Fans across Newcastle gathered outside St James' Park on Monday to lay flowers and pay tribute to Kevin Keegan, following news of the former footballer and manager's death at age 75, with supporters describing him as a figure whose impact on the club and city went far beyond his achievements on the pitch.

Although Keegan was not originally from Newcastle, having been born in Yorkshire, Geordies have long claimed him as one of their own, given his influential stints with the club as both a player and manager. Even fans of rival club Sunderland acknowledged his broader significance to the region. "He's a legend isn't he? Red and white, black and white it doesn't matter," said Eddie, a Sunderland supporter whose wife, Brenda, supports Newcastle.

A player with deep family roots in the region

Keegan first joined Newcastle as a player at the start of the 1982-83 season, helping guide the club toward promotion to the First Division before announcing his retirement at the end of the following season. He famously left St James' Park by helicopter following his testimonial match, a moment that became part of the club's folklore.

Keegan's connection to the region ran deeper than his playing career alone. His grandfather, Frank, was a County Durham miner and a hero of the 1909 West Stanley Pit Disaster, having survived an explosion that tore through the pit before going back inside to........

© International Business Times