Leeds United legend Gary Speed has been inducted into the Newcastle United Hall of Fame.
The news was confirmed on Tuesday evening at the club foundation’s United as One Awards Ceremony.
Speed, who came through the Leeds academy, played nearly 300 times for Newcastle in all competitions between 1998 and 2004. He passed away in 2011.
Like in West Yorkshire, he was always a well-loved character on Tyneside both on and off the field and has now been honoured for his contributions during the six years he spent there.
On the night, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside former goalkeeper Shay Given, Newcastle’s record Premier League appearance holder.
They have joined 23 other ex-players and managers, a list which includes names like Alan Shearer, Andy Cole, Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson. Speed is the only name among those to have also played for Leeds.
As one of the finest players to have come out of the academy at Thorp Arch, you would have to suspect that he would be among the inductees if the Whites had a similar system in place.
While the clubs he represented, as well as Wales, have so often paid tribute to Gary Speed, his induction into the Newcastle United Hall of Fame will be something that makes his family particularly proud.
