Kevin Keegan is the most important figure in the modern history of Newcastle United. He transformed Newcastle United on and off the pitch but more so in the minds of those who support it.
What a brilliant article about a brilliant man. I’ve read it three times now and am sure I will again before the morning is through. Knew you’d do him justice, and you really have .
Tears in me eyes reading that Mick. I dont think the new generation of fan that measures everything by stats and trophies will ever realise just what he achieved by almost single handedly dragging the club, and by default the city, off its knees not once but twice.
He will always be my hero - rest easy now Wor Kev 🖤🤍
Mick this is a beautiful piece of writing and sums up the man and what he meant to us all as fans of this basket case of a football club to a tee. Thank you for writing words that alot of us can't find just now 🖤🤍
We may very well not exist without him. No words can cover the feelings we have towards him (though yours are outstanding). RIP King Kev. NUFC forever.
Wonderful write up, Mick. An often overused and cheap word today. But for Mr Keegan it is totally and truthfully accurate: Legend. God bless you and your family. And thank you.
They say you should never meet your heroes because you’ll be disappointed but when anyone met KK they couldn’t help but love him even more. I remember being an 10 year old getting the train back from Wimbledon away, and excitedly queuing to meet Kevin in first class. Despite being days away from taking the England job, he spent 20 minutes talking to another couple of kids who had been to a national gymnastics competition then another 20 minutes talking enthusiastically to me about the team and the club. It remains and treasured memory, and it speaks volumes about the person he was that thousands of people will have had similar experiences of a warm and kind man sprinkling stardust over the years. RIP Kevin
Superb tribute! Extremely well written, accurate & heartfelt. I’d like to say that, from my viewpoint, he was the most important person in my time of watching Newcastle. Someone who made football exciting, enjoyable & made you proud of where you’re from, in a time where the North East was constantly being denigrated. That’s some gift to have! A great player & a great manager. A legend. R.I.P The Messiah.
Nice one Michael. We’re of the same generation and all of us with any love for the region (including those of the other (red and white) persuasion) should never underestimate what he did for us. He showed us respect when not many others did. He recognised potential, he recognised graft, he knew we wanted and deserved to be entertained. At a time when it is all to easy to hate what is happening to our sport (typified by yesterdays disgraceful “spectacle”), we have to cling on to the hope that someone can rekindle in us what KK did. Hope. The chance to dream. Those “pinch yourself” moments. The unbridled delirium. Rest well KK.
Excellent write-up, Mick. In the midst of this sadness, I can only say that all the comments and tributes I've read make me proud of the solidarity that underlies our support---more important than the soulless monetized nonsense that seeks to divide. King Kev, you ARE our hero and one of us. RIP
Lovely tribute Mick. He gave us hope not once, but twice. His time as manager gave us some of the best football it's been a privilege to witness. Off the pitch his reputation is of a genuine, thoughtful guy, always making time for others. I was genuinely upset to hear the news today. I hope the Liverpool game is marked by a special tribute. 🖤 🤍
I remember where I was when he signed. I remember where I was when he put 4 past Rotherham ("Thats what the Geordie fans wanted" said Barry Davies in commentary). I remember being at Anfield when Lawrenson gave him 2 yards and overtook him making him decide to retire.
I remember where I was fuming and angry at the club selling Cole. And I remember when he slumped in the dugout when Fowler scored. The man had passion coming out of his ear lobes. He gave us all hope. Like when he walked in, we need hope again, the region has been decimated again by corrupt useless govt and we need hope in our football club. This time though, there isn't a Keegan to lift us. RIP King Kev
An important point here. Both periods of Kevin’s involvement with Newcastle were through the decimation of our industrial heritage and latterly the loadsamoney philosophy coming out of London. We felt isolated, unwanted and unvalued by our southern government who only saw us as a drain on their money making schemes (funded by selling off our nationalised industries). Kevin came along and gave us our pride back, gave us back our belief as Michael says. As long as there’s a Newcastle United he will never be forgotten!
Absolutely spot on, Wallace. He chose us when he didn't need to and when no-one else would. Not once but twice. He believed in us, as a club, a city, a people. All the rest is secondary.
King Kevin made us believe, and we loved him. True story, I sat with the great Peter Beardsley at a dinner and said how much pleasure the 'entertainers' had given us and what fun it was watching that slide. He said he meant no disrespect to us, but if we had fun watching can we imagine how much fun he had playing in that side. I just wonder how many managers now have players who find football fun??
What a brilliant article about a brilliant man. I’ve read it three times now and am sure I will again before the morning is through. Knew you’d do him justice, and you really have .
