There are some days that will live with me forever.
Some are for good reasons and some for bad but they are etched into memory, every detail, every sight, smell and sound never to be forgotten.
I think I have always had a good memory, mostly for football, so let’s see if I can jog your memory too.
I was sat at my desk, a group of four in an open plan office adorned by the obligatory plants with a very 1970s feel to it. There were big desks, wide corridors and big windows for light, before all this fancy new lighting was invented.
We were next to the main road in Lichfield so I could watch cars and people go by in between writing the odd line of a computer program. I was on the aisle seat so I could also chat with every passer by in between writing the other lines of code. I was actually quite a good programmer btw.
Anyway, it is February 1992, we hae just lost in the fog 5-2 away at Oxford. Ossie Ardiles is our manager and we are playing some really entertaining football with a group of young kids, or in other words, we look like we’re going down.
In walks Dave Armstrong from goods onwards with a delivery for a lady sat a few rows back in accounts – Sandra. I think it’s some paper as he’s struggling with the box as they are quite heavy.
I always chat to Dave as him and his brother Alan are Geordies and Newcastle United fans. I’ve been all over with them watching us, from climbing up the fencing at Crewe in the cup, to avoiding the coins at St Andrews.
So I paused my work, turned my chair and prepared for the in-depth analysis of our latest defeat. “Alright Dave”, I said.
He was a big bloke and turned halfway round, as he struggled to hand the paperwork for the receipt and the boxes over.
“Have you heard?”, he asked.
Again, he turned back round to Sandra, who was trying to talk to him. “These aren’t ours”, she said.
“No, what?”, I replied.
There was a pause as he tried to deal with Sandra.
“Have you heard who our new manager is?”
“Nah”, I laughed, half expecting it to be Jimmy Nail, or Jim Smith again, or Arthur Cox having another go. There was no excitement in my voice. We were a club on the slide and we had low expectations.
The words that came out of his mouth changed mine and your life forever.
“It’s Kevin Keegan.”
I remember immediately standing up. Dave didn’t seem too excited but inside I was buzzing, as they say.
Kevin Keegan! The second coming. I couldn’t believe it!
What unfolded was in my opinion, the greatest chapter in our history, as we went from relegation candidates to the most entertaining team the country had ever seen. Kevin Keegan!!
Obviously, any work for the day was shelved as important phone calls were made to my brother, parents and friends. That was a day of days.
Sadly, Dave is no longer with us, claimed by Covid. His full name was Dave Armstrong and I owe him to use it. He was a great bloke, a Newcastle United fan and a funny guy.
He said the words that changed everything. Keegan Keegan Keegan!!!