FORMER Newcastle coach Steve Black has passed away aged 64.
The fitness coach was known for his excellent motivational skills and wisdom.
‘Blackie’ played a big role working on the psychology side of Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers era and trained the players on Tynemouth beach.
He was also part of the club’s backroom staff during the 2015/16 season.
The Geordie also had a stint in Premiership rugby with the Newcastle Falcons, where he helped mentor World Cup-winning England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.
In his time at the Falcons, he played a leading role in Newcastle’s promotion to the Premiership in 1996 and their title win in 1998.
Black’s all-round skillset also led to him being offered a job by Graham Henry, New Zealand’s World Cup-winning coach who was in charge of Wales at the time.
English rugby union player Danny Cipriani paid tribute to Black in his 2019 Telegraph column.
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He wrote: “When you have someone that you can rely on and trust in, the way you feel – and therefore the way you can play – is second to none. That person, for me, is Steve Black.
“I met Steve in 2013 while I was with Sale Sharks. I was in my mid-twenties and I would have been sceptical, although I knew he had worked with Jonny Wilkinson. I probably thought, ‘Do I really have to open up to another person?’
“We had a three-or-four-hour conversation. It was engrossing, and I learned so much about myself.
“From there, over a period of about two years, he helped de-fog my brain. He helped me understand things, why I felt certain ways.
“Sometimes you cannot address a feeling until you go through a process.
“Blackie was amazing at that, and my four seasons at Sale were an important time of my life on and off the field.”
Tributes are pouring in for Black, who would have celebrated his 65th birthday on Tuesday.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer tweeted: “Awful news. RIP Blackie.”
Former club Huddersfield Town have also paid tribute to Black, who had ‘infectious positivity.’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
