Keegan ‘golden era’ revisited

THE ‘Golden Era’of Kevin Keegan’s managerial days at Newcastle will be re-visited when two former United stars turn out for a special Christmas dinner.

John Beresford and Warren Barton will help to kick-start a series of ‘Up Close and Personal with…’ dinners being organised in the North-East.

And another former Geordie player – Hartlepool legendary striker Joe Allon – will also form part of the first night in Bishop.

Sheffield-born Beresford was a Keegan signing when he joined the Magpies for £650,000 from Portsmouth in July 1992. He played over 200 league and cup games for United before leaving for Southampton in a £1.5m deal in February 1998. He began his career as a youth with Manchester City in 1983 before signing for Barnsley in 1988 and then Pompey in 1989.

After his stint with the Saints, he had a loan spell with Birmingham in October 1999 and retired with Ossett Town after a year with the non-league club.

Barton made his name with Wimbledon – now known as MK Dons – before Keegan paid the Crazy Gang £4m for him in June 1995.

The Stoke-born defender also made over 200 league and cup appearances for the Magpies before joining Derby in February 2002.

He also had spells with QPR, MK Dons again and non-league Dagenham and Redbridge before retirning in summer 2005.

Joe Allon, meanwhile, is a 1980/90s North-East cult hero after making his name with Hartlepool before signing for Chelsea for £250,000 in 1991. The Gateshead-born striker, who began his craeer as a youth with Newcastle, also had spells with Port Vale, Brentford, Southend and Lincoln before returning to Pools in 1995.

Up Close and Personal with John Beresford, Warren Barton and Joe Allon is due to be held at the Postchaise Hotel in Bishop Auckland on Wednesday December 13, from 7.30pm. Tickets are priced just £50 (£40 for Spennymoor Sunday League members), and can be obtained by calling Danny on 07966 272548 or Peter on 07739 574979.

 
30th Nov 2006