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Kevin Keegan tributes to be removed from St James'

Federica BedendoNorth East and Cumbria
News imageAndy Greenwood/BBC A Newcastle United scarf in the foreground. The background is blurred and shows tributes left at St James' Park for Kevin Keegan. They include team shirts and flowers.Andy Greenwood/BBC
Kevin Keegan was a beloved player and manager at Newcastle United

Tributes to football legend Kevin Keegan are set to be removed from St James' Park in Newcastle, a week after his death.

Thousands of tributes, including flowers, cards, shirts and scarves, were left outside the city's stadium in the days following the beloved athlete's death on 20 July at the age of 75.

Although not from Newcastle, Keegan was loved and admired by Geordies thanks to the influential stints he had as both a player and manager at the city's football club in the 1980s and '90s.

Newcastle United said Monday would be the final opportunity for fans to leave their tributes, with bouquets starting to be removed on Tuesday.

The club said it was talking to supporter groups about how to preserve the non-perishable tributes.

During the ongoing consultation, they said all mementoes would be stored at the club.

One suggestion has been to incorporate the shirts and scarves to form a giant flag, made in Keegan's honour, but no firms plans are in place as yet.

News imageAndy Greenwood/BBC Hundreds of Newcastle United shirts, flowers, cards and other tributes on the floor outside St James' Park in Newcastle. Dozens of people are lined up looking at the tributes to Kevin Keegan. There is a blue and white banner hanging from the side of the stadium, between the Newcastle United sign and the steps, with the words The Messiah, in tribute to Kevin Keegan.Andy Greenwood/BBC
Thousands of people have paid their respects to Keegan at St James' Park over the course of the past week

In a statement on their website, the club said: "The thousands of tributes left in memory of Kevin Keegan at St James' Park have been a moving reminder of what he meant to this club, this city, and the wider football community.

"Thank you to everyone who has visited to pay their respects."

The club added decaying floral tributes could be "recycled into high-quality soil conditioner" to be used on the club's academy pitches.

"Thank you, as ever, for the love you've shown Kevin and his family this week," the statement concluded.

News imageAndy Greenwood/BBC Bunches of flowers, including white roses and sunflowers lying outside St James' Park in Newcastle, together with club scarfs and T-shirts. People are looking at the tributes.Andy Greenwood/BBC
Floral tributes will be disposed of from Tuesday, the club said

Keegan first played at Newcastle at the start of the 1982-83 season, helping the club towards promotion to the First Division and arguably becoming the most beloved figure in the Tyneside club's history.

He returned as manager of the club in 1992, almost eight years after his final game as a player - eventually resigning after five dazzling years, in 1997.

His family had deep roots in the area, with both his grandfather and father being lifelong Newcastle supporters.

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