Newcastle United will remember club legend Kevin Keegan throughout their pre-season schedule.

Newcastle United have confirmed they will remember the life of Magpies icon Kevin Keegan throughout the pre-season friendly fixtures.

The former United player and manager is one of the most revered figures in the club’s long history after playing a key role in creating lifelong memories during his on-field and managerial career on Tyneside. His passing at the age of 75 earlier this week provided an understandably emotional reaction from supporters and there have been called for the former England captain and two-time Balon D’or winner to have a permanent tribute housed at St James Park.

Newcastle have opened up a memory book for supporters to lead messages of remembrance at the Magpies box office and thousands of supporters have left flowers, replica shirts and scarves outside the Gallowgate since news of Keegan’s passing was announced on Monday afternoon.

Eddie Howe’s side will continue their preparations for the new Premier League season on Saturday when they make the short trip across the Tyne to face National League neighbours Gateshead in a fixture that will mark the first in front of supporters since Keegan’s passing. The Heed have confirmed they will hold a minute’s silence to honour the passing of a man they described as ‘revered on Tyneside’ and players on both sides will wear black armbands as a mark of respect throughout the game. Newcastle have also announced their men’s, women’s and Under-21s teams will wear black armbands during all of their pre-season friendlies this summer.

Coincidentally, the Magpies will travel to Bristol City on Wednesday, July 29 as they face the same side Keegan’s United faced in the first game of his managerial career back in February 1992 as two goals from David Kelly and one from Liam O’Brien helped secure a 3-0 win against the Robins and kickstarted a push to avoid relegation into the third tier of English football. Newcastle have revealed Keegan’s image will be shown on screens in the seventh minute at Ashton Gate and that will mark the start of a minute of applause.

United’s first pre-season fixtures at St James Park come on the weekend of Saturday, August 15 as their men’s side face Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg and the women’s side take on their Inter Milan counterparts. A minute of applause will take place in the seventh minute of all three fixtures and Keegan’s image will be shown on screens at St James Park.

Tributes

Fans of Newcastle United display a tifo and a banner, which reads "The Messiah" in tribute to former player Kevin Keegan prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Manchester United FC at St James' Park on April 13, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Newcastle have also announced they will remember their former player and manager during the opening game of the Premier League season when Liverpool head to Tyneside. The fixture will be especially poignant as the Merseyside club are also mourning Keegan’s loss after he made 323 appearances during a six-year stay at Anfield betwen 1971 and 1977.

A Magpies club statement read: “To ensure his memory is marked fittingly before the game, the club is in communication with Liverpool and will work closely with supporter groups, including its Fan Advisory Board, the Newcastle United Supporters Trust and Wor Flags, as well as the Premier League, to shape tributes.”

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