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Guy Opperman
@GuyOpperman
Optimist. Father.
Ex jockey, lawyer, Hexham MP & Minister.
Brain tumour survivor and campaigner.
Now consulting, chairing and charity work.
Joined May 2010
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This ⬇️ RIP the icon of our youth
One moment in a long, very full life summed Kevin Keegan up perfectly. Back in 1976, the then Liverpool footballer competed in the multi-sport “Superstars”, a TV special that pitted legends against each other and regularly drew 15m viewers. Sports stars duelled in a series of disciplines, including sprinting but it was in the two-man cycle race that Keegan again made headlines.
Rounding the track in Bracknell at speed, Keegan clipped the wheel of Anderlecht and Belgium defender Gilbert Van Binst, and tumbled painfully on to the cinder track. Bloodied and bruised, Keegan was patched up, entered the re-run and won. Typical. That was Kevin. A refusal to be beaten. It defined his sporting life but he also did it with grace. It’s one of the many reasons why emotional tributes flow from all over at the sad news of his passing, aged 75.
Keegan was a sporting colossus in the era of sporting giants like Seb Coe, Ian Botham, Daley Thompson, Steve Ovett, James Hunt and Barry Sheen. Keegan was such a charismatic individual that he transcended his sport, even one as immense as football.
He was a phenomenon in the 70s and 80s, plundering goals and winning trophies, becoming one of the first true commercial forces with advertising for such brands as the “great smell of Brut”. Splash it all over. I can still hear him say it. I can still almost smell it. He even taught me, and millions of other kids, how to cross the road. Keegan was even a singer.
He had aura, he had sporting success but what made Keegan even more loved was that he was a super-hero who reached for the stars, and touched them, while always keeping his feet on the ground. The world has lost a very special human being, emotional, funny and caring, as well as a sporting legend.
Keegan didn’t just live a great life. He seized it. News of his passing brings intense, widespread sorrow but also deep admiration at how much Keegan put into his 75 years and how much he got out of them. Hewn from mining stock in Yorkshire, Keegan maximised his ability through sheer graft and will to win. He had ability, of course, an eye for goal, speed and physical strength, but it was mindset that made Keegan special.
That mentality drove him to make it at Scunthorpe United (22 goals in 141 appearances), become a champion of Europe with Liverpool (100 in 323), captain of England (21 in 63) and two-time Ballon d’Or with Hamburg (40 in 113). In his 30s, he became a galvaniser, leader and prolific force at Southampton (42 in 80) and Newcastle (49 in 85). The numbers need stating to reinforce the legend. He delivered.
Keegan became a manager of real charisma, quotability and hunger to attack at Newcastle, Fulham, England and Manchester City. The Entertainers at Newcastle are fondly remembered, not least by us reporters as even a short interview produced a large box of fireworks to light up the back-pages.
Yet Keegan is often most associated at Newcastle as being crushed by a 4-3 defeat at Anfield, slumped over the advertising hoarding. Yet there was the 5-0 humiliation of Manchester United capped by Philippe Albert gliding forward, taking a pass from Rob Lee, and chipping Peter Schmeichel. St James’ Park shook with joy. To be there was to believe. Keegan really was the Messiah and they've followed a few.
Newcastle eventually faltered but Keegan’s teams were invariably well-intentioned. As was he. When he resigned as England manager in the dressing-room loos at the old Wembley after a dispiriting loss to Germany in 2000, Tony Adams and FA execs in Adam Crozier and David Davies desperately tried to dissuade him. Keegan was adamant. He just felt he couldn’t give the players the direction they needed. “I feel I fall short of what is required in this massive job,” he said honestly. Rather than sit tight and take the money, Keegan resigned. A man of principle.
It is through this prism of principles that Keegan must be viewed. Kenny Dalglish, who famously followed Keegan at Liverpool in 1977, spoke of his many football attributes as an “exceptional” player and also manager – “he brought belief, excitement and pride” back to Newcastle. Kenny added Kevin was also “a wonderful person and genuine gentleman”.
Kenny’s so right. Keegan was honest, wore his heart on his sleeve, and cared deeply about people and about the importance of doing the right thing. Those principles. It was the way he was brought up. And that meant respect for others. Respect was at the heart of Keegan’s infamous “I’d love it” rant about Alex Ferguson’s challenging comments about his Newcastle team in the race with Manchester United for the 95/96 title.
Keegan felt Ferguson’s mind-games comments were disrespectful to Howard Wilkinson and his Leeds players, to Stuart Pearce, the manager of Nottingham Forest who Newcastle were about to play, and also to his own players. So an angry Keegan took the bait and seethed on Sky Sports about respect. Ferguson knew he had him hooked. Manchester United duly won the title.
That was classic Keegan. Standing up for others. The stories are legion of how Keegan impacted countless lives with his humility and humanity. Since news of his passing, online filled with fans recalling his generosity with his time as he signed autographs, asking them questions, making them feel special.
Even us England reporters who occasionally robustly critiqued the team’s performances and results, especially at a disastrous Euro 2000, Keegan was invariably polite. He was uplifting company. He once took the press team for a training session at Melwood, his old training field of dreams, and was endlessly encouraging even with some of us clearly hopeless causes. As a press pack, we fell out with Kevin and swiftly fell back in. Impossible not to. Plus there was always that underlying respect for what Keegan achieved as a player.
