NUFC 1972/73 - Season Review

Although Newcastle finished in a solid 8th position, they could have done much better if they hadn't started and finished the campaign so poorly.

Newcastle were now attacking with confidence both at home and away and they only failed to score in 8 games all season, conversely they only kept a clean sheet in 9 games.

United won only 2 of the first 7 games and the defeat at Crystal Palace at the start of September saw them drop to 15th and lose Tony Green to an injury which would eventually end his career.

The next 10 matches brought a dramatic improvement and Arsenal, Leeds and Manchester United were all beaten at St. James' as United won 5 matches on the bounce on Tyneside. A couple of victories were also recorded on the road and the Magpies climbed to 6th spot.

The team cemented their position in the table during the winter months and when they beat Stoke at home on March 10th they were in 5th place and with an excellent chance of qualifying for Europe. Unfortunately, they only won 1 of the remaining 9 games.

R3: Bournemouth were top of the Third Division and there were fears of another upset, but although the Cherries started brightly their hopes were dimmed by two goals in ninety seconds.

R4: Second Division leaders Luton had recorded nine away victories so far and once Aston put Luton ahead United were clueless with nobody prepared to take responsibility. The players were booed off at the end of each half and thousands left early. Harvey was shocked: "There are no excuses, we were just so bad it wasn't true".

R2: Third Division Port Vale (managed by future manager Gordon Lee) were dealt with relatively comfortably in a game which saw five bookings.

R3: Second Division Blackpool were managed by ex-United skipper Bob Stokoe (who won four times at St James' with Bury in the sixties) and included former favourites Keith Dyson and Alan Suddick (as well as future players Micky Burns and John Burridge). It proved to be a humiliating night.

Gp1 - Cup holders Roma were having a bad season domestically and the Magpies could easily have trebled their score; luckily the fears of violent play did not materialise.

Gp2 - Another totally one-sided game that neither thrilled nor entertained. Gibb scored the only goal and Macdonald was sent-off with a couple of minutes left.

Gp3 - United maintained their 100% record with another comfortable win.

Gp1 - United thrashed the Italians who started to resort to some outrageous conduct in a match which descended into shameful non-football. Fists started flying and Smith and Craig were sent off along with two Torino players.

SF L1 - Relegated Palace and United bored the pants of a surprisingly tolerant crowd.

SF L2 - United displayed greater class and infinitely more power as they made mincemeat of the Londoners; Macdonald scored three.

Fin - After a listless first-half in the humid and steamy heat of the Stadio Comunale the Magpies took control and helped by some hapless goalkeeping by Superchi scored twice. Clerici pulled one back in the 79th minute making for a nail-biting finish.

Harvey believed it "had not been a bad season," but he was disappointed that they had not secured a European spot and even more upset that they had once again failed in the FA Cup; serving up their worst performance of the season in the home tie with Luton.

A lack of strength in depth was still an issue and a number of injuries to key players at the start of the season stretched resources to the limit. "At one stage you would have thought that the Vietcong had been through here" moaned Harvey showing wonderful political insensitivity.

Harvey firmly believed they were only a couple of players away from having a side which could challenge for the title, unfortunately the majority of the club's money was tied up in the new stand.

Coach Burkinshaw continued with the "quiet revolution" in the team's playing style and he voiced his opinions very clearly in November: "There is only one way to play this game and that is going forward. Now I believe we have become pioneers for football. Our goals this season, particularly in away games, prove it."

Harvey was full of praise for the "marvellous job" Burkinshaw was doing and believed that all the hard work they had been putting in since the start of the 1972/73 season was now bearing fruit.

Prior to Burkinshaw's promotion Harvey and his coaches had always concentrated on stopping other sides scoring but they were now one of the most attractive sides in the League. "People work hard during the week and they come here to be entertained"

The players were happy too. Moncur said: "we have more flair and style now. we don't need to rely on defence so much to earn our points." Jimmy Smith was certainly benefitting from the new approach.

