Today an announcement was made which immediately changed people's lives for the better and lifted the morale for a city and its region. For over half a century Newcastle and the Northern region were in decline with an increasing loss of morale. Only a handful of occasions since the 1950's have events which raised morale from the relentless decline in the heavy industries which had created work and prosperity. Until the attempts to regenerate local economies, primarily with the development of higher and further education the future had looked bleak as unemployment levels increased and more and more families became dependent on the welfare state for their survival.
In the 1950's Newcastle United won the Football Association Cup three times 1951 1952 and 1955 and the legend of the football team was recreated since the previous glory days during the first decades of the twentieth century. The last occasion when the club won the top English League was 1926 1927. In 1969 it won a European cup competition known as in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. Between 1992 and 1997, although the club failed to win any level of trophy a phenomenon occurred which those old enough to experience will never forget. This was the era of Kevin Keegan. There was one other event which had a similar impact on the region when in 1973 Sunderland won the FA Cup, an event celebrated everywhere in the UK except in the city of Leeds and the most die hard of Newcastle supporters.
Until 1992 Kevin Keegan had only a limited involvement with the football club and the city. Born in Doncaster in 1951 and rejected by his home town club and he got his start at Scunthorpe where he made 130 before being transferred to Liverpool in 1971 for £35000. It was two year's later that the famous partnership with John Toshack developed and Liverpool won not only the championship but the UEFA Cup. Although Leeds won the championship the following year Liverpool beat Newcastle 3.0 to win the FA Cup with Keegan scoring two of the goals. Such triumphs usually create life long enemies but Kevin Keegan is one of those rare individuals who not only overcame such hostility but became identified as the Messiah of Tyneside. In 1977 Keegan shocked Liverpool by announcing his intention to gain experience abroad, a year which saw his club win the championship and the EUFA cup once more, and only failing to win the treble buy losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup.
His move to Hamburg 1978-1979 resulted in winning the German championship and being awarded the title of European Footballer of the year. In 1980 under Lawrie McMenemy he joined Southampton. The next event of significance in terms of his Tyneside links is after the 1982 World Cup he was dropped from the English squad by Geordie Sir Bobby Robson and Keegan announced he would never play for his country again having been captain 31 times. Disappointed with the failure to strengthen the team Keegan moved from Southampton to Newcastle for £100000 for the 982 83 season and stayed until the end of the 1983 and 1984, making only a total of 78 appearances but scoring 48 goals. He departed on the last home game of the season by helicopter deciding to retire and move to Spain with his family.
In 1992 having no managerial experience and spending his time playing golf and enjoying family life he was appointed manager of Newcastle United ,a club then facing relegation form the second to the third division, a fate which was befall Sunderland subsequently. Until this season, this was the worst time for North East Football fans and morale in the region, including myself, albeit for other reasons was at the lowest. For a year I turned my back in Football and having concluded that I had only enjoyed one of the 20 home games witnessed at Sunderland. The change of fortunes was dramatic and in the Spring of 1993 Newcastle won what had become the first division championship into the new Premier League. However what quickly caught the public imagination beyond the region interest was the style of free flowing attacking football on the principle of scoring more goals than the opponents.
I remember well my first visit in the 1993 1994 season way back of the Gallowgate stand feeling as guilty as if I had changed religion but having the time of my life and immediately sending off for a season ticket and being allocated a seat in the East Wing Corner which I was to hold for a decade. Unlike commentators and a proportion of those who filled the ground it did not matter to me that we did not win the championship although Wembley visits were a disappointment but it was the quality and style of play and which led the team to being branded entertainers.
