I was already in love with Newcastle United when Kevin Keegan shocked the world and signed for us. And still as a 12-year-old I couldn’t comprehend why he was coming to St. James’ Park. I’d loved watching the likes of Micky Burns and Alan Shoulder play and now the England captain and former two time European Footballer of the Year had decided that he too was going to pull on the black and white striped shirt. My world – and that of an entire city – turned upside down.
It’s difficult to find the words to do Kevin justice. Difficult to focus through the tears and the memories too. But here goes.
I learned of the signing from the back page of someone else’s newspaper on a beach in Spain. I scrambled my way back up the beach to tell my dad who went across and asked to borrow said newspaper. It was like reading some kind of otherworldly fairytale. Things like this didn’t happen to my club. Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to get home.
Kevin Keegan changed Newcastle United in ways that none of us could ever have dreamed of. In fact, he revolutionised it. And in doing so he dragged the whole city with him. He was a force of nature and would continue to be so for the rest of his life as far as our football club and city was concerned. Countless people have said that Keegan just ‘got’ us, so it’s not original but, boy is it true. Kevin loved us and we loved him right back. He forged a lifelong connection that was felt by each and every one of us.
As a player he carried the club on his shoulders, dragging us back into the top division at a time when we’d been in what felt like a permanent state of flatlining. When he scored that goal on his debut and ended up practically throwing himself into the Gallowgate, even the most hard hearted couldn’t help but fall in love, even the most cynical began to believe again. Only when he returned as manager would we truly feel like that again.
Improbably, his first stint as manager was even better than his two years as a player. He saved the club from a fate that might have killed us off and then set about on a mission to make us the talking point of English football for the first time in a long, long time. While we won nothing, everyone of us will cherish the memories of that period for a lifetime. Once again Kevin gave us hope and pride and allowed us just to believe that our club and our city really mattered.
Even the second time around in the hotseat was exciting. Yes, he was hamstrung by those not fit to breath the same air, but it was simply incredible to have him back, if only for a brief period of time.
Kevin spent a long time defending us and giving the underdog a voice. From the early 80s all the way through to the modern day, he’s had our back. It’s a debt that could never be paid back, but one that he wouldn’t have expected even an ounce of thanks for.
The news of his passing will have shook every last one of us. It’s just incredibly sad. As others have said, Keegan was the best of us. So if you can, through the tears and the sadness, try and find just a little bit of time to celebrate that once upon a time he chose our club. He chose us. And how lucky were we?
Rest in Peace, KK, but most of all, thank you.
Middle Age Fanclub 