Newcastle's 50 Greatest Games

Author: David Potter

Newcastle's 50 Greatest Games

The history of Newcastle United needs to be constantly told. It has already been done so on many occasions, but it is still a fascinating and ultimately very sad story. No one needs reminding that it is now well over half a century since any English honour was brought to Tyneside, and that although a European honour was landed in 1969, it was very much the second-rate European trophy called the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, a trophy which was since suffered major
restructuring and has twice been renamed.

This compendium of Newcastle’s 50 Greatest Games is heavily weighted towards the early years, with the great Edwardian teamof 100 years ago earning its justified place, and with several mentions of the truly great Magpies of the past, like Hughie Gallacher of the 1920s and Jackie Milburn and Bobby Mitchell of the 1950s. The readermay, of course, disagree with the choice of the 50 games, and some are not very great at all – the one in 1915, for example, was
chosen simply to give readers a feel for what life was like on Tyneside in wartime. Another, in 1953 against Aberdeen, saw the club in competition for a trophy that was important at the time, but which is now in danger of slipping into obscurity.

This book endeavours to cheer up all Geordies and their adherents, particularly now that, in 2010, the team is back in the top tier. Some of the games featured are obscure ones – all the more reason for bringing them forward, perhaps. Some are spectacularly awful for reasons unconnected with football; the writer has made no attempt to hide the violence of the 1970s, for example. Some are disappointing ones – Cup Final failures are included – but there are also the great days. Unusual things are featured. There was the time in a Cup Final when a player had committed such a bad tackle on an opponent, thereby injuring him, that he was shunned by the rest of his team. And most know that one of the greatest heroes of the club committed suicide by throwing himself under a train. Another of the talented champions almost missed his greatest moment by a combination of internal politics and an attack of laryngitis.

This book is an attempt to try to understand the massive unrequited love affair that goes on between supporters and this mighty but unhappy club.

There are good moments but, as in all love affairs, there is a lot of sadness, bitterness and misery as well. Nevertheless, the only answer is to keep loving. The future looks bright.