'I met Kevin Keegan and he was more than a childhood hero - he gave a generation hope'

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The word legend gets used for so many people, but not many truly deserve it the way Kevin Keegan does. The former footballer's death aged 75 will leave a huge hole in the lives of many - myself included.

Okay, so he wasn't a relative or a family friend, but he was much more than just another sports star. He was my introduction to football. He was the man who let six-year-old me fall in love with the Beautiful Game and with it, enjoy an abundance of joy with his Entertainers team - and slightly more than splattering of misery that followed - alongside those closest to me.

His words had the ability to let you truly believe. Whether that was as a fan or a player, it's a trait very few hold and even fewer pull off - just ask Robert Lee!

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Fast-forward 20 years, and he was also my first introduction into the world of football reporting as a trainee. I was an aspiring sports journalist at the time and I headed to a press conference at Newcastle's training ground during work experience for the Newcastle Evening Chronicle to watch him work his magic during his second stint as the manager of the Toon Army.

He batted off question after question in a relaxed way that seemed like he was talking to a group of friends. But he gave them every moment of his time - and even jokingly told people to try again when he believed they could ask a better question to get their headline answer.

He brought about an aura like no other. Even in a room full of professionals, many with decades of years behind them, he was able to have them eating out of the palm of his hands with ease.

And it was that ability that made him such a success long after his career ended as an after-dinner speaker. I've had the pleasure to meet him and sit in on talk-ins on a number of occasions over the years, and you could never tire of listening to him enthusiastically tell a tale.

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During an event with Chris Waddle and Peter Beardsley crowds waited as there was a delay. It turned out, apparently, that Keegan was late. But while many others would have cut their time short with paying punters - and those organising events were frantically trying to hurry the crowds along - Keegan was having none of it.

He knew the crowd was there for him. He was a man of the people. He had time for everybody, and made sure everyone got their chance to chat. And for that, I thank him.

Whether it was a Newcastle related query, or career focused, he always held that glint in his eye that made you truly believe he was interested and fully focused on you in that moment.

While I'm far from in a position to join the likes of Alan Shearer or Pete Graves in sending a heartfelt tribute to the main man, I feel I echo so many others in saying how much he meant to the people of Newcastle.

Kevin Keegan was much more than just another footballer and manager to me and my generation. He was the symbolism of hope.

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He let us dream. He let us believe. He taught us valuable lessons and made us feel on top of the world in his own special way - no matter who you were. And for that, I thank him.

His name will forever be chanted from the St James' Park terraces, and hopefully soon he will have a statue or a stand named after him to really show off the lasting legacy.

Rest in peace, King Kev. Gone, but never forgotten. There is certainly only one Kevin Keegan!