Had to check the stats but first player I saw score for Newcastle was Bobby Shinton but first true centre forward would be Mick Harford. Just looking at the stats from that 1980-81 season it was a season which makes the last 4 years look like the glory years. We scored 30 goals in 42 league games and were knocked out of the League Cup and FA Cup by Bury and Exeter respectively. Says something about me that I developed a lifelong affinity based on that.
The only players of any real note were a very young Chris Waddle who was very skilful on the wing but most of his crosses ended up in the stand and John Trewick in midfield.
Have to say, whilst he’s turned into an anti-NUFC toned commentator (or accurate, depending on your view!) I loved Chris Waddle on the pitch
One of my best memories was Imre Varadi volleying a last minute winner against Luton for a 3-2 win. In my head the memory was of it being the last kick of the game with a volley from the halfway line. In reality there was probably still a couple of minutes to go and he was probably about 20 yards out. I prefer my memory.
Best atmosphere I ever experienced at St James wasn't even us playing. It was Blyth Spartans v Wrexham in the FA Cup 5th round replay. Not sure how much of it has just got romanticised in my head, but that atmosphere was something else. Think that was the last year of the Leazes Kop too, and the noise in there was unbeatable.
Last minuters stay in the memory… I remember (best) little Peter against Palace in the Prem, literally the end of a couple of minutes added time, a Beardsley shuffle in the 18 yard line and BANG, and a goal against Brighton in the last promotion season, I think it was Diame? Rafa on the touch line, it put us top. It felt like winning the World Cup. They say ‘deluded’ - they’re SO wrong. We know where we are. That’s why those moments are so loud.
I'm 51 and in my 7th decade. Lived in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s and 20s. (I know that's not what you meant - but I like confusing people)
That’s fans that take what they’re given - and have no other choice. The whole media “deluded” angle is just lazy reporting of rivals’ bad mouthing - and somehow it’s just taken root that NUFC are the target of it. It’s not victim mentality. We all know they fall back on it. It’s just become a legend that’s easy for extremely lazy journalists and pundits to weave into a paid-for paragraph. Load of bollocks that we just have to live with I s’pose
Supermac. 1976 4-3 Vs Derby. West paddock. Sat next to the touchline. 8 years old. Ran into the pitch with the other kids when he scored. Lifetime memory.
