ONE of the North-East's all-time football heroes has backed a Northern Echo campaign to remember those who died in the northern coalfields.

Former Newcastle United manager and player Kevin Keegan has lent his name to the campaign to mark the trenches where many of the 168 men and boys who died in the Burns, or West Stanley, pit disaster, were buried.

Keegan's grandfather, Frank Keegan, was a hero of the 1909 tragedy.

Frank was one of a few dozen miners who escaped the huge explosion that February day and he even went back down the pit in an attempt to save his workmates.

Now, Kevin Keegan, who is manager of Manchester City, has backed The Northern Echo's campaign to mark the graves of many of the men and boys who lie at St Andrew's Church, Stanley.

He said: " I think that it is a wonderful idea to honour the heroes of the West Stanley Pit Disaster in this way. Sadly, it is 93 years too late for the families of those who died, but I wholeheartedly support the campaign."

Kevin Keegan was also heavily involved in a successful attempt to have a new memorial built in the town back in 1995. He unveiled the monument which commemorates the miners who lost their lives. But, like us, he also believes the final resting place of the victims should also be marked, even though many of the families of those men and boys no longer live in the town.

Amateur historian of the disaster, Dave Bainbridge, welcomed the news that Keegan had backed the campaign but asked that other heroes be remembered. Heroes such as Mark Henderson who saved many of the men. He led many men and boys who were running in the wrong direction into poisonous gases to safety and received a bravery award.

Mr Bainbridge also said that there was at least one other memorial to the men apart from the one unveiled by Keegan.

The other, built by money raised by the working men's club movement in the years that followed the disaster, originally stood outside the former town hall, in Front Street, but was moved to Stanley Crematorium before the Second World War.

The graves of the men buried at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church are marked.

* The Northern Echo's campaign aims to mark the graves at St Andrew's Church. You can get involved by organising fundraising events or contributing to the fund. Contact Chris Webber on (01207) 282719 or send your cheques to The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF. Cheques should be made payable to The Northern Echo's Stanley Pit Disaster Memorial Appeal.