LONDON: John Moynihan, one of the most outstanding British sports writers of his era, has died after an accident near his home in west London, aged 79.

His book Soccer Syndrome was a classic of its genre and has been reprinted on a number of occasions since its original publication in 1965.

Moynihan wrote on sport with a languid percipience, most notably for The SundayTelegraph where he had been, initially, deputy literary editor.

Other books included Park Football, Soccer Focus, The Chelsea Story, KevinKeegan: Black And White as well as Not All A Ball in which Moynihan wrote abouthis childhood. His last book was Restless Lives, about his parents, both artists.