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Tributes pour in for well-known Manchester United supporter and fancam favourite Abdullah Ghaleiw
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring in online for well-known Manchester United supporter, Abdullah Ghaleiw, who has sadly passed away at the age of just 26.
Aside from being a familiar face among the Old Trafford crowd, Ghaleiw was an online content creator, commentator and hugely popular contributor on the Man United YouTube fan channel, Full Time Devils (FTD), which rebranded back in 2020.
More commonly referred to as just Abdul, both among those on the channel and by the millions who watched him over the years, he was a regular on their post-match fancams, as well as other shows and livestreams on matchdays and beyond.
With other Reds, long-time viewers and supporters from all over the country learning of the news, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the die-hard footy fan, as well as a much-loved friend and colleague.
Born in Libya but raised and schooled here in Manchester, he was a matchgoing United fan for many seasons. Having gone from fancam favourite to several years working in various roles on the channel, he was most recently a producer for JD Sports. His cause of death has not been shared publicly.
Stretford Paddock (formerly FTD and now a fan-owned football club too), who Abdullah worked alongside for many years and was a regular face on the channel under their old moniker, told The Manc: “Abdullah was one of the most passionate, knowledgeable and likeable lads you could wish to meet.
“He was an extremely popular presenter on the channel thanks to his ability to not only explain tactics in an entertaining and understandable way, but also because of his great sense of humour and infectious laugh.
“We’ve shared so many moments with him but his reaction in Paris from our win over PSG remains one of our favourites. We’ll always miss Abdullah and the channel will be a much sadder place without him.”
Speaking in an emotional livestream on Monday after attending his funeral, the company’s founder Stephen Howson went on to tell viewers: “I don’t know what to say – we’ve lost a mate […] The good news is we have so much content [of him] to go back and watch […] He will be missed.”
BBC Radio Manchester presenter, Gaz Drinkwater – who spent a formative period of his career working and talking football with Abdul during his tenure at Full Time Devils – is one of several notable names in and around football journalism to have paid tribute to a peer admired by many.
Fellow United content creator and Stretford Paddock presenter Adam McKola shared a parting message on his Instagram, writing: “We’ve lost a real one, a great friend and a true bro. Been reading through all the posts and tweets about how much you’ve done for people, the impact you had on their lives and careers, how much we loved you, you will be so, so missed bro.
“We didn’t have you around us because you were good at your job, and believe me you were one of the best, we had you around because you were such a clean hearted, genuine brother. I’ll miss you man. Can still hear your laugh ringing in my head – hope I don’t forget it.
“My love goes out to your family, friends and close ones. Rest in perfect peace, Abdullah – I love you, bro.” His is just one of many others detailing how Ghaleiw touched their lives, from passing on spare tickets to mentoring others looking to get into his line of work.
To this day, his face can be found all over the channel and, just as countless fans wrote in the live chat during Howson’s remembrance livestream, many of FTD/Stretford Paddock‘s most iconic moments had ‘Abdul’ at the heart of them.
Our thoughts go out to all those in the Stretford Paddock family, as well as his friends, family and Reds everywhere. Rest in peace.
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Featured Images — Stretford Paddock (screenshot via YouTube)