borstedcooch

Miserable Owld Git. Ex Public sector worker! Wrapped roond granddaughters finger. Opinions and comments are surprisingly my own!!!

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@cyp_toon Like the cast of Thriller!!!! Stick to the boulevard at Wrekenton 🤣🤣🫡

[Newcastle United @NUFC]

Our players and staff paused before today’s training session to pay respects to Kevin Keegan.

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

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.

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

So sad 😭😭🫡

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@cyp_toon Multitasking 🫡

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@marty_lawrance Thank you! I can see that you can see now 🤣🫡

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

#GSDF26
Good look to Jamie-Leigh Hodge today and every day with your somersaults! Your a star mam granda and nanny xx

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@cyp_toon We was to poor! Didn’t have a phone till I was married ��

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@worflags In Tenerife with nee cans available had to celebrate with champagne 🍾🥂🥳

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@cyp_toon @toonyjat As he says ‘They would kill for the club’!!!!

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@marty_lawrance Oh dear! I’ll not repeat any stories I know about cataracts 🙈 hope you’re enjoying the weather and lack of signings!!

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@marty_lawrance Do it every time my contract is up! 😬

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@paulturner67 You’ll never be warm again 🙈

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@ToonPolls 3360!! How did that happen 😬😬

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@theawayfans Big back shift at Nissan 🙈🙈

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

After wor best game of the season MOTD spend the hole time discussing a striker that didn’t get a lookin today 🙈🙈🤬🤬

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@cyp_toon Had a scan on me knee and he reckoned it wasn’t knackered enough! I asked could he do owt if I was a professional footballer, Oh yes he said!!!! 😬

[borstedcooch @KeithMel253]

@cyp_toon Total shithousery that we get slaughtered for!!! Just like parking the bus that we got slaughtered for a couple of years ago by Captain Scarlet but is praised today!!!🤬🤬

[ROY CROPPER not @RoyCropperNOT_]

It’s scary how quick the kids grow up these days.