Newcastle City Council will open two books of condolence from Wednesday for fans to share memories of Kevin Keegan, the former Newcastle United player and manager who died at 75 after a battle with cancer. The Union flag will fly at half mast outside Newcastle Civic Centre for the rest of the week.
Where to sign
The books will be stationed at the Civic Centre’s Arches reception and at the City Library. The Civic Centre book is accessible from 8.30am on Wednesday until 4.30pm every weekday into early next week. The City Library book can be signed during opening hours from 10am to 5pm on weekdays, until 7pm on Thursdays, and from 10am to 2pm on Saturday.
Stadium memorial
Newcastle United FC announced Tuesday that a memory book will also be opened at the stadium’s box office, available from 8am to 8pm daily. Council bosses requested that fans continue to lay floral tributes outside St James’ Park.
Tributes from the lord mayor
Henry Gallagher, the lord mayor of Newcastle, said: “Kevin always had time for people” and that he brought a sense of joy and wonder to the city. The Liberal Democrat councillor and season ticket holder added: “He has a lasting legacy for the whole of the city, not just for the football club. I remember on matchdays when he was manager you would wake up in the morning with butterflies in your stomach because you knew something was going to happen that day. It was just fantastic.”
Gallagher noted that all comments about Keegan say the same: “Kevin always had time for people. He would always stop and chat, and make sure that everybody had a chance to talk to him. He brought such joy to our city. When he came here it was like we were taken notice of again and it was brilliant. He made us feel at the time that we belonged in the top division.”
He expressed hope that the Magpies’ match against Liverpool, another of Keegan’s former clubs, at the start of the new Premier League season could become a celebration of his life.
