Tributes pour in after beloved journalist Patrick Barclay dies

Tributes have poured in from the soccer world after beloved journalist Patrick Barclay died, aged 77.

The Soccer Writers’ Affiliation shared an announcement on behalf of Barclay’s household that learn: “It’s with the best unhappiness that we should announce the demise of our expensive Patrick Barclay.”

The FWA added {that a} celebration of Barclay’s life will happen at a later date with full tributes to additionally comply with.

Barclay wrote for the Impartial, Guardian/Observer, Occasions and the Telegraph all through his profession, and likewise penned quite a few books, together with biographies on Jose Mourinho, ‘Anatomy of a Winner’, and Sir Alex Ferguson, ‘Soccer – Bloody Hell!’

Former England internationals Alan Shearer and Robbie Fowler led the tributes for Barclay, who grew up in Dundee and began his profession in journalism on the Dundee Night Telegraph.

Shearer wrote: “Ah no. Such unhappy information. RIP Paddy.”

Whereas Fowler added a put up with a damaged coronary heart emoji: “An excellent man…RIP Patrick.”

The Impartial’s chief soccer author Miguel Delaney stated: “Really one of many legends of soccer journalism, from an period that outlined that description. Paddy had an class about his writing, that mirrored an effervescence of character. There are a number of tales about what an important character he was, that I had the enjoyable of experiencing myself, and he was an especially heat individual.”

Whereas a lot of Barclay’s colleagues replied to the FWA’s put up on X, describing him as “charming, sensible and welcoming to us all” by World Writer of Sport DMG Media Lee Clayton.

Whereas Fulham Soccer Membership added: “We’re so sorry to listen to this unhappy information about Paddy. Our ideas and greatest needs exit to his household and all who knew him.”

Chief sports activities correspondent Matt Lawton stated: “So unhappy to listen to this information final evening. Paddy was a captivating man. The class in his writing for The Occasions and lots of different publications prolonged to the whole lot he did.”

The Athletic’s Senior soccer author Oliver Kay wrote: “Such unhappy information. A beautiful soccer author and all the time such partaking firm. RIP Paddy.”

Lee Parker, Chelsea’s stadium announcer, added: “Extremely unhappy information. A beautiful man with encyclopaedic information, humour and humility. Pondering of his household and associates.”

Adrian Bevington, former Membership England Managing Director at The FA, stated: “Very unhappy information. Paddy was a advantageous author together with his personal distinctive type and that great voice. Nice firm, with a deep information of the sport, he all the time loved a soccer debate and quiz. You’ll be enormously missed Paddy.”