02/06 - The AGM is held at the Hotel Metropole on Clayton Street; United made a profit of £2,859 10s 1d last season. In order to help finance the ground improvements which are underway; season tickets will be put on sale earlier this year. They will go on sale next week and will be available from WH Yates (100 Westgate Road), TT Mac's (Pink Lane) and the club offices (3 St. James’ Street). Prices will be held with the exception of the "director's reserve" which will be raised to 30 shillings.
02/06 - Arthur Mowatt (24/25) signs for Lincoln City. The Hebburn lad has been at the club for seven seasons.
05/06 - United negotiate the transfer of J Fraser from Notts County. Fraser hails from Motherwell and joined County 12 months ago. He played a conspicuous game last season at outside left wing forward and is expected to fill this "problem" position for the Magpies. He is a tall, well-built young chap of great promise; very speedy and with a great shot on goal.
09/06 - Middlesbrough would like to sign Lockey and Stott, however up to now they have not agreed to pay the necessary fee.
11/06 - Bristol City have signed promising young keeper J. Watts from United.
23/06 - Centre-forward W Smith (25) moves to Swindon Town. He joined United (in February 1898) from Hibernians where he spent 5 seasons.
30/06 - Arrangements have been made for the Kaffir Association team to play a number of teams - including Newcastle - in this country. They are due to play around forty matches in total. The dusky players are reputed to possess remarkable staying powers.
10/07 - Tom Young - who for many seasons has been playing full-back for North Durham Rugby Club Second XI - has signed on for the United Alliance team as a goalkeeper.
29/07 - The turfing of the new pitch is completed.
There are reports that United have signed Williams from West Brom.
03/08 - United are still after a full-back and a forward, but claims that they have signed Williams from West Brom are unfounded.
04/08 - Fixture cards for the new season will be available from TT Mac's from tomorrow.
07/08 - The players report back for training.
07/08 - Lockey has gone to New Brompton.
11/08 - Some 17,000 descend on St. James’ to see the first practice game between the Whites and the Stripes in a match which amounts to an exercise-canter.
18/08 - J Forster has gone to Seghill.
18/08 - The second practice match takes place at the County Cycling Grounds in Gosforth in order to protect the new turf at St. James'. About 5,000 see a game of two thirty-minute halves which finishes 2-2. Former rugby player Young is in goal for the the Stripes and - all things considered - gives a creditable display. The game finishes in a 2-2 draw. Fraser picks up an injury during the game.
23/08 - The third practice takes place at St James' and 15,000 attend.
26/08 - Despite the tropical heat the players demonstrate excellent stamina and ability in an 80-minute exhibition game at Gallowgate. The game ends 3-3 and 7-8,000 attend.
William Lindsay is signed from Grimsby.
Despite the cost of the ground improvements, only Aston Villa made a greater profit last season.
01/09 - United open the season at West Brom tomorrow and travel down on the 1.47pm train to Birmingham. A huge crowd sees them off at Central Station. The players all look in the best of condition and appear sanguine as to the result of the match.
02/09 - D1: West Brom 1 Newcastle 1 - The game at Stoney Lane is not of a high class character by any means and it is positively dull and uninteresting at times. Many players look out of condition. The Albonites crowd are not impressed with the referee and they make a hostile demonstration at the end of the ninety minutes.
03/09 - The Kaffirs team were due to arrive in England a couple of weeks ago, but due to a problem with the ship booking they did not arrive until today. They will play their first game at St James' on Tuesday.
04/09 - The Kaffirs arrive in Newcastle and although there is only a small crowd to greet them at Central Station they receive a cordial welcome. They are a fine-looking lot of fellows and allegedly a terribly active lot who will take some holding. They will put up overnight at the Alliance Temperance Hotel.
05/09 - Fr: Newcastle 6 Kaffirs 3 - The match against the tourists is full of amusement and serious football is out of the question. The Africans are palpably unfit (following their long journey) and their antics are very peculiar. Although they have plenty of pace they are completely outplayed in footwork.
09/09 - D1: Newcastle 2 Everton 0 - Excursions travel from all over the district and the ground is full fifteen minutes before kick-off with hundreds still outside. It’s a ding-dong tussle in which United demonstrate a higher standard of play in all departments and secure a famous victory with a brilliant display. The combination and pace of United's experimental attack is truly surprising. United score twice in a first-half of storm and stress and after the break play is much becalmed. The game is contested in the most pleasant spirit, though (in the second-half) it is rather unsportsmanlike of the Magpies to regularly allow the ball to roll down the slope and out of play when there is absolutely no danger of loss. Higgins is in great form and “Higgins again!” is an oft heard cry.
