Category Archives: News

The Sun, Everton and Liverpool

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The Football Writers’ Association is concerned by the recent bans imposed on The Sun by Liverpool FC and Everton FC. 

While the FWA understands the upset caused by the presence and views of columnist Kelvin MacKenzie, the organisation feels that its members, the football journalists, are being unfairly punished for actions which have nothing to do with them.

The FWA has always believed in the fundamental principle that all of its members have a right to carry out their jobs and should not be banned because of the actions of others. 

Following discussions at National Committee level, we believe the clubs should reconsider these bans and work with the FWA and Premier League to resolve the situation.

Footballer of the Year 2017

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PrintVoting is now open for the 2017 Footballer of the Year, ahead of the dinner on May 18 at the Landmark Hotel, London.
Jamie Vardy won a hotly-contested vote last May, and it is likely to be just as competitive this season with so many high-profile players in the running.
It will be a special occasion as the FWA marks its 70th anniversary since being formed in 1947, after which Sir Stanley Matthews became the first Footballer of the Year.
Sir Stan was a perfect example of the fundamental principle of the award, which is it should go “to the player who by precept and example, on the field and off, shall be considered to have done the most for football.”
Members will be able to vote online via the FWA website, or by contacting executive secretary Paul McCarthy. The deadline for all votes will be midnight on May 7.

You can see a list of past winners here: http://footballwriters.co.uk/previous-foty/

FWA Student Membership

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Calling all sports journalism students

The FWA is opening a new category of membership for aspiring football writers who are studying sports or football journalism in all forms of media, priced at only £5 per season.

Student members do not enjoy the same voting rights as full members for the Footballer of the Year, or discounted tickets to the main FWA dinners, but will receive the FWA handbook which is an invaluable resource for budding journalists.  FWA members are always happy to pass on advice and give opportunities to young football journalists, and being part of the association can be a valuable asset for any aspiring journalist.

For more information, or to apply for membership, please contact John Ley, our membership secretary in the feedback box below or via this link: Click

 

 

Wayne Rooney honoured to receive FWA Tribute

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Rooney

Wayne Rooney celebrated his record-breaking success in style when he was honoured at the FWA’s Tribute Evening.

Just 24 hours after becoming Manchester United’s leading goal-scorer, breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record which had stood for more than four decades, Wayne was guest of honour at a glittering event at The Savoy.

In front of almost 400 guests, Wayne received his trophy from FWA chairman, Patrick Barclay, who described him as a ‘genuine role model’ and paid tribute to not only the United star’s goal-scoring prowess but also his selflessness.

Patrick was joined by former England manager, Roy Hodgson, who gave Wayne the captaincy and watched him mature both as a player and a man.

Hodgson said: “When I first met Wayne, I didn’t know what to expect but I met a man who just loved to play football. Whenever a young player came into the squad for the first time, it was Wayne who put an arm round his shoulder and made him feel welcome.”

Wayne’s former United team-mate, Darren Fletcher, joined in with the praise – and talked about the competitive streak which singled him out even as a teenager joining from Everton.

“He was absolutely driven from the first training session after joining United. There are so many qualities to him and that’s what has made him the leading scorer and most capped outfield player for England and now the greatest goal-scorer in Manchester United’s history.”

Patrick Barclay on Graham Taylor

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From FWA Chairman Patrick Barclay:

To all football writers, Graham Taylor was a very special football manager, one of our own in the sense that he understood journalism from the early age due to the work of his dad. Some of us even had the pleasure of meeting Tom in his domain, the press boxes of Lincolnshire, and therefore we understood that parental influence had contributed to Graham’s wonderfully cheerful personality and unfailing good manners, both of which were exhibited in the face of adversity as well as the more convivial atmosphere of a pre-match cup of tea during his later life as an analyst.

Graham had a lovely sense of humour and a keen eye for pomposity in a pundit or even a fellow manager who seemed to be getting above himself. But everything he said was good-natured. He was a decent footballer and an exceptional manager and yet most of us will him as remember one of the game’s truly fine men. Our sympathies are with his family and friends.

Graham Taylor

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The Football Writers’ Association would like to offer our condolences to the family of Graham Taylor, who passed away suddenly after a suspected heart attack.

Graham was a great football man and good friend of the FWA, who received our Tribute award at the Savoy Hotel in 2002 for his achievements in the game, particularly as manager of Watford, Aston Villa and England.

At the dinner, Graham spoke about his relationship with football writers, and recalled his early days working in the pressbox at Scunthorpe United, where his father Tommy was football reporter for the Scunthorpe Telegraph. Tommy was also a Hayters correspondent responsible for sending through goalflashes to BBC’s Grandstand and newspapers, and Graham recalled the first time he had been entrusted with the stopwatch as a young boy. “My father said to me ‘You’ve got to get this right, it’s a matter of record’ and I realised then how important was the job of a football reporter,” said Graham.

As a manager he always had time for the press and became firm friends with many reporters, even though he suffered a great deal of criticism during his time as England manager. He also enjoyed a fine career in the media after management, as a well-respected radio commentator and expert.

Most of all, we remember Graham for his ready smile, unfailing courtesy and willingness to talk with great knowledge about the game he loved.

