Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 1, 2026

Patrick Barclay

Patrick Barclay was a British journalist and sportswriter.

Last revised
Aug 1, 2026
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Patrick Barclay
Barclay in 2025
Born(1947-08-15)15 August 1947
London, England
Died12 February 2025(2025-02-12) (aged 77)
Alma materHigh School of Dundee
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • sports writer
Children2
FatherGuy Deghy

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

Early life

Barclay was born on 15 August 1947, in London; his father was Hungarian-born actor Guy Deghy.123 He moved to Dundee at the age of 4, where he was raised by his mother.13 Barclay was educated at the High School of Dundee.4

Career

Barclay started his reporting career with The Guardian in the early 1970s.5 When the newspaper The Independent was launched in 1986, he was appointed its first football correspondent.6 He joined The Observer in 1991, and became football correspondent of The Sunday Telegraph in 1996.7 He held the post for 12 years.8

Barclay joined The Times in February 2009 as its Chief Football Correspondent to replace Martin Samuel, who was joining the Daily Mail.8 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. Barclay left The Times in December 2011 due to cost-cutting measures.9 In January 2012, he started writing for the London Evening Standard.10

Barclay was a regular guest on the Sky Sports programme Sunday Supplement,11 and LBC 97.3's Saturday sports show "Scores".

Books

Barclay wrote a biography of the Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, entitled Football – Bloody Hell!.1213 The book was published in October 2010.1213 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 14 and a biography of José Mourinho.15

Personal life and death

Barclay has two children, Duncan and Jennifer, and a granddaughter Charlotte. He died on 12 February 2025 at the age of 77.116

List of publications

References

References

  1. 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. 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. Nakrani, Sachin (14 February 2025). "Patrick Barclay, talented and respected football journalist, dies aged 77". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  6. Ouzia, Malik (14 February 2025). "Premier League and Alan Shearer lead tributes for Patrick Barclay". Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  7. Boneham, Isabella (14 February 2025). "Beloved football journalist dies aged 77; Manchester United leads tributes". National World. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  8. Football writer Patrick Barclay leaves Sunday Telegraph to join Times. The Guardian. 5 December 2008.
  9. Barclay to leave The Times in January. Football Writers' Association. 6 December 2011.
  10. Patrick Barclay. London Evening Standard. .
  11. 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.
  12. Football – Bloody Hell! The Biography of Alex Ferguson by Patrick Barclay – review. The Guardian. 16 October 2010.
  13. Football – Bloody Hell!, by Patrick Barclay. The Independent. 31 October 2010.
  14. 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.
  15. "Respected football journalist Patrick Barclay passes away". Premier League. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  16. "Tributes to Paddy Barclay RIP". Football Writers' Association. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
External links