wasn’t up to it’ as a parent.
The Welsh football player and manager passed away in January at the age of 75 following a short illness.
Announcing his death at the time, Gabby, 52, said she was heartbroken by the loss and wrote: ‘Rest in peace Dad. Our hearts are broken your love and legacy lives on.’
Now, Gabby has shared a very candid admission about her father as she appeared on an episode of the These Three Things podcast on Monday.
Gabby broke down in tears during the chat as she recalled a time in her childhood when her dad missed an important celebration because he was living in Canada and it left her feeling like she had to protect him.
‘That’s a horrible feeling as a child, when you realise that your parent is not kind of up to it on some level,’ she said.
Gabby Logan broke down in tears as she recalled the time she had to ‘protect’ her late father Terry Yorath because he ‘wasn’t up to it’ as a parent
The Welsh football player and manager passed away in January at the age of 75 following a short illness (Gabby and Terry seen in 2001 at her wedding)
Gabby went on to say that she remembers the moment so ‘vividly’ that she wanted to make sure her own children were never put in that position.
She first became emotional during the chat as she recalled the moment she found out that boys at her son Reuben’s school had said nasty things about her to him and he had been staying quiet about it to ‘protect’ her.
Gabby said she was ‘mortified’ as she revealed she wanted to make it clear to her children that it was her job to protect them and not the other way around.
‘That’s a horrible feeling as a child, when you realise that your parent is not kind of up to it on some level,’ she said.
‘I remember my dad asking me to get my mum a mother’s day card. He was living in Vancouver because he was playing there and we were due to follow him, so he hadn’t been home for a few months and he said “It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday, there’s some money next to my bed”.
‘But it wasn’t Mother’s Day. It was Mother’s Day in North America but it wasn’t in the UK.’
Breaking down in tears, Gabby continued: ‘I remember getting off the phone and cry… crying my eyes out because I remember thinking ‘Oh my dad’s like, he doesn’t know”.
‘And I thought he knew everything. And I think I missed him as well.
Now, Gabby has shared a very candid admission about her late dad as she appeared on an episode of the These Three Things podcast on Monday
She first became emotional during the chat as she recalled the moment she found out that boys at her son Reuben’s school had said nasty things about her (Gabby, Reuben and Kenny seen in 2025)
‘I remember my mum telling me I had to stay off school and asking me “What’s wrong with you?” and I said “Oh I’ve got a bad stomach” and I didn’t, I just was heartbroken for him because he felt so out of the loop and he didn’t feel like he was in our family anymore because he’s been living in another country.’
She added: ‘I remember that feeling so vividly and not wanting my kids to feel like they had to protect me.
‘So it was a good opportunity to let him [her son] know he didn’t need to be my saviour, and he didn’t have to keep things to himself.’
Gabby was forced to leave Match of the Day mid-show in January after being informed of a family emergency, hours before the family’s announcement that Terry had died.
The BBC Sport host left midway through the Premier League highlights programme, with her co-host, Mark Chapman, stepping in as a replacement, who explained that she had departed due to a ‘family emergency’.
Mark told viewers: ‘We’ll talk about that game [Manchester City v Brighton] in just a moment, sadly Gabby has got a family emergency which she’s had to rush off and deal with.
‘So she’s gone to do that and I’ve come from the radio to finish the show.’
Terry’s death was announced at 8.20am on Thursday, hours after Gabby was forced to leave Match of the Day mid-show.
He had three children in addition to Gabby – Louise, Jordan and Daniel, but the latter died in 1992 aged 15 from a genetic heart condition while playing football with him.
Terry’s children said in a statement: ‘To most he was a revered footballing hero, but to us he was Dad; a quiet, kind and gentle man. Our hearts are broken but we take comfort knowing that he will be reunited with our brother, Daniel.’
The sporting legend was also described as a ‘devoted family man’ and a ‘loving and immensely proud grandfather to Reuben, Lois, Mila, Phoenix and Paloma’.
‘Everyone at Leeds United is devastated to learn of the passing of club legend Terry Yorath,’ his former club said in a statement. ‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Terry’s family, friends and former team-mates at this incredibly sad time.’
