Gabby Logan opens up on ‘tough week’ following death of her father Terry Yorath and thanks fans for messages of ‘love’ after Laura Woods hit out at Richard Keys’ tribute

Gabby Logan has opened up on her ‘tough week’ following the death of her father Terry Yorath.

Leeds and Wales legend Yorath died at the age of 75 last week following a short illness, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the football world.

Logan, 52, has since returned to The Sports Agents podcast alongside Mark Chapman, who stepped in to front Match of the Day last Wednesday after she left the programme during the show to deal with a ‘family emergency’.

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.

‘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.’

Gabby Logan has made the first appearance on The Sports Agents podcast following the death of her father Terry Yorath

Logan has shared an extended tribute to her late father, who passed away at the age of 75

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).

‘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.

Logan had previously shared photographs of herself and her dad from down the years, including at her wedding

Logan also revealed a look into Yorath’s life at home, including him petting the dogs

The star (pictured in 1973) was born in Cardiff and won 59 caps for the Welsh national side

‘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.’

She also shared various photographs of Yorath in day-to-day life, including him spending time with the dogs, working in the kitchen, and speaking at her wedding.

Yorath’s death provoked an outpouring of loving comments as well as a much-derided contribution from former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys, who reignited a longstanding feud with Logan with his tribute.

Keys wrote: ‘Sad to hear the news of Terry Yorath’s passing. He was a warrior & won fans over wherever he played. He was great for us at Coventry & the reason I got Gabby a job at Sky. I had no idea who she was when we met but I knew her dad. RIP Terry. Your daughter did you proud.’

TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods led the criticism of Keys, writing: ‘Sorry… but what a t**t. Said with zero surprise.’ She later added: ‘Also want to add my respects to the thousands of others who are showing theirs compassionately to a much beloved broadcaster and her family. Sending all my love x.’

Logan made no reference to controversy surrounding Keys’ comments during the podcast with Chapman, released on Tuesday.

Born in Cardiff, Yorath played a big part in the Leeds team under Don Revie, winning the First Division title in 1973-74, before spells with Coventry, Tottenham and Bradford.

Yorath received runners-up medals in the FA Cup, European Cup and Cup Winners Cup. The midfielder also won 59 caps for Wales and was assistant coach at Bradford on the day of the Valley Parade fire in 1985, when 56 fans died and 270 were injured.

Yorath also managed Swansea, Bradford, Cardiff, Lebanon, Sheffield Wednesday and Margate – as well as Wales, coming close to qualification for the 1994 World Cup.

His death was announced at 8.20am on Thursday, hours after Logan was forced to leave Match of the Day mid-show after being informed of the family emergency.

He had three children in addition to Logan – Louise, Jordan and Daniel, but the latter died in 1992 aged 15 from a genetic heart condition while playing football with him.

His children said in a statement on Thursday morning: ‘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’.