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.
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.
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 Ted Heath was in the stands for the Chelsea match.