Patrick Barkley, a highly talented and widely respected football journalist, passed away at the age of 77.
Berkeley began his reporting career with The Guardian and continued to work for hosts of other broadsheet titles in the country: Observer, Independent, Sunday Telegraph and Times. Berkeley was a prolific writer of soccer books and was also an attractive and charismatic voice in a variety of radio and television shows, especially the sports of Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplements.
“It is our greatest sadness to have to announce the death of dear Patrick Berkeley,” read the Berkeley family statement. “Patrick’s life celebration will take place at a later date. Meanwhile, we hope that the privacy hopes of our family will be respected.”
Born and raised with fans of Dundee and Dundee FC, Berkeley joined the Guardian in the 1970s as a sub-editor of the city’s Evening Telegraph newspaper and became a football writer. He worked with Guardian football correspondent David Lacey. When Independence was launched in 1986, Berkeley became the paper’s first soccer correspondent. He moved to Observer in 1991 and five years later became a soccer correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph, which he held until 2008.
A year later, Berkeley became the Times chief football commentator and remained in the role until December 2011. A year later he began writing for the evening standard, the last newspaper he worked for. Overall, Berkeley covered seven World Cups, eight European Championships and four Africa Cups of Nations, and served as president of the Association of Football Writers.
Berkeley’s most acclaimed book was the 2005 profile of Jose Mourinho, perhaps the winner’s anatomy. His other titles include Bloody Hell! : Biography of Alex Ferguson, The Life and Times of Herbert Chapman, Sir Matt Busby: The Man Who Created a Football Club. The latter became a finalist for the Cross Football Book of the Year at the 2017 Sportsbook of the Year Awards.
“That’s terrible news. Paddy Barclay has passed away,” wrote blueski and soccer journalist Philip Eau Claire. “Superwriter, epic guy, friend of 30 years. How to miss that smile.” Guardian chief sports writer Bernie Ronai wrote, with his own respect: He was very kind to me years ago as a new person in Beat. I always remembered that. And it’s always very interesting. ”
Manchester United also paid tribute to Berkeley. “Paddy has always been respected by everyone at Manchester United and at this point I will send sympathy to his loved ones,” read the club’s statement. Everton and Fulham were among other clubs paying tribute to Berkeley.
