FOOTBALL hero Kevin Keegan has re-recorded a classic World Cup anthem to back the region’s athletes at the forthcoming Special Olympics.

The ex-Newcastle United manager has been into studios in Gateshead to record a new version of the 1982 England team song This Time We’ll Get It Right alongside athletes representing the region at the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games.

The song, a Number Two hit first time around, has been adopted by the Northern Region team at the games and will be played at the opening ceremony in Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground in August.

The 66-year-old, who sang on the original, said: “I think it’s a better song now. And these guys are definitely better singers than the England football team were.

“Sport’s all inclusive, that’s what everyone says. Sometimes you wonder, but Special Olympics follows through on that.

“I know all about the Special Olympics through my friend Lawrie McMenemy, and the great work people do around it: how competitive it is and, the main thing, how much fun everyone gets out of it.”

Keegan, who scored 21 goals in 63 appearances for England, added: “The national games are at Sheffield this year, so pretty near to where I was born.

“And the Opening Ceremony is at Bramall Lane so it’s got a nice football feel to it as well.

“Sport’s really the way forward for everybody. It’s something that everyone can do.”

Keegan remains an idol on Tyneside, where he is still remembered for the 1995-96 season when his Entertainers team came close to winning the Premier League title, finishing runners-up to Manchester United

He said: “Winning’s great, but competing is what it’s all about.

“People mistakenly say no one remembers who comes second, but I think they do.

“I mean we came second with Newcastle and a lot of people still talk about the team we had.”

And the two-time Magpies boss had words of encouragement for his former team, currently trying to win promotion back to the top flight of football.

“Football means so much in this region. And it’s so important that they get back in the Premier League. And I think they’ll do that this year.

“They’ll win the league and they’ll get back to where they belong. And then it’s tough, but it’s a big enough club to carry it and it’s got all this fantastic support.”

Keith Hogan, chair of Special Olympics Gateshead Tyne and Wear, added: “Our athletes are already incredibly excited about Sheffield and recording this song with Kevin’s help is the icing on the cake. Kevin was wonderful, really enthusiastic and interested in what we’re doing here. When he left our athletes were on cloud nine”.