So news of his passing hits hard, and thoughts and prayers are immediately with Jean, Laura and Sarah, all of his family, all of his many friends, and his former team-mates and clubs. Liverpool, with typical class, produced a moving video elegy. Beautiful tributes came from all his clubs. He touched so many lives, so many careers. He shaped so many dreams.
Love also came from Germany where he was revered for his commitment and match-winning contributions at Hamburg. Keegan’s locker sits proudly in the wonderful German Football Museum opposite Dortmund station. The sad news brought heartfelt tributes from Bayer Leverkusen - “Rest in Peace, legend” - from FC Union Berlin - “a true friend of German football”, amongst others, as well as from a “devastated” Hamburg who added. “Rest in peace, Mighty Mouse”.
Rest In Peace, King Kev. Your legacy remains in countless memories and trophy cabinets. Your legacy remains in how your inspiring example encouraged people not only how to play the game well but also to live their life to the full.
The loss of @JamesTCobbler is a real shame. An amazing man, great entrepreneur and very able minister.
Lord Timpson becomes the first to jump, quitting as Prisons Minister after just over two years. Remarkably, that tenure makes him the longest-serving occupant of the role in 15 years.
📣 A personal update 📣
Over the next few months, I'll be taking time away to recover from heart surgery. My brilliant team will continue the good work in my absence.
Thank you all for your understanding. I look forward to coming back soon with even more energy! 💪
Thank you England 🏴 for a hell of a tournament. Gutted.
The right policy change.
But advancing state pension age entitlement at 68 from 2044 to 2037 does need legislation this parliament, and good comms. The change is, in reality, 1 extra year for those presently aged between 49-55.
Millions more people face having to work until they are 68 before being able to claim their pension under plans to bring forward a rise in the state retirement age, @oliver_wright reports
The state pension age is due to gradually rise to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046. It will reach 68 for those born on or after April 6, 1978
However, Treasury officials have told the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the government’s fiscal forecaster, that the “current policy” is to bring the increase in the retirement age forward by at least seven years, to 2037
This would mean that about five million people who are aged between 49 and 55 at present would have to work for an additional year before being eligible for their state pension, costing them about £12,500
The decision would save the government about £6 billion a year from 2037 compared with the present timetable
Last year ministers launched a review of the state pension age led by the Government Actuary’s Department and Suzy Morrissey, deputy director of the Pensions Policy Institute. It is due to make recommendations on when the pension age should rise before the government legislates for any change. Ministers have insisted no final decision has been taken
However, in a response to the OBR, the Treasury said the government’s intention was to bring forward the pension age rise towards the end of the next decade
The OBR said: “We assume that the state pension rises to 68 in 2037-39. The Treasury has confirmed to us that this is the government’s current policy position, rather than the legislated increase set in the Pensions Act 2007.”
https://t.co/eajI5yPzH2
“You can bottle this up and sell it!” We have a great manager ⬇️
"Not happy with the performance..."
Thomas Tuchel calls for more from his players after England's 2-1 win over Norway...
🎙️ @gabrielclarke05
On to Wednesday semi finals 👏👏👍
"And after all....you're my Wonderwall!"😍❤️
The England boys belt out their unofficial anthem after an incredible 2-1 victory over Norway.
Conifer v broadleaf woodland. 🌳🌲
Unbelievably these two images are not actually four stitched together. Or AI. Or colour corrected.
What they show is the difference between an ancient woodland and conifer plantation.
1/2
It doesn’t get much better than that! Guts and courage from every single member of this squad. Proud of this team! ❤️🏴
One of the best post-match interviews you will EVER see! Rest up, Harry :)
Hmmmmhhhh ⬇️
Given @RachelReevesMP is a Leeds MP,
@GordonBrown / Darling were Scots MPs,
@George_Osborne was a North West MP (who invented the Northern Powehouse)
@RishiSunak = North Yorkshire
Etc etc
This may grate after a while
🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham's Chancellor will have to spend part of their working week in the North to "change their perspective"
[@Telegraph]
@northumbriana @ClarkeMicah Agreed Dan. So many lost from Tynedale as you see from the churches and war memorials. From the decorated like Liddell or Johnson to the many lads lost, some unknown.
Agree with this⬇️
The article by @BenHouchen is measured, rightly gives praise where it is due, and eloquently assesses the positives and negatives of mayoralties ➡️PM.
Late to this from @BenHouchen but a lot of truth to it - Burnham has had a job which has been about blaming Westminster for problems, not taking tough decisions to solve them https://t.co/xoNYr7KosH
Josh Baker died at the age of 20. Ben Stokes ensured his worst day in sport ended like this. What a man
1. Manchester is 3 hours south of Newcastle
2, @hmtreasury has 1000 civil servants in Darlington already - @RishiSunak idea 👏👏
New: Andy Burnham looking to create “Number 10 in the North” as part of big devolution drive, shifting some operations to Manchester
https://t.co/v5egxRQ1Os
How to make pensions #ValueForMoney a success.
The proposals will sadly fail and be an expensive, bureaucratic, waste of time without reform:
This is about helping the member not the schemes.
The minister and regulator need to think again ⬇️
https://t.co/9vtxUK24cH
A significant reduction in spending by government has to happen: increased NI, debt, lower productivity ➡️ raise borrowing cost / kill growth.
A messy fight or a gradual takeover awaits us politically: either way a reckoning is coming.
Buckle up.
Keir Starmer is LINO - leader in name only.
Congratulations to Andy Burnham - the future PM. His win was a personal endorsement; but a by election and running a government are v v different; bond markets will react differently and badly I fear to the fight, & Burnham as PM. 1/
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