Thought For The Day – Tuesday 21^st July 2026

Above:  “The Angel of The North”, in Gateshead. Sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley. Photograph by Steve Robinson, at “Stevie Landscapes”.

Yesterday, Kevin Keegan O.B.E., an outstanding footballer, manager, and person,  passed away from this life.

Now, of course, many people would have passed away from this life yesterday.   All these people very special to their families and communities.

Mr. Keegan, a family person, who, it was reported yesterday,  told a player in his team that:  “Your first team is your family”, and who never himself wanted to be the centre of attention, including and especially in recent times, would be the first to recognise the universal importance of everyone.

Always grounded and humble, Mr. Keegan did not feel he had any gifts, skills, and talents.  Instead, he talked of, and lived,  the importance of hard work. Kevin Keegan gave his all to everything and everyone.

Born on Valentine’s Day, 1951,  in Armthorpe, Doncaster, wherever he went,  whether as a player or manager, Mr. Keegan had a transformative impact:  Scunthorpe United;  Liverpool under Bill Shankly; Hamburg S.V. in Germany; Southampton;  famously Newcastle United as player and manager; Fulham; Manchester City;  England.

In paying tribute yesterday, people spoke of an engaging person, always mindful of his working-class and mining roots, who cared for others, living with enthusiasm, honesty, kindness, passion, and zest. He wore his heart on his sleeve.  In language and actions, Kevin Keegan had standards. Mr. Keegan, his play, and the teams he led, were loved by all.

He never forgot his roots. Yesterday, people spoke of Mr. Keegan as a person of values, who cared for, and had time for, everyone.  Generous of spirit and generous of time.

And this included us. Many years ago, when he was still in management, Mr. Keegan replied personally, in a typed letter we still have, to a letter we sent from The Bishop’s Stortford High School.

How do we make others feel about themselves?  What light do we shine?   Kevin Keegan transcended boundaries and sport. He lifted others up.   He showed care and values.

Care and values were also themes in the wider leadership of the United Kingdom yesterday, and last week.

Yesterday, after meeting King Charles III, Andy Burnham M.P. succeeded Sir Keir Starmer M.P., becoming the 59th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

We wish Mr. Burnham well, as we have done U.K. Prime Ministers, of all parties, in these messages.

There were caring, dignified, gracious, and respectful comments from, and about,  Mr. Starmer both yesterday, as he departed Downing Street, and last Wednesday in his final “Prime Minister’s Questions” in the House of Commons, especially by the Leader of the Opposition, and Leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch M.P.. 

Yesterday, and last week, both Mr. Starmer and Mrs. Badenoch spoke of the importance of family, care, and values.

Before he entered Number 10, Downing Street yesterday, Mr. Burnham embraced his mother. His father does not know his son is now Prime Minister, because he has dementia caused by Alzheimer’s illness.

Mr, Burnham, who was Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 to 2026,  came to prominence in 2009, when he delivered, as a Member of Parliament and Government Minister, a speech on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at a Memorial Service at Anfield football stadium. The people of Liverpool then were crying out for Truth and Justice for the then 96 victims (which would in time become 97) of the disaster of the 15th of April 1989.

Yesterday, outside Downing Street, at a place Year 10 students from T.B.S.H.S. visited in November of 2025,   Mr. Burnham spoke of belief, hope, positivity, standards, and unity.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom also spoke of the importance of care and values.