Hitchin Town steward finds his long-lost father is legendary US boxing commentator Bob Sheridan

A British non-league football steward who was adopted as a baby has learned aged 40 that he is the sole heir to a £200million fortune after discovering his long-lost father is legendary American boxing commentator Bob Sheridan.

Simon Edwards, a supporter of Hitchin Town in Hertfordshire who lives with his adoptive parents, made the incredible discovery about his birth parents after tracking down extended family in Galway, Ireland. 

The 40-year-old contacted Mr Sheridan, the Boston-born journalist who covered the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974 and is nicknamed ‘The Colonel’, via an agency just as the celebrated boxing and  commentator laid his wife to rest. 

The father-of-two, who also volunteers as a cricket steward at Lords, now speaks with his famous father every day and is due to fly to Las Vegas to visit his plush £145m mansion, and now calls himself ‘The Colonel Jr’.  

Furthermore, Simon has been inundated with messages of support from celebrities including Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie. 

His birth father told The Sun: ‘The first time I spoke to him I knew he was my boy. He sounds like me, he talks the same way as me. It’s just been such a blessing, I can’t wait to meet him and take him to meet my brother’s family in Boston.’  

‘It is an inspiration in life for me. They took away my wife and the same day they gave me my long-lost son. I had no idea this boy existed’. 

Simon Edwards, who was adopted as a child, found out the truth about his birth parents after tracking down extended family in Galway, Ireland

Sheridan, pictured with Mike Tyson, has covered more than 10,000 fights including 100 heavyweight title bouts

The commentator, known for his booming baritone that has made him one of, has covered more than 10,000 fights including 100 heavyweight title bouts. 

Mr Edwards has discovered that his birth mother Rosemary, who died in 1985, was from County Clare in the west of Ireland. The hotel worker met Mr Sheridan while working in a hotel where was staying on holiday.

The boxing commentator insists he didn’t know she became pregnant while his secret son said: ‘Being unmarried and from a Catholic family in those days, she put me up for adoption’. 

He was put up for adoption in east London via a Catholic agency and adopted British Aerospace scientist Mike Edwards and his wife Sue, a healthcare worker, took him in and he still considers them to be his ‘real parents’.

Simon, a cost controller who also works part-time as a steward for Hitchin Town FC in Hertfordshire, has  

He told his local newspaper the Hitchin Comet: ‘My adopted parents are from Irish and Liverpool backgrounds, and I grew up in Hitchin. I hadn’t really looked at getting in touch with my birth parents.

‘I took a trip to Galway in 2019, and it was through a genealogy site I tracked some family down.

‘My birth mum passed away in 1985, she had nine sisters and one brother – huge family out there – and they filled me in. It was a lovely trip, they really accepted me as part of the family.’

It was then he learned his father was a famous multi-millionaire who had just become a widower.

He said: ‘I just emailed him to say I was sorry for his loss. From there, he asked for my number and we have been speaking on the phone every day.

‘To other people it must seem amazing that this famous person is my dad, but for me it’s amazing to just know who my dad is and be in touch with him.

‘I’d probably still be as blown-away if he was a plumber from down the road.’

He is now heading to the United States to meet his birth father.  

‘All of a sudden all these superstars who are friends of his want to meet me,’ he said.

‘I went to Irish professional boxer Steve Collins’ house, and it turns out he knew my mum as well, and have had other big names get in touch.

‘Bob’s sent me some tickets to go out to Vegas for his birthday in June. From there, I’ll be flying all over America.

‘It’s all very exciting – but I’m trying to take it all in my stride. My mum and dad here are over the moon – they’ve always said if I wanted to find them they would be behind me.’ 

The 40-year-old contacted Bob Sheridan (pictured), who covered the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974, via an agency just as the commentator laid his wife to rest

Simon has now adopted the nickname Colonel Jnr as he continues to bond with his father, who confirmed the relationship by DNA.

As The Colonel, given the nickname due to his rank in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, didn’t have any children with his wife, Simon is set to be entitled to inherit his entire fortune.

Sheridan now says he is looking forward to meeting his new grandchildren, Keira, nine, and Scarlette, four.

The commentator, known for his booming baritone, has covered more than 10,000 fights including 100 heavyweight title bouts.