Kevin Keegan fans' bid for 'fitting tribute' to England legend in Scunthorpe where career began
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Mirror or go back to LFC Live.
Keegan, known to fans as King Kev, enjoyed a glittering career, which saw him win 63 England caps, including 31 as captain and win an array of trophies, including two Ballon d’OrsFootball fans are fundraising for a statue to honour Kevin Keegan in the place he began his career after his death from cancer.The proposed likeness would be placed in Scunthorpe, North Lincs, where the two-time Ballon-D'Or winner began his career, making more than 100 appearances, before moving to Liverpool for £33,000 in 1971. He'd been rejected by Coventry City and Doncaster Rovers before Ron Ashman, who again was a legend at the club, saw Kevin, got him signed and then sold him to Liverpool in 1971."Keegan, who died on Monday aged 75, also went on to play for Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle during an illustrious playing career, which also included 63 England caps, including 31 as captain.
He also went on to manage England, as well as Newcastle, Fulham, and Manchester City, but despite his incredible success, Keegan still remained a supporter of Scunthorpe and repeatedly returned there to help raise funds.His last visit came in December last year when he attended the club's National League match against Tamworth, even giving a speech in the dressing room before the match, visiting the boardroom and meeting fans around the ground, including in the club's Iron Bar.Current players and staff held a minute's applause and laid flowers in tribute to the former Iron player there earlier this week. He said: "I thought I'd just come down and say goodbye to him in the best way."Jamie Benson, 28, who also signed the book, said Keegan had "Scunthorpe in his heart".
He was just down to earth and genuine and I think that's why so many people fell in love with him."The fundraiser says: "The Iron Trust is fundraising for a Kevin Keegan memorial statue at the birthplace of his glittering career, in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. We are raising funds to commemorate the great, late, Kevin Keegan, following the sad news of his passing on the 20th July, aged 75, with a people's memorial and statue to be located in Scunthorpe, the home of the Iron, the club at which Kevin began his football career."It adds: "The Iron Trust invites fans of Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg SV, Southampton and Newcastle, as well as football fans around the world to donate towards a lasting memorial at the birthplace of King Kev's extraordinary football career."To contribute to the fundraiser, click here.