Gabby Logan returned to work on Thursday after taking a week away from TV and radio commitments following the death of her father, Terry Yorath.
Former Leeds United and Wales footballer Yorath passed away aged 75 on January 7 following a short illness, promping Logan to leave her hosting role on Match Of The Day early to deal with ‘a family emergency.’
The broadcaster, 52, has since returned to Global podcast The Sports Agents alongside Mark Chapman, who stepped in for Logan following her early departure from Match Of The Day last Wednesday.
And she was back at Global Studios in London’s Leicester Square on Thursday morning, after telling Chapman she’d endured ‘a very emotional few days.’
With torrential rain sweeping across the English capital, Logan was seen sheltering beneath an umbrella as she made her way across the London landmark before entering the studio.
Speaking to Chapman on the podcast as the pair were reunited, Logan said: ‘I’m okay, it’s been a tough week but I’m glad to be back in the saddle, so to speak, after what has been a very emotional few days.
Gabby Logan returned to work on Thursday after taking a week away from TV and radio commitments following the death of her father, Terry Yorath
Former Leeds United and Wales footballer Yorath passed away aged 75 on January 7 following a short illness (pictured with Logan in 1998)
‘Actually, we’re sitting here now having already had our chat with [podcast guest] Robert Smethurst, and some of the things he talks about in terms of football as a community, our family has experienced in bucket loads over the last few days.
‘We have been totally overwhelmed and inundated with messages of love, support and stories about things my dad has done through his career and how he impacted lives.
‘It just highlighted to me how important football is and how it connects people. Sport and football really show up in moments like this.’
Logan also revealed Leeds are set to pay tribute to Yorath, who scored 11 goals in 199 appearances for the club over nine years from 1967, during their home Premier League clash with Fulham at Elland Road on Saturday.
‘But it’s not just those big shows of support actually, it’s these little stories of when fans were really connected to players and about meeting him,’ she added.
‘As you can imagine, it’s been a tough week but thank you to any who have shared their stories because we have been getting a lot of comfort out of it.’
Logan had last week shared a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram to her late father.
The presenter and broadcaster wrote: ‘Thank you for your messages of love and support today, it has meant the world to us. Our Dad a warrior on the football pitch, captaining club and country, a kind hearted and generous man off it, would have hated all the attention. (Well most of it).
Logan was back at Global Studios in London’s Leicester Square on Thursday morning, after telling Chapman she’d endured ‘a very emotional few days’
With torrential rain sweeping across the English capital, Logan was seen sheltering beneath an umbrella as she made her way across the London landmark before entering the studio
Last Wednesday, Logan left her hosting role on Match Of The Day early to deal with ‘a family emergency’ – later confirmed to be the death of her father
‘The stories that have been shared by strangers with us today have been enormously comforting. He touched so many people’s lives.
‘We knew he had limited time, but it is still a shock. Yesterday afternoon [Wednesday] I sat by his bed in St James Hospital Leeds and we had a debate about whether roast potatoes were better with calves’ liver than mashed potatoes.
‘That was the meal he’d decided he wanted when he went home, tomorrow [Friday]. I left and went to work, he was looking forward to watching Newcastle v his beloved Leeds. He won’t go home tomorrow.
‘But he is reunited with Daniel [Logan’s brother who died aged 15] and that will feel like home.
Yorath (pictured in 1973) was born in Cardiff and won 59 caps for the Welsh national side
Logan had last week shared a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram to her late father, including photographs taken on her wedding day
‘I am sorry he had to deal with so much pain, the tragedy of the Bradford Fire was forever in his heart and losing Daniel defined the second half of his life.
‘Thank you Dad for instilling your passion for fairness. Thank you for playing rounders, or making us race each other after dinner, even though Louise always beat me. Thank you for not making me pay you $1,865,986 after I kept losing at cards on double or quits, when I was eight years old.
‘Thanks for teaching me the value of money by challenging me to eat a pot of mustard at dinner in return for £5 so I could buy a pair of shoes I wanted when I was 12 (even though mum was horrified). Thank you for giving me a life long love of sport. Thank you for being a relentless tease with a wicked sense of humour.
‘And to the wonderful staff on J16 at Jimmys who cared for him with such tenderness, you are all Angels. I love you Dad.’
