Chief sports writer of the Daily Star, Brian Woolnough has died following a long battle with bowel cancer.
He was 63 and well-respected by many people within football for his honest and detailed approach to reporting and analysing.
Woolnough was also the presenter of the Sky Sports programme Sunday Supplement, which is a football journalist’s panel show.
He took over this role from Jimmy Hill in 2007, having also been the presenter of Hold the Back Page from 1994.
An incredible appetite for hard work
Woolnough is survived by three children and his wife Linda.
Sports editor for the Daily Star Howard Wheatcroft said: “Brian was the doyen of his generation of sports journalists, and had been the senior figure in football journalism for a long, long time.
“To my mind he also paved the way for journalists being called upon as pundits.
“He was a big man in many ways, but he was never arrogant and had an incredible appetite for hard work.
Woolnough began his journalism career like so many have before, working in local newspapers with Esher News in Surrey and Hemel Hempstead’s Evening Post.
A brilliant sports writer
He worked his way up to the position of chief football writer for The Sun. He stayed with them until 2001, when he moved to the Daily Star.
Daily Star editor Dawn Neesom said: “Brian will be missed by everyone at the Daily Star. He was a brilliant sports writer, a huge character and above all a really nice bloke.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Linda, and family.”
Tributes to ‘Wooly’ as he was affectionally known have been coming through on Twitter.
Set the standard
Henry Winter from the Daily Telegraph tweeted: “Brian Woolnough has passed away. Wooly was a superb broadcaster, a top print reporter and a good friend. Thoughts with his family. RIP Wool.”
BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker said: “Very sorry to hear that Brian Woolnough has passed away. One of football’s finest journalists.”
His sad passing comes just three months since the death of Daily Star chief football writer Danny Fullbrook at the age of 40, also from cancer.
Brian Woolnough set the standard for football journalism and he will be profoundly missed by everyone in the game.
Brian Woolnough – 1948-2012
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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