Stephen Searle (Sprocket)

In April 1985, I had the privilege of assisting with bringing Kevin Keegan to Kawerau, the football playing youth and coaches of the Eastern Bay.

I picked him up from Hamilton. Our first stop was to the Tasman Training Centre, where he gave a lunch-time talk on his achievements. The centre was packed and the comments from the audience, were that it was one of the best lunch-time talks ever.

After the talk, we headed to Tarawera Park, at Kevin’s request stopping to visit Tommy Craig, a young man who was unable to make the day.

The park had been set up as a training ground. The voluntary coaches took time off work to run an afternoon’s coaching session and all junior footballers of the Eastern Bay were given the afternoon off school to attend.

Kevin spent the afternoon working and talking to the coach and the kids.

At that time, New Zealand had a weekly paper called the Soccer Express. That week’s one had an article and photo of Kevin in it. Every child that was at that session, and there were hundreds, got a copy.

Kevin made sure every kid that wanted an autograph got one.

The day ended with a dinner and talk at Pinelands Hotel; everyone who attended noted that it was enjoyable.

Forty years on, people still remember and talk about that day.

Rest in peace and thank you for the fantastic memories.