“Jossys Giants” visit Bobby Charlton and Willie McFaul at St James’ Park – 1985.
Aye Bobby Charlton, not Jackie Charlton who had left the club as manager in the huff over player sales and such before McFaul stepped in and faced the same old problem.
After introducing the Jossy’s lads to McFaul the ex Northern Ireland goalie, Bobby then takes them through the bowels of the old St James Park, the old away dressing room with the old plunge bath, the old physio room and so on. A magical trip down Magpie memory lane. As you can see, Bobby’s no Al Pacino when it comes to acting; then again, he could probably teach Pacino a thing or two on playing against the likes of Eusebio and Beckenbauer! (more…)
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! (more…)
Venue: Amex Stadium, Brighton Date: 28th January 2012 Kick Off: 5.15pm Referee: Lee Probert
Quite simply, this was a game United should not have lost. Even with the cautious tactics employed by Pardew we were clearly a class above, dominated 75% of the game and had a penalty appeal for a blatant handball turned down. With a bit more adventure and somebody up front who actually had a clue, we could and should have won this comfortably. Instead, we were dumped out of the cup by a fluke deflected goal and a Brighton team who didn’t get into the game until the last 15 minutes. I’m beginning to think Sir Kevin Keegan was right about the club being cursed.
I watched the game on ESPN. The high point was watching “Gully’s Girls” the Brighton Cheerleaders jumping about, the low point was having to listen to Chris Waddle – the only geordie I know who pronounces “pace” as “pies” – still, he did used to work in a sausage factory so it may be some kind of obsession – but I digress.