Kathy comes home
ST JAMES’ PARK SUITE IS NAMED IN HONOUR OF TEA LADY
FIRST there was the Milburn Stand, then the Sir John Hall one, followed by the Sir Bobby Robson suite - now there’s Kath’s Kitchen.
Today, Newcastle United will unveil a touching tribute to the club’s legendary tea lady Kath Cassidy.
The club has refurbished the catering area in the Press suite and have renamed it “Kath’s Kitchen”.
Kath retired in 2015 after serving beverages to dozens of players, managers and journalists at St James’ Park since 1963.
Kath, from Wallsend, North Tyneside, sadly died in March at the age of 90.
Some of her family will be attending the Magpies’ home match with Watford this afternoon, where Kath’s Kitchen will be unveiled.
Kath worked in a number of jobs, including in a court, as well as raising her six children before becoming part of the furniture at the home of the United.
There she worked under 26 different managers, including Kevin Keegan, Bobby Robson, Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew, before retiring after 49 years due to ill health.
She worked in the press suite on match days and became a popular figure with local media. And Kath even made a cameo appearance during a club press conference in 2005, under then manager Graeme Souness. Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were forced into making a public apology after being sent off for fighting during Newcastle’s 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa. Following her death, the club said Kath had been “adored by managers, players and staff alike”. Toon legend Alan Shearer said: “She was devoted to Newcastle, always made me smile and made the very best tea.” And former player Warren Barton, described her as “a great lady”. Ex-Newcastle manager Keegan, who guided the Magpies to second place in the Premier League in 1996, said Kath was “irreplaceable”.
She was devoted to Newcastle, always made me smile and made the very best tea Alan Shearer