Sport
Tributes pour as beloved Manchester United fan Kevin Peek passes away aged 65
If you're a regular at Old Trafford, his face will be a familiar one that never stopped smiling.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Featured Image — MUFC Away (via Twitter)/Manchester United/Kevin Peek (via Facebook)
Sport
Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great
Danny Jones
Did anyone else think they’d ever see Sean Dyche make his acting debut in the role of a Northern crime boss in a silly little music video for the Blossoms?
No, us neither but that’s the bizarre alternate reality we’re living in, apparently.
Blossoms are currently working on the fifth studio album and have already released their lead single entitled, ‘To Do List (After The Break-Up)’, but now they have a new song out as well, with a rather amusing music video to go along with it and somehow Sean Dyche has found himself the star.
The Stockport band teased the curious collaboration in April, giving us just short glimpses of the Everton manager and former Burnley boss with very little explanation – all we know is that it looked funny and it was.
Dyche is still busy trying to finish the Premier League campaign as strong as possible after successfully navigating the Toffees to safety even in spite of their points deductions this season, but it sounds like keeping them up has given him enough time to moonlight as an actor.
Sending the indie five-piece on a mission to collect something of value (yes, that’s all the info we have at this point as the story is still to be continued), it looks like the Kettering-born coach has a larger role to play in whatever this narrative turns out to be.
Playing what can only be described as some kind of semi-Manc mafia figure on the hunt for a very valuable piece of art, i.e. a big giant gorilla statue – one that many Stopfordians spotted being lugged around various parts of the borough –
They also shared a little bit of BTS footage from the shoot for the music video last week. Some lovely head-bobbing and unassuming surroundings here:
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As for the track itself, it’s a bit of stylistic change for the lads who’ve mastered their 80s-tinged indie formula over the past decade but it’s an absolute pop and is already stuck in our heads.
Revealing that they’ve collaborated with contemporary funk, disco and electronic icons Jungle on the track, it doesn’t take too long to hear the influences. Look forward to hearing it at Wythenshawe Park this summer.
You can watch the music video for ‘What Can I Say?’ and the ginger-goatee’d football manager extraordinaire in full character HERE.
He’s not the only footballing figure who’s made an entertainment crossover recently either.
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Featured Images — Blossoms (via YouTube)/Virgin EMI
Sport
Tributes paid to former Manchester City winger Ian Mellor, dead at 74
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring following the death of former Manchester City star, Ian Mellor, who has sadly passed away at the age of 74.
Mellor, from Sale in Greater Manchester, played as a left winger for Man City as well as the likes of Norwich City, Brighton, Chester, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford.
With his family and former club confirming the death on Wednesday, 1 May, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the seasoned ex-pro who sadly died following a long battle with amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease which affects organs such as the heart, brains and kidneys.
Replying to his son and ex-Liverpool turned Sky Sports broadcaster, Neil Mellor, the club paid their respects to the former Blue who made 50 appearances for the club.
Mellor began his career just down the road at Wythenshawe Amateurs before going on to represent City from 1970 to 1973.
A boyhood fan of the club, he scored 10 goals whilst wearing Sky Blue and also went on to win the Charity Shield with them back in 1972.
Eventually nicknamed ‘Spider’ for a good chunk of his career due to his long-legged stature, he remained attached to the beautiful game for years after his retirement and went on to become a committee member for the Former Players Association at City.
Joining the likes of all his former clubs, Chester City said: “Everyone at [the club] is saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Mellor. Sending all our love to you and your family, Neil Mellor.
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His son Neil’s goodbye has touched many online too, calling his dad his “hero” and his “everything”.
He also went on to thank locally-based end-of-life care organisation and charity, St Ann’s Hospice, who have facilities all over Greater Manchester and who helped care for Ian in his final days.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family as well as those whose lives he touched through football during this difficult time.
Rest in peace.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — Manchester City/Neil Mellor (via X)
