Overview
- Newcastle confirmed on Wednesday that the Premier League opener at St James’ Park will include coordinated pre-match tributes after both clubs agreed the programme.
- Planned elements announced by the club include a stadium video tribute, a Wor Flags stadium display, a centre-circle mosaic made from supporters’ shirts and a minute’s applause immediately before kick-off.
- Both teams will warm up in shirts dedicated to Keegan and wear black armbands during the match to mark the tribute.
- Keegan died in July at age 75 following a public cancer diagnosis and thousands of supporters left shirts and tributes at St James’ Park, which have been repurposed into the mosaic and other displays.
- Keegan’s family and former players from his Newcastle era will be guests and a short private ceremony is planned, a public closure that unites rival fans and shapes the matchday atmosphere for supporters asked to arrive early.