Beloved Manchester United superfan Kevin Peek has sadly passed away at the age of 65 as hordes of fellow fans join in paying tribute to a legendary lifelong Red.
The well-known supporter had been going to watch Man United games home, away and even abroad since the 1972/73 season and was a popular and dedicated face among the Disabled Supporters’ Association (MUDSA) for several decades.
Born in Eccles in Salford, Peek watched on from the disabled section at Old Trafford every week and has appeared in many official videos down the years as an advocate for the club. He is said to have died on Monday this week, though the exact nature of his death is yet to be fully confirmed.
With matchday fans and supporters groups from all around the world recognising his unmistakable, unshakeable smile and paying tribute to him online, it’s clear the club have lost a truly special member of the Manchester United family.
RIP Kevin Peek one of the nicest people you could ever meet, always use to have a little chat and a bit of banter up in the disabled section,massive red and will be missed 💔
Very sad to wake up to the news that Kevin Peek has passed away. Kevin Peek from Salford watched Manchester United home, away and abroad since the 80s.
As you can see, United We Stand (UWS) founder and editor Andy Mitten is one of countless who have paid tribute to the iconic Red, noting how he appeared in the outlet’s podcast multiple times and will receive a “full obituary in the next UWS” issue.
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Whether it’s former players like David May or fans who came across him around the stadium, week in, week out, they’ve all made clear how he touched their lives and wore his colours on his sleeve. He also used to run a computer workshop in Patricroft, holding classes and teaching computer skills to locals,
He then went on to open up legendary caff and catering company, Porky Pig over in Salford which, as well as serving locals in the area for decades, has long been posting up outside Old Trafford to serve the matchday masses.
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Writing in a Salford Media post, reporter and historian Tony Flynn remembered him fondly as “a remarkable character who didn’t let his physical disabilities hold him back”, having been diagnosed with brittle bone disease, and who could be regularly found “playing pool and loving life” with his local team in Eccles.
Issuing a heartfelt statement following the news of his death, the club noted how how ‘Little Kev’ being one of “only a handful of disabled fans made the trip to Barcelona for the 1999 treble-winning Champions League final and, although the trip was plagued with difficulties, Kev remembered a moment that summed up the glory of football to him.”
He was known for travelling to every game he possibly could even when there wasn’t proper disabled access, famously telling tales of how groups of supporters would “pick [him] up and put the wheelchair in the back” of the minibus on their way to European games away against the likes of Legia Warsaw.
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Well-known to Sir Alex Ferguson, he and Peek would regularly chat in the middle of games back in the day and MUDSA secretary Chas Banks said that the die-hard Red Devil epitomised the dedication to the club’s disabled community and vice-versa, insisting that “Kev spent his whole life doing that”.
Rest in peace to a legend, he will be dearly missed. Our thoughts go out to his friends, family and all the United faithful he came across down the years.
Kyle Walker announces retirement from international football with England at 35
Danny Jones
Former Manchester City star and England defender has announced his retirement from international football at 35 years old.
He calls it a day for his country with nearly a century of appearances.
Kyle Walker, who has won six Premier Leagues, four Carabao trophies, a pair of FA Cups and a Champions League title with Man City, made his national team debut back in 2011.
Now, nearly a full decade and a half later, he is hanging up his boots on the biggest stage, retiring as England’s most capped right back in history.
As you can see, he confirmed the news in a highlight video looking back on her best moments with the Three Lions.
Sharing a lengthy and emotional statement in the caption, the Yorkshireman wrote: “After more than a decade representing my country, I have decided to retire from international football. Playing for England has always been the biggest honour of my career and something I will always be proud of.
“Thank you to every teammate, coach, manager, the 12th man, and everyone behind the scenes who has been part of the journey. Every roar from the fans pushed the team along, and I’m looking forward to joining them to support the lads in the World Cup.”
His last appearance in an England shirt came in June against Senegal, since dropping out of manager Thomas Tuchel’s first-choice team and future plans, with both form and age no doubt being factored into that decision.
Walker added: “The memories in an England shirt will stay with me forever.”
96 caps 🧢 Five major tournaments 🏴 A #ThreeLions legend ⭐
He went on to sign off by saying, “I also want to thank my family for their support every step of the way. They have made this journey even more special, and I will always be grateful to have shared it with them.”
The Sheffield-born fullback left Manchester last year following a loan spell at AC Milan, before joining fellow Premier League side Burnley FC permanently this past July.
Meanwhile, the Clarets are staring down relegation back to the Championship; however, this step will no doubt help Walker prolong his club career, whether or not he stays in Lancashire.
Where does Walker rank among the all-time England defenders in your mind?
Featured Images — Oleg Bkhambri (via Wikimedia Commons)/England (screenshot via YouTube)
Sport
Wigan Warriors’ Bevan French out for around four months with major muscle injury
Danny Jones
Wigan Warriors player Bevan French has unfortunately been ruled out for roughly four months following a fairly serious muscle injury.
An important playmaker and cog in the wider team, his absence will surely be felt.
French, 30, is said to have suffered a hamstring tear during the win over Toulouse Olympique this past weekend, and while not as severe as a full rupture, Bevan has now been told by the club he will be sidelined for approximately 16 weeks, according to head coach Matt Peet.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester after learning the news, he provided a number of updates from the physio room, including the latest on Jai Field, who French had been filling in for at fullback.
While Wigan are currently leading the Super League once again, they will be without one of their key Warriors with just under a dozen games left in the season.
The Greater Manchester club’s quadruple-winning boss and former Coach of the Year admitted that, despite some obvious disappointments in the immediate aftermath, his “positive” and “philosophical” attitude has already kicked in.
He’s quite philosophical, Bevan. He quickly flips a switch.
“Now he knows the timeframe and the schedule for his recovery, like most professionals, he can get his head down now and focus on the present”, said the 41-year-old.
The Australian stand-off/fly-half has regularly run the show in red and white, and even amid periods out of the squad, he remains an understandable fan favourite and integral part of the team when fit.
You only need to hear pundits and peers alike describing him as a “special” talent to know how much of a big miss he’ll be.
As mentioned, Peet also shed more light on Field, who dropped out with appendicitis last week and is himself set for around four to five weeks away.
For now, youngster Noah Hodkinson is being given the chance to fill the void and work his way into the first team after regularly impressing in the reserves.
Nevertheless, they could have really done with him ahead of their upcoming games.
Domestically, all three of Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves and St Helens aren’t far behind them in the table, so it could prove to be a tasty remainder of the 2026 campaign.
You can watch the highlights from the result against Toulouse on Saturday, 7 March, here.
Danny Jones -
20th June 2023 
