Wor Flags release official statement on Sunday morning regarding today’s planned display | OneFootball

Wor Flags have released an official statement (see below) ahead of today’s match.

Newcastle United v Manchester United with a 4.30pm kick-off at St James’ Park.

It had been the worst kept secret (see Friday’s report on The Mag below) that today was finally going to be the much anticipated Wor Flags tribute to Kevin Keegan.

After the worrying news on Saturday that Eddie Howe had been admitted to hospital, Wor Flags addressing a number of messages they have received from Newcastle United fans.

Wor Flags official statement via their social media – 13 April 2025:

‘We appreciate the messages we’ve received since yesterday evening regarding today’s display.

Hundreds of hours have gone into creating it, and in the short time frame there’s no way we can pull it, it would also mean so much wasted material that fans have paid for.

As much as we celebrate the present, we fondly remember the past and salute those who will always have a lasting impact on our club and our fans.

King Kev set the standards for Newcastle United as both player and manager, and today we pay homage to the legend.

We’re sure Eddie Howe would agree that a massive atmosphere is needed throughout the 90.

Get into them Newcastle, HOWAY THE LADS!’

I think that one of the massive negatives of online/social media is that in situations like this, so many people will be quick to come up with ‘advice’ on what others should be doing.

The ‘others’ in this situation being Wor Flags.

I am constantly astounded at just how much time they and their network of support give up to put on these superb flag displays, that are such a massive positive for us as Newcastle United fans. Like thousands of you, here at The Mag we are happy to make a regular donation each month (see how to join us below in doing so) to do our very small bit into helping to finance the displays.

There will have been literally hundreds, if not thousands, of man hours that have been committed, totally free as volunteers, to put on this Kevin Keegan special display. For anybody asking (demanding?) that all these brilliant volunteers should then have to suddenly work through Saturday night and today pre-match, to change/replace today’s planned display, is just ridiculous. Especially as I’m guessing pretty much none of those asking/demanding the display is changed, would be willing to go and help Wor Flags if they had decided to make changes at such a late stage.

With all their careful planning and preparation work, quite clearly Wor Flags put so much thought into what they are doing, so just let them get on with it and allow them to do what they think is best.

Any criticism of them on this occasion (or indeed any occasion) would be a disgrace

Especially as I have no doubt that Eddie Howe himself wouldn’t have anything negative at all to say about what Wor Flags have said and are doing, quite the opposite. The NUFC boss has frequently praised Wor Flags and was especially stunned when that massive flag tribute to himself (see photo at the top) was unveiled during the victory parade.

The Mag report – 11 April 2025:

Early in November, we brought you news of a Kevin Keegan initiative from Wor Flags.

They revealed that they were planning a special tribute to the great man. Wor Flags asking for donations to help make this Kevin Keegan tribute happen.

It was widely expected amongst the NUFC fanbase that this special KK display would be planned for the 4 December 2024 Liverpool game.

However, Wor Flags then made public on 2 December 2024 that this wouldn’t be happening.

Via their social media, Wor Flags stating on 2 December 2024:

‘Liverpool (H) Thanks to your incredibly generous donations, we have all the makings of a display fit for King Kev. We’re excited to share this with you in the future.

This week however, we felt the timing called for something different.

Howay the Lads.’

Over four months on though and now it is claimed that the special Wor Flags tribute to Kevin Keegan will happen this coming weekend.

As well as claims from fans online, a number of journalists also reporting that they understand Sunday’s match against Man U, will see the special Kevin Keegan display ahead of kick-off.

As for Wor Flags themselves, they have teased this ahead of Sunday…

The departure of Mike Ashley meant the return of Wor Flags to matches, as they ended their boycott.

The pre-match flag displays once again becoming part of the matchday routine.

Ahead of the first home match of the 2022/23 season, Wor Flags invited all fans to consider helping them with future flag displays by setting up a regular monthly donation to assist in funding them. See below how to get involved.

The Wor Flags ‘goal’ explained:

‘Our Goal

Wor Flags goal is straightforward – to create displays at St James’ Park that are worthy of this great club. We will achieve this in the following ways:

Hundreds of black and white hand-held waver flags

Larger custom design one and two poler waver flags

Large text banners featuring messages of support

Foils, surfers and custom tifos’

On behalf of everybody who visits The Mag, we signed up in summer 2022 to make a modest regular monthly donation to help fund Wor Flags and that is ongoing.

If you would like to join us and make a personal individual contribution, then please go HERE, where you can set up a monthly donation (from as little as £1 per month and upwards) to Wor Flags, or a one-off contribution.