Tears in me eyes reading that Mick. I dont think the new generation of fan that measures everything by stats and trophies will ever realise just what he achieved by almost single handedly dragging the club, and by default the city, off its knees not once but twice.
He will always be my hero - rest easy now Wor Kev 🖤🤍
Ah, Mick, that's great. It's breaking my heart he didn't get to SJP for a last goodbye.
Mick this is a beautiful piece of writing and sums up the man and what he meant to us all as fans of this basket case of a football club to a tee. Thank you for writing words that alot of us can't find just now 🖤🤍
We may very well not exist without him. No words can cover the feelings we have towards him (though yours are outstanding). RIP King Kev. NUFC forever.
Wonderful write up, Mick. An often overused and cheap word today. But for Mr Keegan it is totally and truthfully accurate: Legend. God bless you and your family. And thank you.
Lovely tribute, thanks Mick.
They say you should never meet your heroes because you’ll be disappointed but when anyone met KK they couldn’t help but love him even more. I remember being an 10 year old getting the train back from Wimbledon away, and excitedly queuing to meet Kevin in first class. Despite being days away from taking the England job, he spent 20 minutes talking to another couple of kids who had been to a national gymnastics competition then another 20 minutes talking enthusiastically to me about the team and the club. It remains and treasured memory, and it speaks volumes about the person he was that thousands of people will have had similar experiences of a warm and kind man sprinkling stardust over the years. RIP Kevin
Superb tribute! Extremely well written, accurate & heartfelt. I’d like to say that, from my viewpoint, he was the most important person in my time of watching Newcastle. Someone who made football exciting, enjoyable & made you proud of where you’re from, in a time where the North East was constantly being denigrated. That’s some gift to have! A great player & a great manager. A legend. R.I.P The Messiah.
Nice one Michael. We’re of the same generation and all of us with any love for the region (including those of the other (red and white) persuasion) should never underestimate what he did for us. He showed us respect when not many others did. He recognised potential, he recognised graft, he knew we wanted and deserved to be entertained. At a time when it is all to easy to hate what is happening to our sport (typified by yesterdays disgraceful “spectacle”), we have to cling on to the hope that someone can rekindle in us what KK did. Hope. The chance to dream. Those “pinch yourself” moments. The unbridled delirium. Rest well KK.
Excellent write-up, Mick. In the midst of this sadness, I can only say that all the comments and tributes I've read make me proud of the solidarity that underlies our support---more important than the soulless monetized nonsense that seeks to divide. King Kev, you ARE our hero and one of us. RIP
With Keegan leading us we were all winners, even when we weren't. Fantastic times.
Lovely tribute Mick. He gave us hope not once, but twice. His time as manager gave us some of the best football it's been a privilege to witness. Off the pitch his reputation is of a genuine, thoughtful guy, always making time for others. I was genuinely upset to hear the news today. I hope the Liverpool game is marked by a special tribute. 🖤 🤍
I remember where I was when he signed. I remember where I was when he put 4 past Rotherham ("Thats what the Geordie fans wanted" said Barry Davies in commentary). I remember being at Anfield when Lawrenson gave him 2 yards and overtook him making him decide to retire.
I remember where I was fuming and angry at the club selling Cole. And I remember when he slumped in the dugout when Fowler scored. The man had passion coming out of his ear lobes. He gave us all hope. Like when he walked in, we need hope again, the region has been decimated again by corrupt useless govt and we need hope in our football club. This time though, there isn't a Keegan to lift us. RIP King Kev
An important point here. Both periods of Kevin’s involvement with Newcastle were through the decimation of our industrial heritage and latterly the loadsamoney philosophy coming out of London. We felt isolated, unwanted and unvalued by our southern government who only saw us as a drain on their money making schemes (funded by selling off our nationalised industries). Kevin came along and gave us our pride back, gave us back our belief as Michael says. As long as there’s a Newcastle United he will never be forgotten!
Absolutely spot on, Wallace. He chose us when he didn't need to and when no-one else would. Not once but twice. He believed in us, as a club, a city, a people. All the rest is secondary.
King Kevin made us believe, and we loved him. True story, I sat with the great Peter Beardsley at a dinner and said how much pleasure the 'entertainers' had given us and what fun it was watching that slide. He said he meant no disrespect to us, but if we had fun watching can we imagine how much fun he had playing in that side. I just wonder how many managers now have players who find football fun??
Beautifully written Mick. Thank you.
Kevin Keegan was the man that brought me into the NUFC fold. He will be missed.
On a lighter note ( and please bear with me …even if it’s not true and I’ve got it all wrong … on the basis of why let the truth spoil a good story )
When he was asked about his admiration for George Best he’s allegedly replied that he didn’t think he was even good enough to lace George’s drinks !