Kevin Keegan's bloodstained vest given to museum

A bloodstained memento of a famous bicycle crash involving the late football star Kevin Keegan is set to go on public display.

Keegan came off his bike on a track in Bracknell, Berkshire, in 1976, while competing in the BBC TV show Superstars.

He signed the vest he was wearing and gave it to two teenagers who were helping at the event, including Mark Ashwell who said he put it in his pyjama drawer and forgot about it.

Ashwell, now aged 68, is donating it to the National Football Museum, following Keegan’s death in July.

He recalled how the footballer handed over the blue singlet at a drinks gathering after the show.

“I actually put it into my jimjam drawer and didn’t think about it,” he said.

“When poor old Kevin died, I had a look in the back of the drawer and there it was. And it’s still got the bloodstains on the [word] ‘Superstar’.”

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The star was bruised and grazed but later won the restaged race [Getty Images]

Superstars, which ran on BBC TV from 1973 until 1985, saw elite sports stars competing against each other in a series of events.

Keegan, who played for Liverpool at the time, crashed during a qualifying race with Belgian footballer Gilbert Van Binst.

He was “wobbling all over the track” as he approached the first bend, the programme commentator said.

The two bikes’ wheels made contact, according to the commentary, sending Keegan sliding across the ground on his back.

He later reported he was “a bit grazed” and subsequently won the heat when it was restaged.

Shortly before his death, Keegan joked he would be remembered not for his triumphs but for falling off the bike, as well as his trademark perm and a tirade against Manchester United in which he ranted, “I will love it if we beat them”.

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The shirt is still bloodstained, Mark Ashwell said [BBC]

Ashwell, who is now the president of Wokingham Town Football Club, said he was content to donate the shirt, even though it was “probably worth a lot”.

He and his friend Dave Hills are due to make an official presentation to the Manchester museum in September.

Ashwell confessed: “I’ve actually got the other one he wore on the same day as well, when he won the steeplechase.

“I’ll see how I go, I might just retain that one for posterity.”