We’ve lost our supernova: farewell to Patrick Barclay, one of the very best

Patrick Barclay, who has died aged 77, was ‘ a natural teller of tales and glory, and loved nothing better than an anecdote, new, old or vaguely believable’. Photograph: Alamy

There wasn’t so much a twinkle in his eye as a bursting supernova of mischief and uncertain possibilities. Patrick Barclay has left us, at 77, and, as Hamlet said of his father, we shall not look upon his like again. Or, if we do, we will be gladly entertained.

When Paddy’s death was confirmed on Friday, the sad news not only inspired the attention of more than two million pairs of eyeballs on various chattering sites – irredeemably lachrymose, no doubt – it was among the 10 most-read articles on the Guardian’s website, testimony to the stature of one of the industry’s charismatic football sages.