Fans of Keegan's first club fundraising for statue

Fans of the football club where Kevin Keegan started his career are fundraising for a statue in his memory.

Scunthorpe United's The Iron Trust hopes to raise £10,000 towards the sculpture to be installed in the North Lincolnshire town.

Keegan, who died on Monday aged 75, signed for United in 1968 and spent three seasons with them before being transferred to Liverpool for a fee of £33,000.

David Beverley, vice chairman of the trust, said the statue would be a "fitting tribute" to the England star.

"You've got to remember his career started here," he said.

"He'd been rejected by Coventry City and Doncaster Rovers before Ron Ashman, who again was a legend at the club, saw Kevin, got him signed and then sold him to Liverpool in 1971."

After leaving the Old Show Ground, Keegan played for Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle, before managing the Tyneside club twice and later on Fulham and Manchester City.

He won many trophies in his career, including three First Division titles, two UEFA Cup wins, the FA Cup and a European Cup.

As an England player he won 63 caps and later went on to manage the national side.

Current players and staff gathered outside Glanford Park to hold a minute's applause and lay flowers in tribute to the former Iron player.

Fans queued at the ground to sign a book of condolence.

Steven Plumtree, 55, recalled watching Keegan play as a child and described his death as a "big loss to Scunthorpe".

"I thought I'd just come down and say goodbye to him in the best way," he said.

Jamie Benson, 28, signing the book, said Keegan had "Scunthorpe in his heart".

"He still came to visit people," he said.

"He was just down to earth and genuine and I think that's why so many people fell in love with him."

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