Patrick Barclay (15 August 1947 – 12 February 2025) was a British journalist and sportswriter.

Background

Patrick Barclay was born on 15 August 1947, in London; his father was Hungarian-born actor Guy Deghy.[1][2][3] He moved to Dundee at the age of 4, where he was raised by his mother.[1][3] Barclay was educated at the High School of Dundee.[4]

Patrick is survived by two children, Jennifer and Duncan. [1] He died on 12 February 2025 at the age of 77.[1][5]

Career

Barclay started his reporting career with The Guardian in the early 1970s.[6] When the newspaper The Independent was launched in 1986, he was appointed its first football correspondent.[7] He joined The Observer in 1991, and became football correspondent of The Sunday Telegraph in 1996.[8] He held the post for 12 years.[9]

Barclay joined The Times in February 2009 as its Chief Football Correspondent to replace Martin Samuel, who was joining the Daily Mail.[9] Thus, Barclay became one of the few journalists to be the main writer for his discipline for all four quality newspaper groups in England: Times, Guardian-Observer, Telegraph, and Independent.[citation needed] Barclay left The Times in December 2011 due to cost-cutting measures.[10] In January 2012, he started writing for the London Evening Standard.[11]

Barclay was a regular guest on the Sky Sports programme Sunday Supplement,[12] and LBC 97.3's Saturday sports show "Scores".[citation needed]

Books

Barclay wrote a biography of the Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, entitled Football – Bloody Hell!.[13][14] The book was published in October 2010.[13][14] He also wrote a biography of the former Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman entitled The Life and Times of Herbert Chapman: The Story of One of Football's Most Influential Figures [15] and a biography of José Mourinho.[16]

List of publications

  • Mourinho: Anatomy of a Winner (2005) ISBN 9780752873336
  • Football-Bloody Hell!: The Biography of Alex Ferguson (2010) ISBN 9781407084718
  • The Life and Times of Herbert Chapman (2014) ISBN 9780297868507
  • Sir Matt Busby: The Definitive Biography (2017) ISBN 9781785032066

References

  1. ^ a b c d Engel, Patrick (16 February 2025). "Patrick Barclay obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  2. ^ Mosley, Charles, ed. (2006). People of Today. Debrett's People of Today. Debrett's. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-870520-32-4. OCLC 1244598421.
  3. ^ a b Nicolson, Eric (2 February 2018). "Patrick Barclay back on home turf for Sir Matt Busby book event". The Courier. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  4. ^ Scarlett, Lucy; Eighteen, Stephen (14 February 2025). "Patrick Barclay: Tributes as legendary Dundee sportswriter dies aged 77". The Courier. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Tributes to Paddy Barclay RIP". Football Writers' Association. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  6. ^ Nakrani, Sachin (14 February 2025). "Patrick Barclay, talented and respected football journalist, dies aged 77". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  7. ^ Ouzia, Malik (14 February 2025). "Premier League and Alan Shearer lead tributes for Patrick Barclay". Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  8. ^ Boneham, Isabella (14 February 2025). "Beloved football journalist dies aged 77; Manchester United leads tributes". National World. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  9. ^ a b Football writer Patrick Barclay leaves Sunday Telegraph to join Times. The Guardian. 5 December 2008.
  10. ^ Barclay to leave The Times in January. Football Writers' Association. 6 December 2011.
  11. ^ Patrick Barclay. London Evening Standard. Archived 20 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ Victor, Tom (14 February 2025). "Patrick Barclay dies aged 77 as tributes paid to journalist and Sky Sports star". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  13. ^ a b Football – Bloody Hell! The Biography of Alex Ferguson by Patrick Barclay – review. The Guardian. 16 October 2010.
  14. ^ a b Football – Bloody Hell!, by Patrick Barclay. The Independent. 31 October 2010.
  15. ^ Barclay, Patrick (9 January 2014). The Life and Times of Herbert Chapman: The Story of One of Football's Most Influential Figures. Orion. ISBN 978-0-297-86851-4.
  16. ^ "Respected football journalist Patrick Barclay passes away". Premier League. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
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