Following the death of football great Kevin Keegan, Leader sports editor Nick Harrison reflects on the player who inspired him, thrilled millions and became one of the game's true legends.
He was my first footballing hero.
In fact, I think Kevin Keegan was everyone's hero.
People cried when he was sent sprawling and suffered severe gravel burns during the Superstars bike race.
People couldn't stop laughing at his infamous 'I'll love it' anti-Alex Ferguson rant as manager of Newcastle United.
But, most of all, people couldn't stop cheering when he scored goals left, right, and centre for Liverpool, Newcastle United, and England.
He wrote five autobiographies and it was at the launch of his last one that I last saw the great man.
I was also halfway through his first one but during a reading session with the headmaster at Ysgol Sant Dunawd in Bangor-on-Dee, Mr Woodward took exception to some of the swear words, suggesting there were probably better books a 10-year-old could be reading.
But I wanted to know everything about Keegan.
I wanted to be him and play number seven for Liverpool.
The word legend is easily banded about in sport but Keegan was one and will always be one.
His trip back through time in his last book was littered with claims that he was lucky all through his career.
He was rejected by Coventry boss Jimmy Hill because he was too small while despite his dad fixing him up with a trial at hometown club Doncaster Rovers, the man on the door at Belle Vue advised him to head across the road to the racecourse because he looked more like a jockey.
He was as quick with his wit as he was in the box during an amazing career that saw him score goals at home and abroad.
The man with the goal-den touch in the Seventies and Eighties, the silver-haired Keegan still has a sparkle in his eye as he relived tales of his playing and managerial past.
He tells a cracking story of the great Bill Shankly, his mentor, and one of the best man-managers of all time.
"I was earning a bit from all kinds of deals being offered," said Keegan.
"Bill came up to me one day and said: 'You're busy, aren't you, son?'
"Just remember what contract is the most important."
Keegan learned much more at Anfield, including advice from Reds’ hardman Tommy Smith.
Smith advised Keegan to turn down a deal to wear white boots, saying he'd look a fool wearing them with an all-red kit.
The 5ft 7in Keegan would stand up to most people if he thought he was right but Smith was way up the pecking order and he took his advice.
The next game, Keegan couldn't believe it to see Smith wearing the white boots he was offered.
"Can't turn down £1,500 at this stage of my career, lad," smiled Smith.
And another Liverpool number three and Kop legend in Merseyside and at Wrexham, Joey Jones, who passed away last year, was also held in high acclaim by Keegan.
"Joey was like a breath of fresh air when he came to Liverpool," recalled Keegan.
"Everyone loved Joey!"
Not that boss Bob Paisley did after Keegan played against Wales - and Jones - one night.
Keegan, who captained his country for the first time in what he remembers as a 'muddy, wet Wednesday night at The Racecourse Ground in Wrexham' said: "Those clashes with Wales could be quite tasty.
"I was kicked to the ground in one pitch invasion at Cardiff and in another game Joey Jones clattered into me so forcefully that nobody could possibly have thought we were Liverpool team-mates.
"When we returned to Anfield, Joey walked straight into a ticking off by boss Bob Paisley.
"Just remember you have to play with Kevin on Saturday, Bob reminded him."
Share