Tribute to Paddy Barclay from the FST
The Fulham Supporters’ Trust mourns the passing of our friend and member Paddy Barclay yesterday aged 77.
Barclay was a season ticket holder in the Johnny Haynes Stand C Block having fallen in love with Craven Cottage having retired as the finest football writer of his generation. He moved from his native Dundee to become the chief football writer of the Independent, the Guardian, the Observer, the Times, Sunday Times and the Sunday Telegraph before finishing as a popular columnist with the Evening Standard. He was also a regular on the Sky Sports shows, Hold the Back Page and the Sunday Supplement, often appearing alongside the much-missed Danny Fullbrook.
Trust board member Dan Crawford said: “Paddy Barclay was a wonderful writer, whose words were read by millions of football fans every day. After retiring, he felt lucky to be living within walking distance of Craven Cottage and, whilst his heart remained with Dundee, he fell in love with Fulham after watching Roy Hodgson’s side come so close to lifting the Europa League. He travelled home and away to watch the Whites – transfixed by Tom Cairney’s terrific left foot – and the fabulous football played by Marco Silva’s side. He was particularly passionate about attracting working class voices into journalism and was a wonderful chairman of the Football Writers’ Association, who will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Paddy’s partner Siobhan, children, friends and colleagues at this desperately sad time.”
