Supermac hits 63.

Not universally adored by Toon fans who are only familiar with his post-playing career - but "Supermac" was an absolute legend in a black & white shirt (the two Wembley visits excepted).

Arriving at SJP in a Rolls Royce after signing from Luton Town at a cost of £180K, the one-time full back had begun his playing career with Tonbridge before moving on to Fulham.
Mac famously scored all three goals on his home debut for Newcastle in a 3-2 win over Liverpool in August 1971 - leaving the field injured in the act of trying to score a fourth.

Scoring over a century of goals to his name while clad in the number nine shirt, special efforts included the two at Hillsborough that booked our place in the 1974 FA Cup Final and a brace at Bolton two years later.

His own particular favourite though remains a thunderbolt effort at SJP against Leicester City - unfortunately not caught on camera.

Becoming a full England international while a Magpie, Malcolm scored all five goals against Cyprus at Wembley in April 1975.

The replacement of Joe Harvey as United boss by Gordon Lee though was to end the love affair between player and club - Mac's reaction to the news ("Gordon who?") getting the relationship off to a poor start when it was reproduced as a headline in the Evening Chronicle.

Not fitting into the "no stars" team ethic of Lee, Macdonald played his last game for the club in April 1976, scoring twice in a 3-0 victory against Spurs at White Hart Lane.

Within weeks he was resident at their North London rivals Arsenal, moving to Highbury at a cost of £333,333.

57 goals in 108 appearances for the Gunners followed, but a knee injury forced him to retire from playing at the age of just 29.

Later spells as a manager at Fulham and Huddersfield Town followed, before a battle with alcoholism, two failed marriages and bankruptcy left him at a low ebb.

A PFA-financed knee operation (at a cost of £12K) marked a turning point in Macdonald's life and living on Tyneside, he works as a football pundit on radio and at talk-ins.
____________________________________________

Seems to have settled down well on Tyneside. Always out on Saturdays so haven't really heard him on the radio.

Found this on NUFC.com

 

Often see the vids of the Supermac days on the coach to the away games.

Would have probably been a fans favourite these days too.

 

Supermac hits 63.

He's obviously a better batsman than a football pundit.

 

I still Remember the goal against Leicester at the Leazes End

 

Same old Jim, always on the ball.

 

Didn't see that that but if it's his his own favourite, it must have been a bit special.

 

We were in close proximity to Kennilworth Road on the way to Brighton and I did have a fleeting thought about him.

 

shot from about 30-35 yards
from west stand side (Milburn stand for those not old enough) across to top right corner of goal straight as a die
think Baines last Wednesday but further out and on the run
always said it was a good job the net was there,
as that is where I stood at the time, funny enough it's nearly the same place where I now sit

 

The stuff that memories are made of. See loads of the old games on videos to the away games and never get tired of them. Don't watch much TV or videos but I'll probably end up getting some of the ones I've seen with all the great goals that we've scored over the years.

If only we could see some now.

 

Is the 3 legends back on the radio?, if so i cannot find it anywhere.

 

I've only heard about it, I haven't actually heard it as I'm at all the games, home and away.

 

Star FM Radio, broadcasting from Teesside or thereabouts http://www.thisisstar.co.uk/on-air/legends.php

Supermac was my childhood hero - I thought he was a true Geordie (before he left ...)

 

Best goal I've ever seen, bar none! Leicester, a ball from Nattress (I think) and he cracked the ball in from 40 yards without breaking stride. Absolutely fantastic.

 

Had the pleasure of watching a Toon game on a foreign feed in a Consett pub with him a few years back.
What a knowledge of players he had.

 

Spoke to him a time or two, he liked the area, settled down here and goes to the games, know's the players personally so he's well informed to pass on titbits of information.

Had a nice wife (Julie), I think his fame and popularity with the ladies might have come between them, pity because she seemed like a really nice person.

 

Aye, I last heard he was knocking off a lass from Hamsterley.

 

Is my 2nd favourite NUFC player of all time. Been watching since 1966. There have been better players e.g. Beardsley, Gazza, Ginola etc but none as exciting.

Favourite memory was the semi final at Hillsbrough and Supermacs double especially the one carrying Waldron on his back for 5-10 yards.


Best player ever was Tony Green.

 

Tony Green was great, and if it's possible to say anybody was underrated it was him. He always put a great shift in and if he'd not been out injured we'd have another Cup Final win to our record.

 

I got the three legends book for Christmas and the lads signed it.
Supermac and Slavin lovely, Horswill miserable sod.

 

So do I. Mark Wallington was in goal for Leicester. It would have been goal of the season had it been on TV.