by holdthefrontpage staff
The Newcastle Chronicle is hailing the relevance of local newspapers after Kevin Keegan's sensational return to Newcastle United.
News of his return broke at 4.15pm - three hours after the Evening Chronicle's final edition deadline.
It was announced as a snap immediately on the www.ChronicleLive.co.uk website, to be followed by a full story, picture gallery, fans video vox-pops and a background piece about his previous reign at St James's Park.
Football writer Lee Ryder's Blog on the Tyne - which regularly attracts more than 20,000 unique users each month - was also immediately updated, and both this and the website's online fans' forum were flooded with messages within minutes.
At the same time a special late edition of that night's Evening Chronicle was prepared with a print run of 15,000.
Staff from a number of departments volunteered to back up the newspaper sales department to sell the edition to the crowds heading for last night's FA Cup third round replay against Stoke City. The edition also went into late outlets across Tyneside.
The front page was seen by millions watching TV coverage of Keegan's arrival.
Chronicle editor Paul Robertson said: "Whoever thinks newspapers are no longer relevant should have been in our newsroom on the night of January 16.
"Within minutes of Keegan's announcement arrangements were in place to print the late extra edition to announce his arrival.
"With the FA Cup match suddenly taking on extra significance crowds of people flocked to St James' Park.
"We had volunteers from around the building to sell the Chronicle at the ground.
"It was a truly magnificent effort from editorial, newspaper sales, our press crews, digital team - everyone threw their heart and soul into producing first class coverage live - in-print and online.
"The result was seen by millions on Sky Sports News, BBC national and local news, Channel 4 - you name it our late front page was being waved in front of cameras by delirious fans who bought it at the ground.
"I cannot praise the team highly enough for what was a truly brilliant multimedia effort."
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