Tributes have have been paid to sportswriter and Sky Sports favourite Patrick Barclay, who has died at the age of 77.
The Football Writers Association (FWA) shared a message from Barclay’s family on Friday morning confirming his passing.
‘It is with the greatest sadness that we must announce the death of our dear Patrick Barclay,’ the statement read.
‘A celebration of Patrick’s life will be held at a later date. Meanwhile, we hope that the family’s wish for privacy is respected.’
Tributes have flooded in following news of Barclay’s death, with the Sports Journalists’ Association writing: ‘The SJA wishes to express its deepest condolences following the news that we have lost Patrick Barclay.
‘We share in the sadness of his family, our friends at the FWA, and all who knew Paddy. An SJA Sports Writer of the Year Award winner, he will be greatly missed by us all.’
Sportswriter Patrick Barclay has died at the age of 77 – pictured presenting Mohamed Salah with his FWA Footballer of the Year award in 2018
Patrick Barclay had been a fan favourite as a guest on Sky Sports Sunday Supplement
Lee Clayton, Global Publisher of Mail Sport, wrote: ‘So terribly sad. He was charming, smart and welcoming to us all.
‘He wrote with such joy about football. He had a style about the way he carried himself. And I could listen to that voice for hours. RIP Paddy.’
Chris Sutton and Robbie Fowler were among the former Premier League stars to offer tributes to Barclay.
‘Really sad news this. Rest in peace Patrick,’ Sutton wrote, while former Liverpool star Fowler posted ‘A great man…RIP Patrick.’
Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s record goalscorer, wrote ‘Ah no. Such sad news. RIP Paddy.’
The Premier League said in a statement that it was ‘greatly saddened’ to hear of Barclay’s passing.
‘Patrick was one of the doyens of football journalism in the UK, writing on the Premier League from its inception in 1992 for The Observer, The Sunday Telegraph and The Times,’ the Premier League said.
‘He was also the author of biographies on Sir Alex Ferguson, Herbert Chapman and Jose Mourinho.
‘As well as being a former chairman of the Football Writers’ Association, he was a longstanding member of the Premier League’s awards panel.
‘He was regarded with great admiration and affection by fellow journalists and by English football.
‘The thoughts of everyone at the Premier League are with Patrick’s family at this difficult time.’
Tributes were also shared by several Premier League clubs following the news, including Manchester United and Everton.
‘Paddy will always be held in great esteem by everyone at Manchester United and we send our sympathies to his loved ones at this time,’ Manchester United wrote.
‘We’re sorry to hear this sad news. Everyone at Everton Football Club sends our condolences and sympathies to Patrick’s family,’ Everton shared.
Barclay wrote for the Independent, Guardian and Observer, Times and the Telegraph during his career.
He also became a favourite when appearing as a regular guest on Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement, the long-running show which saw a panel of journalists debate football’s issues.
Neil Ashton, who was among the show’s hosts, said his former colleague had a life lived to the full’ in his tribute.
‘A life lived to the full, maximising his obvious and enormous potential and talent to become a distinguished writer, and then passing on that boundless energy and enthusiasm for the sport and his profession to many generations after him,’ Ashton wrote.
‘What a guy.’
