NATIONAL TREASURE

ALAN SHEARER and Kevin Keegan led the plaudits for fellow North-East sporting legend Brendan Foster as he counts down to retirement.

The Olympic medallist turned voice of BBC athletics hangs up his microphone at the end of the World Championships, which start in London on Friday.

“I’d class us Geordies as very hard working,” former Newcastle star Shearer (right) told A Life In Athletics, an endearing documentary on Foster’s career to be screened on BBC1 today at 1.15pm.

“Very very loyal, very supportive, demanding, honest. I think that’s us in a nutshell. And that’s Brendan in a nutshell.”

Keegan (right), who played for and managed Foster’s beloved Toon, agreed: “They (Geordies) love to see people doing well and they love to see people giving it everything they’ve got. And that’s what Brendan did.

“He didn’t always win the race but, you know something, there was nothing left in his tank when he finished. He gave it everything he’d got.”

Foster (below) has been a favourite of the nation since 20 million tuned in to watch him win Olympic 10,000m bronze at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

“He’s a very important conscience for the sport,” added Sebastian Coe, boss of world athletics. “He’s prepared to say things others won’t say.”