There is a growing clamour for Newcastle United to raise a statue to Kevin Keegan. I totally get it. Not just in the heightened emotion of his death which resulted in a staggering endless carpet of flowers at St James Park but because he was, both as a player and a manager, the epitome of excitement and entertainment.
KK represented all that is great about our national sport. He was a splash of colour on a dull day. A smile amongst a sea of frowns. A Geordie by his heritage through grandad with United the only club for which he served in a dual role.
The Entertainers were his creation and no less a person than Sir John Hall, his chairman, suggested that without King Kev the modern Newcastle would not exist.
It was my privilege to work closely with Keegan throughout both his stints at Newcastle and, having witnessed his workings from the inside, I fully appreciate his worth.
Harvey's Achievements
However while we pay homage to a truly unique man may I be so bold as to ask all Geordies not to forget another hero in grave danger of not receiving his just desserts. Joe Harvey. If Kevin Keegan deserves a statue, and he does, then surely Joe has just as strong a case if not stronger. His problem is that the passing of time has dulled the realisation of his achievements.
Football is unquestionably a results driven industry and that being the case I suggest no one in the last century deserves a monument in his honour more than Joe Harvey. Remember he too served as a player and manager and did so as a trophy winner both times. As a player he captained United to their 1951 and 1952 FA Cup final victories at Wembley and in 1955 was the coach having previously helped us to promotion as the forties and the World War came to an end. Then upon returning to manage United Joe piloted us to promotion as Second Division champions and won our only ever European trophy in 1969, as well as the Anglo-Italian Cup and two Anglo-Scottish Cups. We also made an FA Cup final appearance. There was never the blemish of a relegation on his 11-year managerial watch.
Existing Statues and Memory
Let us deal in facts not just be swayed by dripping emotion. There are three statues at SJP and only one of the recipients actually won anything in black and white - Wor Jackie Milburn. Harsh as it is neither Alan Shearer nor Sir Bobby Robson gained tangible success with us. I love them both and don't begrudge them a solitary single thing. Big Al is the club's greatest ever goalscorer and as such fully deserves his accolade. It would be a disgrace if it hadn't happened and the fact that Mike Ashley forced the statue to be located outside of the SJP parameters because of his pig headedness is one of the biggest condemnations of a dreadful self-serving owner. As for Bobby he was one of our own who brought us special memories and a glowing warmth as well as national recognition. Ditto KK, even more so. His PL runners-up with the Entertainers is United's highest finish in the last 100 years.
However because Harvey died as long ago as 1989 and won his greatest baubles between 1951 and 1969 he is a fading memory which is tragic. He is not of course a fading memory to Bob Moncur. To David Craig or Frank Clark. To Jim Scott, Pop Robson, or Ollie Burton. To SuperMac or Jinky Smith, Alan Foggon, Stewart Barrowclough or Irving Nattrass. They still treasure the input of a giant.
The only reason there is any recognition of Joe at St James Park is because of the Fairs Club, a group of hardy Newcastle fans from 69 who paid for a plaque to be put up at the Gallowgate end of the ground. I'm president of the Fairs Club and I'm proud to have helped keep Harvey's memory in our conscience.
A Plea to Fans
Youth rules, youth is the present and the future but there is also a past. Let no one be ageist especially United fans who are renowned for adopting the philosophy 'once a legend always a legend.' If you don't know about the past talk to your dad or grandad. One day everyone is old . . . if you're lucky. Let us honour Kevin Keegan because he is in our hearts and our minds and we owe him so much. But let us not forget Joe Harvey.
