The apotheosis of Kevin Keegan, who has died aged 75 of cancer, came in the minutes after his final appearance as a professional footballer, while wearing the black and white stripes of Newcastle United, the club of his heart.
On 17 May 1984, at the end of a friendly against Liverpool, with whom he had achieved his early fame, a helicopter landed on the pitch at St James’ Park and carried him away, still in his full kit, borne aloft by the cheering of 36,000 home fans, many of them moved to tears by his departure.
