Mirror legend Ted Macauley – who was friends with George Best, Bobby Charlton and Barry Sheene – dies aged 91
“One of a kind” Daily Mirror reporting legend Ted Macauley has died aged 91 after an extraordinary career in journalism
Daily Mirror legend Ted Macauley with ex England and Chelsea star Ray Wilkins(Image: TIM ANDERSON)
Ted Macauley – one of the greatest of Daily Mirror journalists who counted George Best, Bobby Charlton and Barry Sheene among his friends – has died aged 91. The sports reporting legend was described as “one-off – one of a kind” by his close pal Paul Smith. Three years ago I interviewed Ted after he wrote his memoirs: “Raring to Go”. He recalled extraordinary stories of how Best regularly slept on his sofa saying: “I lost count of the times.” He regaled me with stories about Paul Newman, Lee Marvin, Michael Caine, Jayne Mansfield and Ringo Starr. Richard Attenborough even got Ted a role as an extra in the iconic film ‘A Bridge Too Far’. Ted’s friendship with Best and two-time world motorcycle racing champion Sheene were the reason he decided to finally write a book about his career.
Daily Mirror legend Ted Macauley with George Best(Image: TIM ANDERSON)
Paul, a former Mirror executive, said: “He was a great friend and a legendary sports reporter and feature writer.
“In a career at the Mirror spanning more than 35 years Ted was the paper’s Formula 1 correspondent and during the 70s and 80s was the face of the Mirror’s motorbike racing coverage and the Isle of Man TT.
“Covering MotoGP introduced Ted to legendary biker Mike Hailwood who became his best friend and Ted even went to manage Hailwood. Tragically Mike was later killed in a car crash which also claimed the life of his young daughter.
Daily Mirror legend Ted Macauley (Image: TIM ANDERSON)
“Based in Manchester he was the doyen of sports reporters and was close friends with Manchester United legends George Best, Bobby Charlton and Ray ‘Butch’ Wilkins.
“He travelled the world covering major sporting events for the Mirror and in his role as a showbiz feature writer he interviewed some of the biggest Hollywood film stars including Paul Newman and Lee Marvin.”
In 2023 Ted said: “My coverage of global sport overlapped principally between football and Grand Prix racing on two and four wheels. That brought me into the closest of contexts with these two thoroughly rascally but likeable characters. They remained close friends and allies, right until their premature and personally heart-breaking deaths.
Daily Mirror legend Ted Macauley with Ringo Starr(Image: TIM ANDERSON)
“Best, a unique world class footballer, and Sheene, a stirring example of sheer bravery and excitement in the enormously risky profession of Grand Prix motorcycle racing. They departed this life too soon.” Sheene died of cancer in 2003 aged 52, followed by Best in 2005 at 59.
Talking about the pair’s lifestyles, Ted says: “Booze aplenty, strings of glamorous women… And in Barry’s case, too much drug-taking and chain-smoking. I lost count of the number of nights George spent sleeping on the front room sofa in my village farmhouse 10 miles from Old Trafford.”
Daily Mirror legend Ted Macauley with Lee Marvin(Image: TIM ANDERSON)
After retiring from The Mirror he went on to write a number of books on his sporting heroes and tales of his amazing life as a globe trotting news and sports journalist.
Ted was 91 years old when he died on Wednesday. His beloved wife Dee was at his side when he died and he leaves a son Iain and daughter Kerris and four grandchildren.
