Bob Hall: Tributes as beloved ITV and Sky Sports presenter dies

Breakfast presenter Bob Hall worked in television for decades

Tributes have flooded in following the death of veteran sports reporter Bob Hall.

Over a career spanning four decades, Mr Hall became a well-known and respected sports journalist in the Midlands.

He was best known for his reporting at ITV Central, Sky Sports Soccer Saturday and Black Country Radio.

Midlands football clubs led tributes online to Mr Hall, who they described as a "respected figure in the press bench".

Coventry City FC said he had "covered the Sky Blues for many years, including the 1987 FA Cup Final" and passed on condolences to his family.

Burton Albion FC said Mr Hall was "often at the Pirelli Stadium in recent years covering Brewers games and was a warm friendly, respected figure in the press bench".

'Hugely respected'

"I'm truly saddened to hear about Bob's passing," said Sky Sports director of football, Gary Hughes.

"I grew up watching Bob on Central Television - he was a hugely respected broadcaster with one of the great voices in the industry.

"A consummate professional, Bob was a highly valued member of the Sky Sports family and he will be sorely missed by all."

ITV Central, where he worked from the 1980s, said he was "quite simply a brilliant broadcaster, most at home in front of a camera and microphone".

"He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of our region's sport and a wonderful warm and eloquent delivery which connected directly with the viewers," head of news Liz Hannam said.

"He was also a fabulous colleague, always helpful, caring and generous. He will be much missed."

Midlands broadcasters also shared their condolences following the news of his death.

The BBC's Nick Owen said it was "shocking news" and "terribly sad", and presenter Joanne Malin recalled "lots of fun together" as colleagues at ITV Central.

In 2015, Mr Hall was announced as a breakfast presenter for a new local TV channel in Birmingham - Big Centre TV.