Back in January 2019, I wrote about the passing of Hugh McIlvanney, one of the greatest sports writers of his time and an inspiration to me to read and write on football. The last few days have seen the passing of Brian Glanville, another colossus of writing on football. He was a prolific writer who didn’t hold back on his views and criticisms of players, officials, administrators, the game, and more. He had earned this rite and admiration of fellow soccer alumni through a career that included writing for Corriere Dello Sport, living in Italy, and most notably for the Sunday Times. A prolific writer of books, he also wrote the screenplay GOAL! the official film of the 1966 World Cup that won a BAFTA.
With McILvanney, he was at the pinnacle of his profession, and his passing perhaps represents the passing of the last greats of the written word on football. Now replaced by YouTube and Pod Casts, which I am sure he would have stood astride of those media if they would have been available in his era.
payonthegate 