February saw the untimely death of veteran football writer Patrick Barclay at the age of 77. Not only was he one of the most recognisable figures in his field, but also one of the most gifted.
Born in London, but growing up north of the border in Dundee, Barclay would develop a love for Dundee FC, who would win their only title when Barclay was at a formative age. His deep love for football, which came through so clearly in his writing, must have been spurred on by this success.
It was, however, back in London where Barclay would make his name, writing on Fleet Street for many years. He would write for The Guardian, The Independent, The Observer and The Daily Telegraph before becoming Chief Football Correspondent for The Times. His prowess would lead to more mainstream appearances, as he became a regular on Sky Sports.
Sunday Supplement was a chance to hear debates between the leading football writers, and Barclay was always a serious and entertaining presence.
Living in London meant he was far from his beloved Dundee, but he replaced them with a Fulham season ticket. My father met him there on a number of occasions and confirmed he was just as much of a gentleman in person as he appeared in print and on screen.
Barclay was in many ways one of the last old-school football writers, but the tributes which poured in from younger writers, as well as the footballing community as a whole, confirm his status as a giant in his arena. He will be sorely missed.
Image credits: Jessica Bolevin