Sky Sports pundit and former footballer Chris Kamara is going on tour for the first time, in a stage show where he talks about his life and career, as well as his very recognisable work on the television.

'The Unbelievable Chris Kamara Show' comes to Portsmouth on 24th April, too, as the former Pompey star heads back to where it all began for him as a footballer.

Joining from the Navy, Kamara would go on to feature for several big names in the English game but it all began on the south coast, and we were lucky enough to catch up with him to look back on his early days in the sport.

Speaking to Football League World exclusively, Kamara reflected on his time there:

"It was amazing for me, it was absolutely brilliant.

"I always wanted to be a professional footballer but my dad made me join the Royal Navy. I had the chance of being an apprentice at Middlesbrough but he took me down the recruitment office and made me sign on the dotted line. So, at the time, he wasn’t my favourite person!

"Looking back, though, it was probably the best thing that could have happened. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t taken that course in the Navy, been sent to Torpoint where I did my initial period and then playing against Portsmouth youth team where I scored a few goals against them and with Ray Crawford buying me out of the Navy."

Switching from serviceman to footballer isn't the sort of transition you see at all in the modern game, and for Kamara in the 70s it was an experience that, similarly, had its testing moments.

He explained:

"It wasn’t an easy transition. We’re talking 1974 so you can imagine what it was like for various different reasons. At that time a lot of Navy people went to Portsmouth games but we were all called skates." (Skate is an abusive term originating from Portsmouth, a dismissive one aimed at Royal Navy sailors based in the city.)

"You went out in the town and as much as it was a naval town there was still a little bit of resentment and you add to the fact the colour of my skin at that moment in time, things were sometimes difficult.

"But I have to say overall it was absolutely fantastic for Ray Crawford to convince Ian St John to get me out of the Navy.

"The Navy sent my dad a latter just to say that if the move doesn’t go well they’d take me back so he was satisfied and so then to make my debut less than six months after joining the club against Luton and playing up front alongside George Graham was a dream come true really."

Chris Kamara is at Kings Theatre, Portsmouth on 24th April with 'The Unbelievable Chris Kamara Show,' get your tickets here.