Figure in brackets relates to the number of players used in that position

01: (2) McFaul

02: (1) Craig

03: (3) Clark

04: (5) Gibb > Nattrass

05: (2) Howard

06: (3) Moncur

07: (3) Barrowclough

08: (4) Green > Smith

09: (2) Macdonald

10: (4) Tudor

11: (3) Hibbitt

With money tied-up in the new stand the only signing was promising youngster Terry Mcdermott.

A number of youngsters were handed professional contracts including Paul Cannell and Alan Kennedy.

A number of the reserves - including two great servants to the club in Ron Guthrie and David Young - were dispensed with for a grand total of £58,000. The latter three all moving to Sunderland.

After the chaos of the previous season the football authorities revised the disciplinary system. Points would be "awarded" for bookings and a player would automatically be banned for two matches if they reached twelve. A sending off resulted in an automatic three game ban.

The United players had a brand new kit to play in; the first change since the "Charlie Mitten" kit which was introduced in the late fifties.

Man of the match awards included a £10 cheque from Kimberley Clark ("The Kleenex firm").

Attendances

Attendances fell dramatically in the League. Newcastle's average - despite their improved form fell to 28,308 - although this was certainly impacted by the unfinished redevelopment work it was still a disappointment considering United's vastly improved form.

The top crowd was for the game against Leeds on September 23rd (38,964); the lowest crowd was for the next home match against Norwich two weeks later (18,103).

Defeat at home to Luton in the FA Cup Fourth Round had thousands of fans streaming out well before the end. One of them was Robert Bullock of Hewitson Terrace Felling. "I've been going to St James' for 25 years but I don't think I'll be going again. I've never walked out early before but today was the end".

Meanwhile a number of youngsters gathered outside Supermac's boutique and - following threats that they would smash the windows in - the manager called in some glaziers to board them up.

St. James'

Newcastle's new million pound East Stand was finally (partially) opened in February (Luton at home in the FA Cup) , it's completion being delayed as a result of the fuel crisis and industrial action within the building industry.

The stand was fully completed for the home match with West Ham in April at a cost of £420,000; almost half of the estimated cost for the whole stadium. The capacity was now 54,500

Ben Sullivan and the Newcastle Development association was certainly doing its bit with £200,000 net being raised over the last six years in support of ground improvements.

At the start of the season there was wonderment at the new "colouful display-advertising boards" and the new roofs.

Superstar singer Dionne Warwick attended the home match with Manchester United and Prime Minister was in the stands for the Chelsea match.

Trouble.

Hooliganism hit the headlines from the very first day of the season. On the second Saturday fifty Newcastle fans were arrested after the match at Brammall Lane; "everyone of them was a discredit to this Football club and everything it stands for".

Before the League match with Liverpool fighting broke out between rival supporters in The Strawberry. New manager william Stewart (a week into his residency) said "glasses were being thrown about and broken and tables were overturned. There was blood everywhere."

Matters did not improve during the game with fighting breaking out intermittently behind both goals with most of the trouble appearing to be caused by the home fans. In one incident a policeman was knocked to the ground then kicked in the face and had to be removed on a stretcher. Fifty fans were ejected, fourteen were arrested and a number were taken to the RVI for treatment.

Twenty minutes before the start of the home game against Manchester United hundreds of young thugs. including girls, swarmed onto the pitch from the Leazes End. They ran around the pitch, and then invaded the Gallowgate End, where the Manchester fans were housed. The police were hopelessly outnumbered and virtually powerless and there was a series of pitched battles. The arrival of three police dogs brought an end to the trouble.

In an effort to reduce vandalism on the way to the game the Football League invested in a 12 coach train from British Railways for £50,000 and spent a further £15,000 on customising it.

For trips to London, the NUSC used to hire their own railway carriage on standard passenger services as well as providing coach travel. The trip to London for the Crystal Palace match cost £4 on the train and £2.10 on the coach.