Tony Pritchett, The Sheffield Star’s chief sport writer, died this week after a long illness.
Sports editor Martin Smith, pays tribute to
a Sheffield legend in an article which first appeared in The Star.

Tony Pritchett, The Star and Green Un’s Sheffield United man for almost 30 years, has died after an 18-month battle against cancer, writes Martin Smith.

The son of a Derbyshire miner, Tony became one of the best-known faces inBritish sports writing circles and one of the true characters in football.

His sharp wit and mischievous sense of humour ruled the Bramall Lane pressbox for a generation and everyone who met him has a Pritchett tale to tell.

Over the years, colleagues and visiting reporters – and club directors andmanagers – would ask his advice and seek his approval, willingly risking hisbarbs for the wisdom they could glean.

Tony – or TP as he was known – was an old-school gentleman with golf clubmanners and strong views on every subject. Waspish and critical one minute,considerate and supportive the next, and all done with a humour and warmththat made him wonderful company and a brilliant journalist.

Tony grew up in Stanley Common near Ilkeston. His grandfather, father andbrothers were colliers but TP began work as a junior reporter in his hometown in 1949, moving to the Nottingham Evening Post in 1955 after completingtwo years in the RAF.

He came to The Star as Sheffield Wednesday reporter in 1968 and moved across the city to Bramall Lane in 1972. He went on to become The Star’s chief sports writer travelling the world to cover World Cups and Olympic Games in his own inimitable style.

He met Pele, George Best, Eusebio, Dennis Taylor and Alex Ferguson. Or,rather, they met him. He picked up a host of top awards during his careerwith his original, incisive, and always entertaining pieces and was widelyacknowledged as being one of the best sports reporters outside Fleet Street.

Like many of his generation National Service left a lasting impression.

Military expressions peppered his banter and his early morning greeting ashe strode through the office bang on time was a simple: “Troops”.

TP’s charisma was built on an a relentless repertoire of old punchlines,catchphrases and invented acronyms delivered with the timing of a music hallcomedian. By quoting a set of initials, a simple ‘what’s happening now’ or’how does that one go?’ Tony would conjure up 30 years of sportsdesk humourin the twinkling of an eye.

His unique energy and personality gave him an unshakeable affection for theConservative Party, the NUJ and his place at the ‘coal face’ of life.

But his greatest loves were his family, golf and Sheffield United – in thatorder.

He also – although he would often swear otherwise – loved life at The Star.

He retained a drive and enthusiasm for journalism up until his retirement and once confessed to having butterflies in his stomach every day when he walked to his desk in case he’d “missed anything”.

In 30 years he rarely did.

He retained his drive and enthusiasm for journalism before finally calling ita day in 1999 and ending a magnificent career.

We have missed his chatter, personality and experience since and alwayslooked forward to his visits. It couldn’t ever be the same without him.

What’s happening now? A lot less than it did when TP was around.

Click here to read tributes from the sports world.

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