The season opener at St James’ Park saw Liverpool and Newcastle United honouring Kevin Keegan prior to their Premier League fixture.
Supporters from the Merseyside club positioned in the away section displayed a banner praising Keegan as the greatest player that Shankly ever discovered.
Patrons of both clubs arrived at the ground sporting replicas bearing Keegan’s iconic number and name. Commemorative merchandise, including split-coloured scarves, was available for purchase in the vicinity of the stadium.
A display comprising 500 shirts arranged by Newcastle followers was revealed on the pitch centre circle. Within the home dressing room, the Magpies suspended one of their alternative replica jerseys featuring the number seven and Keegan’s name across the shoulders, situated between the positions of Malick Thiaw and Fabian Schar.
Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush placed floral tributes at Newcastle’s on-site memorial garden on Sunday morning. Former club captains Bobby Moncur and Shola Ameobi performed the same gesture.
Liverpool’s contribution conveyed warm regards from everyone at the club. Newcastle’s message acknowledged Keegan as a forever legend who remained in their thoughts.
A black and white portrait of Keegan adorned the cover of the matchday programme, while within its pages appeared correspondence from his relatives expressing gratitude to Newcastle for their support. Identical messages were printed and affixed to seats throughout the stadium for attendees to peruse ahead of the fixture.
Victor Munoz and Alexis Mac Allister prepared for the match wearing shirts displaying Keegan’s name alongside the number seven.
The family correspondence addressed Newcastle United fans and the city directly, noting that the past couple of weeks had been among the hardest the family had endured while saying goodbye to their husband, father, and grandfather.
The letter explained that despite living outside of the region, the love and warmth from the North East had reached their hearts and provided tremendous comfort during those difficult days. The empathy, compassion and warmth of the extraordinary club and community had shone through, with the outpouring of love being truly overwhelming.
Having witnessed the tributes outside St. James’ Park, family members returned home to Newcastle to see the memorials in person. The letter described how the sea of black and white shirts and scarves, alongside colours from many other clubs, reminded them how much Kevin meant to the footballing world.
It was described as a sombre moment that reminded the family of their pain and loss, yet was matched with immense pride and love while reading so many personal and heartfelt messages. Kevin had always shared his love for Newcastle United, Geordies, and the city, captivating them with stories told with his infectious smile.
Seeing these tributes brought those stories to life for Kevin’s grandchildren, showing them how deeply their grandfather was loved in return. It also allowed a quiet moment to reflect on many fond memories of Kevin’s incredible career and the incomparable bond he shared with Newcastle.
The letter noted that the football club, city, and community showed a passion that truly embodied Kevin as a footballer, manager, and family man. The family expressed eternal gratitude for the adoration and strength given when they needed it most.