Former England midfielder Danny Murphy has opened up about losing his pet cat Bob during the World Cup and revealed why broadcast colleagues missed matches through illness.
Speaking to Daily Mail Sport, the 49-year-old commentator explained that the ordeal surrounding his missing feline was far more emotionally turbulent than listeners realised at the time.
Murphy went viral over the summer when he shared three separate stories about his British blue shorthair while co-commentating on World Cup matches for the BBC, leaving the nation bewildered.
Search for missing cat Bob
The saga began when Bob sneaked inside an open Royal Mail delivery van. Murphy admitted he had no idea why the animal climbed inside, guessing the cat might have smelled something in the back of the vehicle.
"God knows why he jumped in the van! The door was open, maybe he smelled something in there," Murphy said. "You never know what's in the back of these Royal Mail vans, do you?"
After a man pointed out where Bob had jumped out of the van, Murphy spent roughly a month driving around the area every day in a desperate attempt to spot his missing pet.
The search also involved distributing posters, which triggered a wave of dishonest phone calls from people seeking financial gain. "You'll be amazed at how many people phone you up and lie to you and give you a load of b******* about where the cat is," Murphy recalled.
Bob was eventually located weeks later, but the animal returned to the house in a feral state and immediately began fighting with his sister, Mary, who also lived with the family.
Rehoming Bob in Preston
Murphy was towards the end of his playing career at the time, playing for either Tottenham Hotspur or Fulham, though he recalled being unable to remember which club he was representing when Bob disappeared.
The aggressive behaviour towards Mary proved unsustainable for the household. "He had a sister called Mary who lived with us as well, who he decided to attack and bully every day," Murphy explained. "There's no bullying in my household. We had to make the painful decision for him to go."
Murphy arranged to rehome Bob with a friend's parents in Preston, Lancashire. Despite the initial distress, he confirmed the story had a happy ending. "He ended up having a great life. I sleep easy about it now," Murphy said, adding that time allowed him to see the funny side of the situation.
The broadcaster confirmed he has not owned a cat since Bob was rehomed, admitting: "I was always more of a dog man."
Murphy reflected on the story while featuring in an advertisement for bookmaker Paddy Power titled "Why the football not?", which highlights the absurdities of football fandom.
Broadcasting career and World Cup intensity
Murphy launched his broadcasting career on BBC's Match of the Day in 2013 while still an active player. He has since become a regular media fixture, working as a pundit on talkSPORT and co-commentator for major international tournaments.
At the World Cup, Murphy co-commentated on 14 matches, an experience he described as exceptionally demanding. "Co-commentary is really intense because you're thinking on your feet, there's no studio where you can plan your analysis," he explained.
Following the intense tournament schedule, Murphy travelled to Greece for a relaxing holiday to recover from the workload.
He also commented on his ITV broadcasting counterpart Andros Townsend, who drew attention during the tournament by following a strict fitness diet of raw meat and sardines to avoid gluttonous takeaway food on away trips.
"I certainly wouldn't be going to Andros' lengths! Even if I did, I certainly wouldn't be telling the world about my eating habits," Murphy remarked.
Risks of dodgy food on away trips
Murphy noted that staying healthy is a serious challenge for commentators working on location, where away trips often lead to unhealthy eating habits. During the first three or four weeks of the tournament, Murphy was paired with commentator Steve Bower, whom he described as being "quite on the fitness buzz."
Although Bower was a positive influence on healthy eating, Murphy admitted there were brief lapses: "Maybe the odd day we'd let ourselves go and get on the beers and eat a load of c***."
However, Murphy maintained strict discipline the night before games when visiting restaurants in unfamiliar cities, avoiding takeaways such as Chinese or Indian meals to reduce the risk of stomach bugs.
He revealed that other broadcasters suffered severe food poisoning after eating unsafe meals. "There were a couple of examples of commentators who missed games because of dodgy food. We spoke to another team who were in bed for a week!" Murphy revealed.
Murphy concluded that eating plain food and getting sufficient sleep directly impacted broadcast quality. "Plain food the night before and decent sleep reflects in your performance. You're not getting names wrong or having blanks. In the football media world, co-comms is the hardest thing to do."
