Newcastle United - Seventies Full-Backs

Popular Irishman who stayed at the club throughout his sixteen year professional career; he is one of the few members of the exclusive 400 plus club. Recognised as one of the best full-backs in the game and won 25 caps for his country.

He also played very effectively as a centre-back later in his career. Unfortunately he was dogged by injuries from the 1973/74 season onwards and unluckily missed out on both United's Wembley appearances. He was awarded a well deserved testimonial in 1975 and finally retired through injury in 1978.

Frank made 486 first-team appearances; a figure no other post war player can match. Solid and consistent rather than flashy, Frank was not always a favourite of the crowd but the other players recognised his full worth.

Made captain in 1974/75 following the departure of Moncur only to be given a shock free-transfer at the season’s end when still only 31. He went on to enjoy a trophy-laden end to his career at Nottingham Forest.

John Craggs was an England Youth international and perennial understudy to David Craig. A consistent and classy performer, he never let the side down on the occasions he was called upon.

1970/71 proved to be his last season at the club and ironically he had a decent run of 11 consecutive games at the end of the season.

He joined Middlesbrough at the start of the following campaign, and stayed for nine years before making a shock return to Tyneside for the 1981/82 season.

Ron Guthrie’s Tyneside career was almost a mirror image of John Craggs.

He joined as a junior and stayed at the club for almost 10 years but he only played an average of six senior games a season. This was partially due to a number of injuries, but was mainly a result of the consistency and longevity of Frank Clark.

He rarely appeared during the seventies and eventually decided a transfer away was necessary. A move to Second Division Sunderland in early 1973 saw him win an FA Cup Winners medal within a couple of months.

Irving Nattrass was one of the classiest full backs to play for the club; Joe Harvey referred to him as his Paul Madeley; the so-called "Rolls Royce" of footballers.

A cool and calm player, Nattrass looked equally at home as a full-back, centre-back or ball-winning midfielder.

He made his first appearances in the 1970/71 season and for the next eight seasons he was arguably the most consistent performer at the club.

Ray Ellison made his debut during United’s early season injury crisis in 1971/72. Unfortunately his five consecutive League appearances all resulted in defeats, although he was on the winning side in the League Cup match against Halifax.

He impressed everyone with his determined defending and willingness to go forward but was injured at Goodison Park. He was fit again a couple of weeks later and was anxious to return to the first team as soon as possible; but he made no further first team appearances.

Bob Stokoe took him to Roker Park in March 1973

Elder brother of future star Alan who made his only ever appearance for the club in the defeat at Nottingham in April 1972.

It was a tough game for him as he was up against an old-fashioned style winger, Jimmy McIntosh, but he stuck to his job.

He was sold to Bury before he reached 21 for a fee roughly 1% of that which Liverpool paid for his sibling.

Alan was a swashbuckling back who tackled tough and loved to make barn storming runs up the wing. A rasping shot was the icing on the cake.

Became the regular left-back during the 1974/75 season following Clark's departure and was one of United's best players over the next four seasons. Recognised as one of the brightest prospects in the game he was capped at U23 and "B" level. Only injury stopped him making the full England squad on one occasion.

Relegation and the abrasive managerial style of Bill McGarry convinced him that he needed to move on; he even grew a beard to annoy McGarry and increase his chances of a quick departure.

Dave Crosson was one of a number of powerfully built young full-backs who made it through to the first team during the decade.

He made his debut at Old Trafford at the end of the 1973/74 season following David Craig's injury and made all of his appearances but one in that campaign.

He moved to Darlington at the start of the 1975/76 season.

Micky Barker made his debut in 1974/74 against West Ham at the age of 19. In the next match he played in an injury-hit United side that lost 5-4 at Ipswich and that was the last we saw of him for a couple of years.

He walked out on the club after a dispute over his wages, but returned and had a good run in the side when Bill McGarry took over in the 1977/78 season.

Although Barker could bite in the tackle he was allowed to leave for Gillingham during the following campaign.

"Bomber" Blackhall turned pro at the start of the 1974/75 season; making his debut in a 3-0 defeat at Highbury towards the end of the campaign.

With Nattrass in control of his favoured right-back slot he often had to show his versatility by appearing in a holding midfield role. As a result he never really established himself and was part of the Summer '78 cull.

Left-back Gorry was 21 when Gordon Lee added him to his squad in 1976.

He only made a single appearance when he came on for the injured Blackley in a 4-0 defeat at Maine Road in December 1977.

He had a spell on loan at Stockport before moving to Hartlepool in the summer of 1978.

Keith Mulgrove only made one substitute appearance in his three year stay at the club; at Brighton in December 1978.

He was released at the end of the 1979/80 season.

Bill McGarry turned to some seasoned professionals when he started to rebuild United during 1978. Lanarkshire lad Brownlie fitted the bill perfectly; a Scottish international with a vast amount of experience.

He started out on the left, following the departure of Alan Kenneddy, but soon moved over to his preferred right side. He remained first choice for the next four seasons although a serious injury ruled him out for a number of months.

He was a quality player in a relatively poor side and his tough tackling and surging runs established him as a crowd favourite.

The transfer fee paid for Davies in June 1979, £175,000, was only £25,000 short of United's record at the time. It was a lot of money for an inexperienced youngster who had only played 34 first-class games.

Rather more impressive going forward than defensively, he was the regular starter during the 1979/80 season.

Kenny started life as a striker, but when he established himself in the side in 1978/79 it was mainly as a left-back although he played in six positions in all.

He was partly culpable in a number of opposition goals and lost his place to Ian Davies in the following season and would move towards the centre of the defence as the eighties approached.