Newcastle United player set to start Great North Run and repeat Kevin Keegan honour
Dan Burn will follow in Kevin Keegan’s footsteps by officially starting the Great North Run.
Dan Burn will be the official race-starter for 63,000 participants at the Great North Run today.
The world’s biggest half-marathon celebrates its 45th year - with a record number of runners raising money for charity. Introduced by Sir Brendan Foster in 1981, over 1.5 million people have completed the race since its creation.
Kevin Keegan - still England captain and yet to establish professional ties with Newcastle United - started the first Great North Run all those years ago. Another Toon legend is now set to do the same over four decades later.
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Burn will be hoping to avoid the treatment Eddie Howe received in 2023. The former Toon boss naively did not anticipate the number of Sunderland fans also taking part - who taunted him as they passed.
“It's an honour to be starting the Great North Run on the milestone 45th occasion,” Burn said. “I’m so excited to see all 63,000 of you on Sunday. I’d like to wish everyone running all the best of luck.”
Sir Brendan also joked that the event needed someone “big” to commemorate a special anniversary. He added: “This year for us is huge in so many ways - it’s our 45th anniversary and the biggest ever Great North Run, with 63,000 runners taking on the famous course from city to sea.
“We needed someone big for this big moment, so we made a big signing… Big Dan Burn! The Great North Run is about regional pride, ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and a shared love and passion for the region.
“Dan epitomises all of this. Since the first event, we’ve seen countless special moments. Kevin Keegan, as England captain, was our first celebrity runner back in 1981, running the course in a split shirt representing both Newcastle United and Sunderland.
“It seemed also a fitting tribute to Kevin by inviting Newcastle United, and Dan as current captain, to start the race this year as we remember Kevin’s impact on the game across the region.”