Why despite being appointed a Director of Football and a contract for 10 years he quit at a time when the club was about to become a stock exchange listed company is likely to remain a mystery, although one suggestion is that he fell out with one of the individuals behind the move although the more likely reason is that he felt he had taken the club as far as possible as runner's up after having 12 point lead and the title within touching distance as the season came to its end. Among the players who fans enjoyed in the Keegan years were Peter Beardsley, Any Cole, Les Ferdinand, Tino Asprilla and Ginola. However the most stunning signing was to bring Alan Shearer to play for his home Town club
Several months after leaving Newcastle Keegan was appointed by Al Fayed as Football Director at Fulham with Ray Wilkins as the Manager who he then sacked and took over the coaching role, taking Fulham into the Premiership in 1999.Then came a move too far with his appointment as the Manager of England, Losing to Germany at the last game played at the old Wembley he resigned and in eh following year became coach at Manchester City. It is one of the those quirks which led to Sven-Goran Eriksson appointed in succession to Kevin and following his departure taking over at Manchester City and taking the club to the higher levels of the Premiership for the first time in the club history. In between Stuart Pearce who had been at the heart of Newcastle's midfield took over at Man City just as Keegan appointee Chris Colman had taken over at Man City.
Since then Newcastle had some success under Sir Bobby Robson, but managers Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Guillit, Graham Souness, Glen Roeder, and latterly Sam Alladyce after only 26 games all coming and failing to recreate the Keegan magic.
I for one was horrified with the prospect of Harry Rednap, Mark Hughes or Gerard Houllier knowing that only the return of Kevin Keegan or the appointment of Alan Shearer would have any chance instantly changing fortunes. And so it came to pass when later afternoon, within hours of the replay FA Cup game against Stoke, it was announced that Kevin was back. Immediately an estimated 10000 people descended on the ground to buy tickets for the match and although I listed on the radio and watched excepts on TV it was evident that the mood among supporters and players changed instantly and that old excitement returned. Men hugged each other all over the city and some wept and apart from the isolated dissent. And the game 4.1 with ten men for a greater part of the match, but with Arsenal away in the next round the attention was all on Keegan who entered the ground some twenty minutes after the game commenced with the start delayed for 15 minutes such was the demand for tickets. However I had already taken the decision to accept that my days of season tickets had come to an end
The evening before film was Layer Cake, British gangster food. The moral is simple enough live by the sword you die by the sword and if you are part of the criminal world in order to survive you have to cheat on those above you as those below you attempt to cheat on you. The makers of the film like to argue the story is a metaphor for society on general. According to Wikipedia one expletive is used 201 times and there are ten violent deaths although talk of a sequel suggests our hero does not perish, and one other is said to have survived. However I was entertained and rounded off the night with one of those episodes of the Sopranos where it does and does matter what went on before or after. In the this series there is less hypocrisy among the criminals who know they are destined for hell., except in relation to their wives and priests.
Somewhere I have of the Little Tanyas whose track the Little Birds David of Madrid has selected before the Joni Mitchel and James Taylor version of Track 11. The first great track of the day was Carole King's Will you love me tomorrow? Stop look and listen with Michael McDonald and Toni Braxton. I am waiting Rolling Stones seems an odd choice of all their songs, except I go through phases of waiting something to happen rather than trying make it so! Crazy Willie Nelson live performance. Inside by Sting was a new song for me which I listened to twice. Serious Anita Baker.. Her Town to James Taylor. Gravity Shaun McDonald. Star Mile Joshua Radin. Rebecca Pat Mcgee band. Fly me to the Moon Sitti Navarro. Something else Garry Jules. Please come to Boston David Loggins. Someone like you and Moondance Van Morrison. Eye of the storm by Noa.. Russians by Sting. I wish you were here Marty Casey. Sweet baby James by Dixie Chicks and James Taylor. Nothing but flowers .Curcurrucucu Paloma by Caetano Veloso also in Spanish. By Heart Sylvia Lewis. Crazy Love as the session commenced but by a different artist Brian McNight. Some 20 of the titles listed do not play. The only problem is when first loading the single Tomaszow by Ewa Demarczyk overplays the Crazy Love so one has to be stopped for the other to be heard.. The cycle is ongoing should you wish to hear the series over and over again. How long will I keep up the resolution to experience the profile of those added but not given time previously? Today a new friend request was for large size female fashions!
