Peter Beardsley will perform with Kevin Keegan, Chris Waddle and Terry McDermott next week – as the race-row coach breaks cover after his FA ban.
The axed Newcastle U23 coach was banished from all football activity this week after an FA regulatory panel found he had made in “obviously racist” comments, including calling a youth player a “monkey.”
But Beardsley has vowed to continue with an appearance at a special evening alongside his illustrious former boss and team mates.
A “Fantastic 4” event will see former Newcastle boss Keegan as the star turn reliving his glory days as a player and manager on Tyneside.
Beardsley's solicitors say Keegan was among those who backed Beardsley with “evidence as to Peter's good character” handed to the FA hearing.
Beardsley has become a regular on the talk circuit attracting Geordie fans with his footballing stories.
But next week's even at the Lancastrian Suite, Gateshead, is in a bigger venue because of the popularity of the personalities taking the stage.
Organisers at Newcastle Legends have confirmed Beardsley will honour the engagement, with tickets costing between £65 and £150 including food and signed photos.
The FA banned Beardsley from all football activity, including coaching, but this appearance is likely to be classed as in the entertainment industry and is not organised by a football club.
He has vowed to go on a training course to learn the error of his ways, and he also wants to return to working in football at the end of April.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce yesterday refused to get involved in the row saying: “It’s before my time and would be very difficult for me to comment. I don’t know enough about it, but it’s been a very difficult time.
Beardsley's lawyers says he has been "inundated with support from fellow professionals of the highest repute including John Barnes, Kevin Keegan, Les Ferdinand and Andrew Cole, as well as other football professionals including managers, coaches, players, and football fans, all of which provided unchallenged evidence to the Commission as to Peter's good character, the fact that he is not a racist and whatever was said, there was no intent to cause offence".
However Beardsley has been accused by anti-racism campaign group Kick It Out of making “appalling” and “horrific” comments to his young players.
