Sad to note that HM has recently passed away. Hugh was one of the very best sport journalists EVER. He worked for The Observer, The Daily Express and the Sunday Times as well as writing a number of books; and was considered by many excellent judges as the Rolls Royce of sporting journalists. He is the only sports writer to have been voted Journalist of the Year at the British Press awards; he was named British sports writer of the year no less than seven times and in 2005 was included in the Press Gazette Hall of Fame.
In 2007, the Variety Club of Great Britain and The London Press Club presented him with The Edgar Wallace Award for Fine Writing and in 2009 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In 2017 he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame - the first football writer to be honoured in this way. Also in 2017. at the British Sports Book Awards he was named for an Outstanding Contribution to Sports writing.
I met Hugh many years ago for the first and only time when we played in a friendly football match against each other. He guested for a team of solicitors, Wilde, Sapt & Co (they had a FORMIDABLE football team playing in the now defunct London Metropolitan League) and they also had Mike Pinner ex Manchester United amateur keeper, whom I believe also played for the Swans, guesting as a right winger! And bloody good he was too out there!!
After the game we socialised with a few bevvies at a local club and I had the privilege of spending the entire evening at Hugh's table where we really hit it off. This modest and immensely likeable Scotsman was entertainment personified and we got on so well because we were both fanatical devotees of the noble art. He just loved his boxing, as did I (particularly in those days when I boxed), and we had some incredible debate that evening about boxing and our other love, football. It was probably one of the best nights I have ever had.
He was hugely knowledgable and possessed a razor sharp wit with devastating repartee. One of his famous come-backs was made to Sir Alf Ramsey. The venerated England manager asked him, after he had criticised his team's performance, "How many caps have you got."
"None", McIlvanney replied, adding, "But if I send a turnip around the world, it doesn't return as an expert on geography!"
RIP, Hugh, thanks for your brilliant writing and thanks for the memory of that wonderful evening I spent in your company.
In 2007, the Variety Club of Great Britain and The London Press Club presented him with The Edgar Wallace Award for Fine Writing and in 2009 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In 2017 he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame - the first football writer to be honoured in this way. Also in 2017. at the British Sports Book Awards he was named for an Outstanding Contribution to Sports writing.
I met Hugh many years ago for the first and only time when we played in a friendly football match against each other. He guested for a team of solicitors, Wilde, Sapt & Co (they had a FORMIDABLE football team playing in the now defunct London Metropolitan League) and they also had Mike Pinner ex Manchester United amateur keeper, whom I believe also played for the Swans, guesting as a right winger! And bloody good he was too out there!!
After the game we socialised with a few bevvies at a local club and I had the privilege of spending the entire evening at Hugh's table where we really hit it off. This modest and immensely likeable Scotsman was entertainment personified and we got on so well because we were both fanatical devotees of the noble art. He just loved his boxing, as did I (particularly in those days when I boxed), and we had some incredible debate that evening about boxing and our other love, football. It was probably one of the best nights I have ever had.
He was hugely knowledgable and possessed a razor sharp wit with devastating repartee. One of his famous come-backs was made to Sir Alf Ramsey. The venerated England manager asked him, after he had criticised his team's performance, "How many caps have you got."
"None", McIlvanney replied, adding, "But if I send a turnip around the world, it doesn't return as an expert on geography!"
RIP, Hugh, thanks for your brilliant writing and thanks for the memory of that wonderful evening I spent in your company.