Keegan and Santa made for quite a team for youngsters
IF Newcastle United fans were “walking in a Keegan wonderland” (as the famous stadium chant went) 25 years ago, these children were experiencing the real thing.
It was December 1996 and in the run-up to Christmas, the United manager and club officials flew with more than 200 local youngsters to the winter wonderland of southern Norway.
On the football front, it was a heady time, with the club flying high in the Premier League, and St James’ Park being redeveloped into one of the finest stadiums in the UK.
On December 16, our sister paper the Sunday Sun reported on the seasonal trip to snowy northern Europe.
Club chairman Sir John Hall told us: “My son, Douglas, was flicking through the paper when he saw an advert to take children to meet Santa Claus in Lapland.
“We got in touch with Braathens Airways, who suggested southern Norway. Newcastle City Council selected the children.”
Up in frozen Scandinavia, a great time was had by all. The report said: “For the 262 children taken by the club to the heart of Norway for a Christmas to remember, it was a toss-up whose company was the more eagerly sought – Santa’s or Keegan’s.
“Keegan carried one boy, a cancer sufferer from the city’s West End, on his shoulders through the streets of Roros – one of Santa’s many official residences in this part of the world – and delighted youngsters with a stream of jokes.”
Just weeks later, on January 7, Keegan unexpectedly quit as manager of Newcastle United.
But the children who made the Norway trip had had something they would remember for ever.