Most Imortant Person in NUFC History

Frank Watt - The Most Important Person in the history of Newcastle United

You look at the new banner on here, and its full of NUFC legends going back into the history of the club.

We have been blessed with so many great players and managers going back to the clubs' beginnings in the 19th Century.

I've been lucky and been able to see the likes of Supermac, Keegan, Beardsley, Gascoigne, Shearer and countless others over the last 40 years.
(Hopefully we'll find another gem to add to the greats in the coming years).

The club has a rich history, and until I recently read a book on the subject, it surprised me how much I didn't actually know about the early years.
For all the greats on the pitch throughout history, Veitch, McCracken, Gallacher, Milburn, Harvey, Moncur etc, I've come to the conclusion that the most important person was off the pitch and his name is Frank Watt.

Never a manager in name but the man who ran the club for the best part of 35 years, grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and oversaw the growth of Newcastle United into the biggest and best supported club in England. A team made up of 11 Internationals and feared throughout the country. Multiple League and Cup Winners.

Without Frank Watt and his compatriots there wouldn't be a Newcastle United, not as we know it anyway.

 

Bring back Franky!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Not a well known name being so far back in the history of the club, probably second to him I would consider Stan Seymour who was involved with the club as a player, manager and director for something like 40 years.

 

Aye, Stan Seymour - Mr Newcastle himself. A member of the 24' FA Cup team and went onto fashion the club the way he wanted in later years.

 

There is still aplaque at Seymour corner

 

A damn site better than Freddy Shepherd.

In his 2005 autobiography Sir Bobby Robson provided detailed criticism of Shepherd's chairmanship, claiming that while manager he was denied information regarding the players' contracts and transfer negotiations. He also criticised Shepherd and Douglas Hall, the club's deputy chairman, for their focus only on the first team and St James' Park, causing them to neglect less glamorous, although equally important, areas such as the training ground, youth development and talent scouts. The club's training ground has been notorious in the past, due to its unkempt state and for causing injuries to first team players.

 

I am so disappointed to find this is not about Pardew

 

Thought you might be.

 

A good article. All too often its only the recent characters who get the recognition. Understandable of course as people remember them and reporting/tv gives a big profile to the recent heroes but it would be nice to see people such as Watt, Seymour etc given more recognition. Sir Bobby was a fantastic bloke, great manager and local hero and his legacy continues in his name for charity and very much deserves his statue and recognition but from an NUFC point of view it would be good to see more club heroes recognised too. Good to see Joe Harvey get a plaque due to the good work of the Fairs Cup Club. Pity the club and city dont do more in this vein.