The new political season commenced with a new seriousness and the Prime Minister appearing more self confident about Question time. The new Liberal boss is going to prove a big mistake for his party. Mark these words. Tomato rolls and lettuce for lunch with a banana. Lost and then pictures? Yep I went to see Charlie Wilson's War. More on that tomorrow.
In the 1950's Newcastle United won the Football Association Cup three times 1951 1952 and 1955 and the legend of the football team was recreated since the previous glory days during the first decades of the twentieth century. The last occasion when the club won the top English League was 1926 1927. In 1969 it won a European cup competition known as in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. Between 1992 and 1997, although the club failed to win any level of trophy a phenomenon occurred which those old enough to experience will never forget. This was the era of Kevin Keegan. There was one other event which had a similar impact on the region when in 1973 Sunderland won the FA Cup, an event celebrated everywhere in the UK except in the city of Leeds and the most die hard of Newcastle supporters.
Until 1992 Kevin Keegan had only a limited involvement with the football club and the city. Born in Doncaster in 1951 and rejected by his home town club and he got his start at Scunthorpe where he made 130 before being transferred to Liverpool in 1971 for £35000. It was two year's later that the famous partnership with John Toshack developed and Liverpool won not only the championship but the UEFA Cup. Although Leeds won the championship the following year Liverpool beat Newcastle 3.0 to win the FA Cup with Keegan scoring two of the goals. Such triumphs usually create life long enemies but Kevin Keegan is one of those rare individuals who not only overcame such hostility but became identified as the Messiah of Tyneside. In 1977 Keegan shocked Liverpool by announcing his intention to gain experience abroad, a year which saw his club win the championship and the EUFA cup once more, and only failing to win the treble buy losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup.
His move to Hamburg 1978-1979 resulted in winning the German championship and being awarded the title of European Footballer of the year. In 1980 under Lawrie McMenemy he joined Southampton. The next event of significance in terms of his Tyneside links is after the 1982 World Cup he was dropped from the English squad by Geordie Sir Bobby Robson and Keegan announced he would never play for his country again having been captain 31 times. Disappointed with the failure to strengthen the team Keegan moved from Southampton to Newcastle for £100000 for the 982 83 season and stayed until the end of the 1983 and 1984, making only a total of 78 appearances but scoring 48 goals. He departed on the last home game of the season by helicopter deciding to retire and move to Spain with his family.
In 1992 having no managerial experience and spending his time playing golf and enjoying family life he was appointed manager of Newcastle United ,a club then facing relegation form the second to the third division, a fate which was befall Sunderland subsequently. Until this season, this was the worst time for North East Football fans and morale in the region, including myself, albeit for other reasons was at the lowest. For a year I turned my back in Football and having concluded that I had only enjoyed one of the 20 home games witnessed at Sunderland. The change of fortunes was dramatic and in the Spring of 1993 Newcastle won what had become the first division championship into the new Premier League. However what quickly caught the public imagination beyond the region interest was the style of free flowing attacking football on the principle of scoring more goals than the opponents.
I remember well my first visit in the 1993 1994 season way back of the Gallowgate stand feeling as guilty as if I had changed religion but having the time of my life and immediately sending off for a season ticket and being allocated a seat in the East Wing Corner which I was to hold for a decade. Unlike commentators and a proportion of those who filled the ground it did not matter to me that we did not win the championship although Wembley visits were a disappointment but it was the quality and style of play and which led the team to being branded entertainers.
Why despite being appointed a Director of Football and a contract for 10 years he quit at a time when the club was about to become a stock exchange listed company is likely to remain a mystery, although one suggestion is that he fell out with one of the individuals behind the move although the more likely reason is that he felt he had taken the club as far as possible as runner's up after having 12 point lead and the title within touching distance as the season came to its end. Among the players who fans enjoyed in the Keegan years were Peter Beardsley, Any Cole, Les Ferdinand, Tino Asprilla and Ginola. However the most stunning signing was to bring Alan Shearer to play for his home Town club
Several months after leaving Newcastle Keegan was appointed by Al Fayed as Football Director at Fulham with Ray Wilkins as the Manager who he then sacked and took over the coaching role, taking Fulham into the Premiership in 1999.Then came a move too far with his appointment as the Manager of England, Losing to Germany at the last game played at the old Wembley he resigned and in eh following year became coach at Manchester City. It is one of the those quirks which led to Sven-Goran Eriksson appointed in succession to Kevin and following his departure taking over at Manchester City and taking the club to the higher levels of the Premiership for the first time in the club history. In between Stuart Pearce who had been at the heart of Newcastle's midfield took over at Man City just as Keegan appointee Chris Colman had taken over at Man City.
