Kevin Keegan was never a political animal but he almost converted Margaret Thatcher to the Beautiful Game.Together with then England captain Emlyn Hughes, in a shameless publicity exercise, he planted a kiss on the Iron Lady's cheek.

For the little dynamo from Doncaster it was a symbolic gesture. English footballers and prime ministers have always enjoyed a platonic relationship and KK always loved the attention.

Keegan remains the inspiration to all who play the game. From his earliest days at Scunthorpe through to those magical European nights at Liverpool, he was the club's driving force.

'Keegan remains the inspiration to all who play the game. From his earliest days at Scunthorpe through to those magical European nights at Liverpool, he was the club's driving force'

Few can deny that Keegan had all of the game's most redeeming virtues; fire in his belly, wholehearted enthusiasm and an overwhelming desire to win everything in sight.

The memory goes back to that ugly FA Charity Shield match in 1974 when Keegan seemingly lost the plot. Half way through a typically feisty encounter against Leeds United, he came face to face with Billy Bremner.

Both Keegan and Bremner were, shall we say, competitors of the highest order. If they'd taken up boxing as a career, then they might have ended up in a hospital ward. After a pointless bust up, Keegan ripped off his Liverpool shirt, Bremner followed and both men stormed off the pitch.