by Fox Soccer Channel

Updated: August 17, 2007, 12:12 AM EST

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Gary Richards

After serving as lead color commentator on Fox Soccer Channel's Italian Serie A broadcasts last season, former English professional player Gary Richards continues in that role in 2007/08, while also providing expert analysis on FSC's new live studio show, Super Sunday +.

Gary or "Gazza" as he's known to the many listeners of his Champions Soccer Radio Network show The2 G's has been around football his entire life. This ex- pat began playing in parks at four years old, where his uncle was the head coach and drive behind a local club called Langley Zebras which groomed countless kids for the big leagues.

Gary's passion and talent led him to sign with Hounslow Town, just west of London, which also had a habit of producing talent for teams further up the chain. Queens Park Rangers came knocking, and after several try outs and reserve games Gary was preparing to hit the big time at age 19 when a series of severe knee injuries cut that dream short.

After stints with Reading and Wycombe Wanderers, Gary arrived in Los Angeles in the early 1980s. He immediately hooked up with ex-players, singers and movie stars while playing with an amateur club called the Exiles. The Exiles' best-known player is legendary rocker Rod Stewart.

In the 1990s Gary founded a popular English-style pub, The Fox and Hounds, which was the destination for football lovers in Southern California.

Gary now finds himself happily ensconced with his 18-month-old start-up company Champions Soccer Radio Network, dedicated to soccer talk around the clock. It's a dream project he's developed from the ground up with his partner Graham Bell. The 2 G's — which he co-hosts alongside Bell — airs live every weekday from 12-1:00 p.m. on the Sports Byline USA radio network.