James Mossop

[Hadrian]

I was sorry to learn from the Obituaries column of The Times that journalist James Mossop had died in February at the age of 89.

Younger supporters may remember him for the Iron Ore and Shipbuilders' Tea montage he did with Setanta in 2008.

Others will recall him as a Lancaster-born journalist who grew up in Barrow and signed as an amateur for BAFC, playing mainly in the A and B teams. Having decided within months that working in the steelworks was not the life for him, Jim got a job with the NWEM and subsequently reported on AFC matches. He remained a supporter throughout his life.

Manchester called and he worked for several papers, including the Daily Mail and Sunday Express from their big offices there, specialising in football and golf but covering most of the world's major sporting events. He reported on ten World Cups and eight Olympics and became the golf correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph in London.

James 'ghosted' the George Best column and had a wide range of friends in the world of sport. The Times obit includes a number of great stories. If you have a subscription, do look it up. One that is memtioned, also described to Paul Daly and me five years ago, concerns events after England's World Cup win in 1966 when Jack Charlton sought him at the post-match function and suggested slipping away for a night on the town. James said he only had a tenner but Jack produced a wad of notes to reassure him. Conscious of what may lie ahead, James tied a label with his address to his jacket lapel. They ended up spending the night on a pair of settees in the house of a stranger in Walthamstow. Or it may have been Leytonstone, they couldn't really be sure.

Next time you are in Manchester, perhaps raise a glass to him in the former journalists' pub, the now much-changed Crown & Kettle on Great Ancoats Street.

Rest in Peace, James.

[bluessupporter]

R.I.P. James.

I hope there's plenty of shipbuilders' tea where you are!

[Slenderhead]

Wow some career, nice story. RIP James

[McMark]

James Mossop’s name will be forever etched in the Barrow AFC folklore.

[Jonty]

Every now and then this clip comes up and it’s always leaves a strong sense of pride. At the time, this game was a massive deal for us and the “shoes-off if you love Barrow” really took off for a while. I just don't think we have or can draw that “us v the rest” mentality any more. Those games and days feel long gone. I remember Jason Walker caused havoc that game, he really was such a great player for us, he won a pen and we went on to win 2-1 and Middlesbrough was next up. Thanks for the memories and RIP James.

This team could certainly do with some iron ore and shipbuilders tea running through them for these last few games

[bluessupporter]

I can supply he shipbuilders' tea bur not sure about the iron ore!

[pjdaly]

James Mossop - in his working life at least - seems to have lived the life of dreams. Reading his story, it's greenifying to anyone to learn of his global travels covering major sporting events too numerous to mention, and to have met, and been respected by, many sporting luminaries. What a life! And because of that I am not going to say "RIP" . . . because if it is the case that we go on after we leave this world then Jim will surely not be interested in "resting" . . . countless "souls" must exit this world in weary fashion after decades of difficulty and struggle and would be very much in need of a good "rest" and a bit of "peace". However, if you had the life that Jim seems to have had then I would prefer to say GAWP rather than RIP. Because GAWP might well be what he wants rather than a rest . . . GAWP being Go Again With Passion.

[bluemossop]

Thanks for all the kinds words, regarding my Father, he was very proud of his roots and his love for Barrow, its very much appreciated.