Since then Newcastle had some success under Sir Bobby Robson, but managers Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Guillit, Graham Souness, Glen Roeder, and latterly Sam Alladyce after only 26 games all coming and failing to recreate the Keegan magic.
I for one was horrified with the prospect of Harry Rednap, Mark Hughes or Gerard Houllier knowing that only the return of Kevin Keegan or the appointment of Alan Shearer would have any chance instantly changing fortunes. And so it came to pass when later afternoon, within hours of the replay FA Cup game against Stoke, it was announced that Kevin was back. Immediately an estimated 10000 people descended on the ground to buy tickets for the match and although I listed on the radio and watched excepts on TV it was evident that the mood among supporters and players changed instantly and that old excitement returned. Men hugged each other all over the city and some wept and apart from the isolated dissent. And the game 4.1 with ten men for a greater part of the match, but with Arsenal away in the next round the attention was all on Keegan who entered the ground some twenty minutes after the game commenced with the start delayed for 15 minutes such was the demand for tickets. However I had already taken the decision to accept that my days of season tickets had come to an end
The evening before film was Layer Cake, British gangster food. The moral is simple enough live by the sword you die by the sword and if you are part of the criminal world in order to survive you have to cheat on those above you as those below you attempt to cheat on you. The makers of the film like to argue the story is a metaphor for society on general. According to Wikipedia one expletive is used 201 times and there are ten violent deaths although talk of a sequel suggests our hero does not perish, and one other is said to have survived. However I was entertained and rounded off the night with one of those episodes of the Sopranos where it does and does matter what went on before or after. In the this series there is less hypocrisy among the criminals who know they are destined for hell., except in relation to their wives and priests.
Somewhere I have of the Little Tanyas whose track the Little Birds David of Madrid has selected before the Joni Mitchel and James Taylor version of Track 11. The first great track of the day was Carole King's Will you love me tomorrow? Stop look and listen with Michael McDonald and Toni Braxton. I am waiting Rolling Stones seems an odd choice of all their songs, except I go through phases of waiting something to happen rather than trying make it so! Crazy Willie Nelson live performance. Inside by Sting was a new song for me which I listened to twice. Serious Anita Baker.. Her Town to James Taylor. Gravity Shaun McDonald. Star Mile Joshua Radin. Rebecca Pat Mcgee band. Fly me to the Moon Sitti Navarro. Something else Garry Jules. Please come to Boston David Loggins. Someone like you and Moondance Van Morrison. Eye of the storm by Noa.. Russians by Sting. I wish you were here Marty Casey. Sweet baby James by Dixie Chicks and James Taylor. Nothing but flowers .Curcurrucucu Paloma by Caetano Veloso also in Spanish. By Heart Sylvia Lewis. Crazy Love as the session commenced but by a different artist Brian McNight. Some 20 of the titles listed do not play. The only problem is when first loading the single Tomaszow by Ewa Demarczyk overplays the Crazy Love so one has to be stopped for the other to be heard.. The cycle is ongoing should you wish to hear the series over and over again. How long will I keep up the resolution to experience the profile of those added but not given time previously? Today a new friend request was for large size female fashions!
The new political season commenced with a new seriousness and the Prime Minister appearing more self confident about Question time. The new Liberal boss is going to prove a big mistake for his party. Mark these words. Tomato rolls and lettuce for lunch with a banana. Lost and then pictures? Yep I went to see Charlie Wilson's War. More on that tomorrow.
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