Footy TV commentator Andrew Voss reveals he was just eight years old when a terrible family tragedy struck – and he used it to spur him on to stardom
Fox Sports veteran Andrew Voss has revealed how losing his father as a young boy inspired him to become one of rugby league’s most revered commentators.
Voss, one of Fox League’s most recognisable voices, has been calling football for almost 40 years, and previously worked on games and the Footy Show for Channel Nine.
He explained that his father’s death when he was just eight years old led him to become obsessed with footy and commentary.
‘I’ve since been told, with the benefit of hindsight from psychologists, that you can respond in different ways to massive grief like that,’ Voss told News Corp.
‘One thing for a kid is to attach themselves to something, and I attached myself to rugby league, so it became my life.’
Despite not being around to see his son commentate, Voss’s father also helped the fan-favourite enhance his skills on the mic by handing down a keepsake.
Andrew Voss (pictured working for Nine) has opened up about the effect his dad’s death had on his life after tragedy struck when he was just eight years old
The 59-year-old (pictured) has spoken about how footy became an obsession for him as a child
‘My dad had died when I was eight, but my mum had bequeathed me one thing of his, which was his binoculars,’ he said.
‘I took those binoculars, which were my late father’s, out to the SFS [Sydney Football Stadium] and, with them, called the game – my first on my own.’
The 59-year-old remembers his first taste of live broadcasting like it was yesterday and has reminisced about the pressure he felt to perform.
Although he’d never called a game in full on his own, it was former 2GB star Ray Hadley and veteran radio man John Brennan who gave him his shot.
‘They said, “Andrew, right, here’s your chance. We’re going to get you Friday night; you can call St George Dragons vs Balmain Tigers, seven minutes each way”,’ Voss said.
‘So I’ve basically got 14 minutes to prove myself, 14 minutes to show I have what it takes to make this my career.’
Voss has since carved out one of the most impressive broadcasting résumés in the game.
He has been part of several broadcast teams covering the NRL, commentated on World Cup tournaments, and even been the voice of rugby league video games.
Voss (pictured) now works on Fox League and has been at the network since its inception in 2017
The veteran broadcaster (pictured) is one of the game’s most respected voices
Voss has no plans to retire anytime soon, with the veteran excited about the potential of commentating a match in some of the biggest cities across the globe as the NRL tries to expand its Las Vegas initiative.
‘If Peter V’landys is serious about Dubai, or Japan, Pete, I’m going, I’m your man,’ he said.
‘Footy’s going to PNG? I’ll go as your delegate. I want to call these games and keep ticking them off.
‘I’m still as excited about getting to call a game at Henson Park as I am about going to Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.’