He will be sadly missed.

Bob Cass 1938 – 2016

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Bob Cass was given an emotional send-off at a packed funeral for our former Chairman in Durham on Monday December 12.

Family, friends and colleagues from the world of journalism and football celebrated the life of Bob, who passed away in November after a long battle with cancer.

His son Simon, who followed his father into sports journalism, spoke movingly about his pride at the fact that so many football writers had praised Bob’s help and generosity of spirit when they were starting out in their careers. Simon, like everyone, recalled his father’s story-telling and quick wit.

James Mossop, another former FWA chairman and friend of Bob’s since the 1950s, recalled Bob’s first exclusive, an ‘interview’ with a donkey he apparently found in the lost property department at Leeds railway station when they were out on assignment as teenagers. Needless to say Bob struggled to convince his editor for the day that this particular story had legs.

Colin Young, the FWA’s North East branch organiser, did a reading, and one of Bob’s daughters, Alison, recalled the day her Dad tried to rescue the young Simon when he was choking on a fishbone. Bob had heard that eating bread was the best thing to do in such an emergency and asked his stricken son, in all seriousness: “Do you want white or brown bread, Simon?”

With his widow Janet looking on, Bob’s grandchildren all recounted amusing and loving memories of their Grandad, and there were many, many more anecdotes from those who gathered afterwards at the Ramside Hall hotel, including former England managers Steve McClaren and Sam Allardyce, Niall Quinn, Frank Clark, Bobby Moncur, Dennis Tueart and Jim Montgomery, the hero of Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup final victory over Leeds. The FA, Football League and PFA also sent representatives.

The FWA was strongly represented, from current chairman Paddy Barclay to many of the national committee including six former chairmen.

It was an unforgettable day, and a fitting tribute to a special man.

Rest in peace, Bob.

BOB CASS RIP

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THE FWA is sad to report that one of our most revered members Bob Cass has passed away.

Bob finally succumbed after a long fight against cancer on Thursday November 24th, surrounded by his family.

Bob was a former chairman of the FWA, a life-member and one of the finest journalists in its history, primarily with the Sun and the Mail on Sunday.

. Bob Cass

Here is a tribute from his good friend and fellow FWA stalwart Jim Mossop:

To know Robert Stanley Cass was one of life’s privileges.

He was a champion; a true friend of the human race. As a gatherer of football news stories he was unsurpassed. His contacts were from every corner of the football world.  He was a journalist you could trust with your life and people knew that as soon as they met him. The trust was unspoken.

If you saw the words “Exclusive…by Bob Cass” you knew instantly there was true substance in what you were reading. Football folk loved him. He had humour, compassion and knowledge.

You could be playing golf with him in La Manga, Spain, where we had many a happy trip and his mobile would ring. When we told him to switch it off he would tell you that it was Fergie, Harry Redknapp, Sam Allardyce or any one of the old game’s luminaries.

They loved him because they trusted him implicitly and such relationships  were forged long before Google and protective Press Officers got their grip on the game. Bob was ‘old school’ and it worked.

Times spent in his company were magical. He had an amazing memory for jokes and songs. After one convivial night at the Carton House Golf Resort where everyone had a song and a young Scottish journalist played the spoons, Bob was still full of the fun of it on the first tee the following morning and gave us a full solo renditions of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” at 8am.

Bob was a product of Darlington Grammar School. He joined the local paper, the Northern Echo, which was owned by Westminster Press in London. That’s where I first met him at one of Westminster Press’s twice yearly weekend schools. He was riotous fun then but he was sharpening the skills that made him such an outstanding contributor to The Sun and then Mail on Sunday.

He also an immensely proud family man and loved to have his lovely wife, Janet, and their three children Alison, Jennifer and Simon, around him at Christmas and holiday times. He was proud of their achievements.They were with him when he died at his home in Durham, ravaged by the cancer that he had fought so hard to try to defeat.

There was no edge to Bob. I recall inviting him to my house when he was in the Altrincham area and we were having barbecued salmon with a mango salsa. The salsa intrigued him at first and then he said, as only Bob could: “Do you know, my grandad wouldn’t go to work without his mango salsa.”

When he wasn’t working, which was rare, he loved to play golf at Durham City Golf Club where he was captain a few years ago. He was a determined golfer with intense levels of concentration. Then, at the 19th hole, he was the embodiment of relaxation.

All the time, his mind would be ticking over with thoughts of future stories,  He had a couple of spats with Sir Alex Ferguson but they were soon resolved. They had a mutual respect for each other.

We will miss him, hacks and football people alike. It may sound trite to say there will ever be another Bob Cass. It’s not. Bob’s name will always stand revered inside and outside of the beautiful game.”

PAT SIGNY FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

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Pat and DennisPat Signy’s funeral will be held at the South Chapel, Hendon Crematorium at11am this Thursday (18th) with the wake later at Hendon Hall Hotel, which held so many happy memories for both Pat and Dennis Signy. All friends and FWA members welcome. The Signys’ daughter Claire has asked if you can let her know if you will be attending so they have an idea of numbers. She is on 07713 388453 or claire.signy@gmail.com
The family have requested no flowers but donations to charity (to be decided)