Award-Winning Sports Journalist, Author Malcolm Brodie Dies At Age 86

Veteran Belfast-based award-winning sports journalist MALCOLM BRODIE, who covered every World Cup since '54, "has died at the age of 86," according to Henry McDonald of the London GUARDIAN. Brodie was the author of an "acclaimed book on the now defunct Belfast Celtic and was a respected football commentator" on the int'l scene. Belfast Telegraph Group Sports Editor JIM GRACEY, where Brodie worked since the end of the second world war, said: "He was a wonderful man and a wonderful journalist who must have taught generations of sports reporters, myself included. He had a contacts book like no other. Everybody in soccer -- from Pele to Sir Alex Ferguson -- knew him. The man was beyond a legend." Brodie was also a "regular sports broadcaster and became a household name during Northern Ireland's travels" to the World Cup, first in '58 and later in Spain in '82 and Mexico four years later (GUARDIAN, 1/30).  FIFA President SEPP BLATTER said, "Quality sports reporting is essential to sports organizations such as FIFA, thanks to its ability to transmit all the color and emotions of major competitions such as the FIFA World Cup to the fans back home. There was none better at this than Malcolm" (UEFA).

A 'GREAT FRIEND': The BELFAST TELEGRAPH noted ManU Manager ALEX FERGUSON said that he "knew Brodie for 40 years." Ferguson said, "He's nothing but a great friend and always good value in terms of opinion. He cut to the chase, quite simply that's who he was -- straight talking." FIFA VP JIM BOYCE said that he "would miss him dearly." Boyce said, "He was the doyen of Northern Ireland football, a very, very trusted journalist and his main aim in life was to promote football" (BELFAST TELEGRAPH, 1/30).