Newcastle United legend David Kelly has been immortalised thanks to Wor Flags’ latest display. The group unfurled a giant flag marking the moment Kelly scored against Portsmouth in 1992.
For fans who remember that goal, it is often described as the most important strike in the club’s history. With the club on the brink of relegation to the then third division, defeat to the South Coast team that day would have all but condemned United to relegation.
Kelly scored the 86th-minute winner in front of the Gallowgate sending St James’ Park into celebrations. The goal came from a long ball down to Kelly, who knocked it down to Quinn before running on and striking it into the corner.
Wor Flags’ lastest display captured that strike. It was flown on the Gallowgate against Leicester City, ironically where Newcastle went in 1992 in the final game of the season to secure their Division 2 status.
A spokesman from Wor Flags told Chronicle Live, "It's nearly 30 years to the day since he scored that goal against Portsmouth back in April 1992, the goal stopped us going down into what is now League One. It started the fightback the season after that eventually led to us to getting promoted to the Premier League. He was a big part of that. It's just honouring what was a pivotal moment in our history.
“Kelly is a player who doesn't get the same recognition as others, the likes of Alan Shearer, Kevin Keegan, Sir Bobby Robson - all these heroes. For us, David Kelly is part of that list. I was too young to remember that goal but it's a story I've been told many, many times by the people who were there.
"We are striking the right tone in honouring that part in the club's history. It was, as said, a pivotal moment, and then what went on to happen in the 1990s which we fondly remember, it all started with that moment, and it's nice we get to honour David Kelly."
The idea for the display came from a fan who got in touch with the group, and it was agreed - with Kelly in attendance at the game - it would be the perfect flag. Of course, in true Wor Flags style, things didn't quite go to plan with the group needing a last-minute addition made for the display.
The flag will be accompanied by the commentary from the day. It went, 'Kelly - that'll do. You cannot put a price on that goal from David Kelly.'
Adding more about the reason behind the display, the spokesman added: "It's a great idea and marks something different to what we've done before. We hope it can give people a bit of a history lesson, there will be a big generation who maybe don't know about that goal or even heard of David Kelly, so it's nice to remember him.
"His name still gets sung on the terraces - alongside Andy Cole. Hopefully, it urges people to look back into the club's history and what we were before the Keegan era and to understand those pivotal moments that kept us alive as a football club."
All four sides of St James' Park were once again full of black and white flags. Wor Flags urges supporters not to take the flags home.
