Newcastle United and Liverpool paid an emotional tribute to Kevin Keegan this afternoon before kick-off at St James' Park, after his death last month. Keegan passed away aged 75 following a battle with cancer and was a legend for both clubs.
He represented both the Magpies and the Reds as a player, scoring 100 goals in 323 appearances for Liverpool, winning the old First Division on three occasions, an FA Cup, European Cup, two UEFA Cups, and two Charity Shields during six seasons at Anfield. He had a spell in Germany before joining Southampton and then Newcastle United, where he scored 49 goals in 85 games.
Fans pay respects with shirts and display
Newcastle fans remember him most fondly for his stint in the dugout, bringing the Entertainers to Tyneside and taking them close to the Premier League title, only to be beaten by Manchester United. 'King Kev' as he was known by those at St James' Park, had longed to return to Tyneside to say farewell to supporters, but his illness robbed him of his final wish.
Black and white supporters paid tributes to their former manager in their thousands following the news of his death last month, laying flowers and shirts outside of the ground. Today gave an opportunity for both sets of supporters to pay tribute at the game. Players from both clubs warmed up in number seven shirts, the iconic number Keegan donned throughout his glittering career.
Wor Flags arranged a Keegan display, with his name in red in the Liverpool section of St James' Park, high up in the gods of Level seven, which was impeccably observed by both sets of supporters.
Mosaic and family letter
A mosaic was also laid out in the middle of the pitch made from 500 of the shirts that had been left outside of the ground by supporters who wished to pay tribute to Keegan. The lyrics to his song, 'Walking in a Keegan wonderland' were written round the edge of the mosaic.
A photo of the former Magpies boss was also on the front cover of the club's official matchday programme from his time at the club, with a letter from the Keegan family inside.
Reds' legends Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush, both of whom also represented the Magpies during their career, laid a Liverpool wreath in Newcastle's memorial garden. They were joined by Shola Ameobi and Bob Moncur from a Newcastle persuasion, laying a wreath from the club. Members of his Entertainers team were also at St James' Park to pay their respect to their former boss.
The letter from Keegan's family read: "Dear Newcastle United fans and the incredible city of Newcastle. The past couple of weeks have been some of the hardest that our family has endured, saying goodbye to our husband, father, and grandfather, Kevin.
"Despite living outside of the region, your love and warmth from the North East has reached our hearts and filled us with so much comfort during these difficult days. The empathy, compassion and warmth of this extraordinary club and community have shone through; the outpouring of love has been truly overwhelming.
"Having seen the tributes outside St James' Park, members of our family came home to Newcastle to see the memorials in person. The sea of black and white shirts and scarves, alongside colours from so many other clubs, reminded us how much Kevin meant to the footballing world. It was a sombre moment that reminded us of our pain and loss, yet matched with immense pride and love as we read so many personal and heartfelt messages.
"Kevin always shared his love for Newcastle United, Geordies, and the city, captivating us with stories told with his infectious smile. Seeing these tributes brought those stories to life for Kevin's grandchildren, showing them how deeply their grandfather was loved in return. It also allowed us a quiet moment to reflect on many fond memories of Kevin's incredible career and the incomparable bond he shared with Newcastle.
"Your football club, city, and community show a passion that truly embodied Kevin as a footballer, manager, and family man. We will be eternally grateful for the adoration and strength you have given our family when we needed it most. Newcastle, thank you for your love. The Keegan Family."
