Magical Magpie Memories: The 80s Part One (Promotion, Helicopters and Tearful Farewells)
Posted on February 10th, 2012 | 8 Comments |
“Going Up” – “Northern Life” special 1984.
30 minute Tyne Tees Television special programme from 1984, where David Burton reviews Newcastle United’s 1983-4 promotion season. Featuring Arthur Cox, Kevin Keegan, and some classic Keegan, Waddle and Beardsley goals from the days when the club had a front three that I’m sure quite a few Toon fans would happily include in their NUFC all time “Dream Team”. One telling point was the commentator looks back at when the club were ninth early in the season and had problems scoring goals, “but the signing of Tyneside born Peter Beardsley changed all that”. It certainly did. As well as being one of the club’s great goalscorers, he was also quite possibly the greatest goalmaker in the club’s history. Despite all the above though, the real star of the show for me is the old St James’ Park scoreboard with those daft little gadgies kicking a football across it.
Warning: As this is the eighties, these videos do feature lots of men running around in VERY tight shorts, and a streaker!
Newcastle v QPR, August 28th 1982 (Part 1)
Newcastle v QPR, August 28th 1982 (Part 2)
Kevin Keegan’s debut game
Two parter featuring long highlights of Kevin Keegan’s debut NUFC game against QPR. Of course, the mighty mouse himself scored the winning goal because that’s what was in the script. “We’re in heaven, we’ve got Kevin!” proclaimed Newcastle’s Evening Chronic at the time.
The streaker who ran right across the pitch to give Keegan his scarf unhindered would almost certainly be chased down immediately by the Gestapo nowadays, then probably tasered and arrested under the Terrorism act.
Side note: This game was refereed by the infamous Trelford Mills of Barnsley, who isn’t held in particularly high esteem by Newcastle United fans of a certain age. This was because of his shocking performance in an FA Cup third round replay against Brighton and Hove Albion in the previous year. In that game he he disallowed not one but two Toon goals (along with other indiscretions) which stopped us going through to the next round. I have also included video highlights of that sorry encounter below. The first of the disallowed goals (from Imre Varadi) is about 6.30 minutes into the video – Longer highlights are available on YouTube.
Promotion clinched! Newcastle United 4, Derby County 0 – May 5th 1984.
Only points needed for First Division glory to be assured. Arthur Cox’s Magpies do it in style however with an elegant 4 – 0 demolition of the Rams at St James’ Park. Goals from the usual suspects, firstly, little Kev leaping like a salmon to head in a great Waddle run and cross, “getting a black eye and a splitting headache in the process” to quote the commentator. Next it was the turn of the godlike genius that is Peter Beardsley – After a great one-two with the mighty mouse, some excellent close control from the mercurial maestro leaves a gaggle of Derby players in his wake before he coolly slots the ball past the Derby goalkeeper for his 17th goal of the season. With Keegan and Beardsley already chalking one up it had to be Waddle’s to score his 17th next, and so it was thanks to yet another piece of genius from from the footballing artist with the movie star looks. After a great little passage of play, Beardsley sliced right through Derby with a killer pass to Waddle as the commentator utterered the almost prophetic words “passing Liverpool would have been proud of.” Beardsley of course signed for the mighty Reds in 1987. Then the large chinned master finally admistered the coup de grace with his second, and Newcastle’s fourth, a diving header to seal a magnificent win and promotion!
Kevin Keegan – Pre match interview before Newcastle United’s final league game with Brighton, May 1984.
Promotion already assured, Keegan gives a pre match interview for “Football Focus” before Newcastle United’s final game as a Second Division side, against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Highlights of the game itself, with goals by the usual suspects once again ie Keegan, Waddle and Beardsley in a 3-1 victory. Newcastle United were promoted in a comfortable third, behind Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea but a mighty ten points ahead of Manchester City in fourth. Thankfully there was none of this playoff funny business in those days.
Auf wiedersehen Kev – “Northern Life” 1984.
Eric Robson takes a sentimental look at Keegan’s final, final game for the Mags (against his old mates from Liverpool). For Tyne Tees Television’s “Northern Life” in 1984. Includes the fireworks and that helicopter at the end to the strains of Roy Orbison’s “It’s Over” and Perry Como’s “For the good times”.
I recall that in “Viz” comic’s version of this event, the Keegan role was played by Fulchester FC’s half man – half fish goalkeeper, “Billy the Fish”, and the helicopter flew Billy straight to Kylie Minogue’s bedroom for post game sex with the diminutive Aussie warbler. As to whether this was true in the case of the real life Keegan version isn’t certain, though neither Keegan nor Kylie have ever denied it.
See if you can spot Alan Shearer the ballboy in this clip, and thanks to “Blacknwhitey” for reminding me about it.
Magical Magpie Memories: The 80s Part Two – Coming Full Circle.
NUFCBlog Author: workyticket
workyticket has written 1091 articles on this blog.
OMG! They’ve let Batty out!
How y’doin mate :)
Worky – these videos reminded me of how old I’m getting!! Think I’d better go and lie down LOL