Simon Sheldon Recalls When Television Show Superstars Was a Smash Hit and a Liverpool and England Star Came a Cropper
![When Kevin Keegan Fell Off His Bike](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/1690/268591/5aace9621af96/When-Kevin-KeeganFell-Off-His-Bike.jpg)
KEVIN Keegan was my first sporting hero, whether scoring goals for club or country.His achievements are legendary as a player and manager, twice winning the European Footballer of the Year award.
There was also that perm, those Brut adverts and even his attempts at chart success (with ‘Head Over Heels in Love’ peaking at number 31 in the UK charts in 1979).
But, for me, his appearance on Superstars was the highlight of his illustrious career.
It says much about footballers’ pay at that time that although Keegan was well paid, even he could not afford to turn down an offer of $500 to take part.
The power of terrestrial television back in those days meant that the image of Keegan toppling off a bicycle on a track in Bracknell in the summer of 1976 is for me and for so many others such a powerful memory.
First aired on British TV in December 1973, Superstars was a show that brought together some of the best sportsmen and women of their era to compete against each other in a series of sporting disciplines from shooting to canoeing, and the infamous gym tests to cycling.
The show was presented by the late, great David Vine and Ron Pickering. It ran for years and was a huge ratings hit for the BBC.
Footballers had not had much success up to that point, so Keegan was keen to prove that football players could be as fit, if not fitter, as other sporting stars.
Bobby Moore had competed in the first ever competition in 1973, but he struggled and only finished in sixth place.
Colin Bell and Mike Channon took part the following year. Although both did quite well in winning a couple of the events, Bell finished third and Channon last.
Bu hikaye Late Tackle Football Magazine dergisinin March/April 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Late Tackle Football Magazine dergisinin March/April 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
![REISS LIGHTNING](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/W-Ad5yeqM1724321691246/REISS-LIGHTNING.jpg)
REISS LIGHTNING
SHUBI ARUN ON FOLLOWING THE FORTUNES OF ARSENAL IN 2022/23...
![THE LOST WALLET](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/rGRzT2EG71724321520319/THE-LOST-WALLET.jpg)
THE LOST WALLET
MICHAEL GRIMES RECALLS A VISIT TO A MATCH THAT DIDN'T QUITE GO TO PLAN...
![DOUBLE DIAMOND](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/6SwyoMn8e1724321174363/DOUBLE-DIAMOND.jpg)
DOUBLE DIAMOND
AUTHOR ALEX IRELAND DETAILS HOW SPORTSWEAR FIRM UMBRO BECAME PART OF FOOTBALL HISTORY ACROSS THE GLOBE
![TASTY ALMONDS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/xR77WyWqd1724320837063/TASTY-ALMONDS.jpg)
TASTY ALMONDS
ROY HAMILTON TELLS JOHN LYONS ABOUT THE DAYS WHEN ALMONDSBURY GREENWAY BECAME A BIG FISH IN NON-LEAGUE WATERS...
![HANSEN'S HIGHLIGHTS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/t43Pw8nlu1724320612618/HANSENS-HIGHLIGHTS.jpg)
HANSEN'S HIGHLIGHTS
AS MATCH OF THE DAY CELEBRATES ITS GOTH BIRTHDAY, SAM TODD REFLECTS ON THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY FORMER PUNDIT ALAN HANSEN...
![MARINE LIFE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/sVjSMO6w91724319986081/MARINE-LIFE.jpg)
MARINE LIFE
POET CHRIS TOWERS WATCHED MARINE PLAY BRADFORD PARK AVENUE IN THE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE IN FEBRUARY. HE WRITES OF A CLUB CLOSE TO ITS COMMUNITY
![SAME OLD ROUTINE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/G_posFBMK1724319426087/SAME-OLD-ROUTINE.jpg)
SAME OLD ROUTINE
JONNY BRICK APPRECIATES THE RITUALISTIC ARRIVAL OF A NEW FOOTBALL SEASON...
![CLOSE ENCOUNTER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/DgutauW8q1724319179089/CLOSE-ENCOUNTER.jpg)
CLOSE ENCOUNTER
MAURICE MOORE TELLS US ABOUT HIS UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE AS A EURO 2024 VOLUNTEER...
![A FLASH OF GORDON](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/6YNZQlpdt1724318859118/A-FLASH-OF-GORDON.jpg)
A FLASH OF GORDON
CALLUM HUMPHREY REFLECTS ON A DISAPPOINTING EUROS FOR ENGLAND WINGER ANTHONY GORDON...
![FOXES' RETURN](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1690/1799391/fttuycTt11724318670623/FOXES-RETURN.jpg)
FOXES' RETURN
JOHN LYONS LOOKS AT THE PROSPECTS OF LEICESTER CITY AS THEY HEAD BACK TO THE TOP FLIGHT AFTER A YEAR AWAY...