11/09 - United have secured the signature of George MacDonald, a forward who had shown good form for Clachnacudden. He arrives in Tyneside today and the terms to the Scotsman are a two months' trial, £3 a week.
15/09 Middlesbrough acquire Todd and inside-forward Lamb.
16/09 - D1: Blackburn 2 Newcastle 3 - The football is not very scientific, but in a fast game played on a hard ground both sides demonstrate determination and earnestness. United are pegged back twice before Peddie scores the winner. Having struggled so badly away from Tyneside last season they have made a very promising start to their travels. However the crowd resented United's tactics of continually kicking the ball out towards the end of the game.
21/09 - Driver Edward Hesmond Haigh is fined 20s plus costs for driving four horses in a stage coach. The occupants of the coach were the Newcastle United football team and his defence was that he was trying to get them to the station in time for the Newcastle train.
22/09 - James Stott moves to Middlesbrough. He took a £250 benefit last season and had been about to retire and take up the management of a Public House.
23/09 - D1: Newcastle 2 Derby 0 - Although the wind calms before kick-off it’s been a terribly stormy day which keeps the attendance down. The Peakites are pointless and goalless so far. Newcastle open in strong fashion and soon score twice. They ease off after the break when their efforts are miserable in the extreme; Fraser, in particular, wretchedly missing two easy chances. It is fair to say that there is great room for improvement in the behaviour of the fans. In one notable example a free-kick was given against United and an angry yell arose from the high and low end of the ground. Their conduct was far worse that of the players whose actions were the cause if it.
24/09 - United sign on two new players. Outside-right William Rae comes with excellent credentials from Scotch club Douglas Wanderers and will be tried out in the reserves next Saturday. J Pollard is a half-back from Nottingham who has signed as an amateur.
30/09 - D1: Bury 2 Newcastle 1 - United's excellent start has put their followers into the happiest and most sanguine frame of mind and they are confident of victory over the Shakers and a fair few make the trip to Lancashire to cheer the team on. Though Newcastle's play is pretty and scientific, too much finicking means they are a dramatic failure from the effective viewpoint. Bury's go-ahead style and sheer energy and determination sees them home. At one point the referee has to "interfere" due to the roughness of the play from both sides.
The Bury defeat has knocked the wind out of United's sails and some of the press suggest that they need to add a bit more dash to complement their strictly scientific football; especially when playing "kick and rush" teams.
07/10 - D1: Newcastle 6 Notts County 0 - The game is fairly even at the start and Kingsley pulls off some excellent saves but after Suter's howler gives United the lead the Lambs are slaughtered. Newcastle's strong and decisive attack is simply irresistible in aII departments. It is United's biggest ever win and the crowd becomes disgusted with the Trentsiders lamentable exhibition. During the customary five minute interval the crowd is treated to a balloon ascent advertising a local firm. After the match finishes the cornetist treats the red-coated infantry men sprinkled around the ground to a rendition of “The Soldiers of the Queen".
09/10 - Among the players given permission to practice on grounds of clubs other than those that they are registered with are Stott and Lamb, who both transferred to Middlesbrough recently.
10/10 - The directors and players (on invitation) attend the Grand Theatre to witness a performance of the farce "Our Irish-Visitors" which stars Tom E. Murray, one of the funniest comedians entertaining the public at present.
14/10 - D1: Man. City 1 Newcastle 0 - An excursion train left the coal metropolis at 5.55am (fare: 5s 6d) and has brought a goodly number of ardent supporters to cheer United on at Hyde Park. It is a hard tussle and a remarkably keen game although it is more exciting than high-class. Although City are on top in the first period and unlucky not to score, the game seems to be heading for a draw until the Cotton Kings score five minutes from time.
19/10 - Newcastle are to make a contribution of twenty guineas to the Mayor of Newcastle's fund for the purpose of assisting the wives and families of the Reservists who have been called upon to serve their country in the crisis which has arisen between England and the Transvaal.
21/10 - D1: Newcastle 0 Sheff. United 0 - There is a huge amount of interest in the visit of the League Leaders (who have won seven games and drawn the other) and the gates have to be closed early to avert any accidents leaving thousands locked out. Hundreds of fans assemble on the roof of the reserved stand and the Press Box is also invaded. United win the toss and opt to play up the hill and when the match kicks off there is a veritable roar, ear splitting, almost fierce, in its character. The large stand is a sea of humanity and the banks of men and women at each side actually sway like waves of the seas at times. It is a brilliant tussle full of stirring incidents and the play of both combinations reaches a high watermark. Newcastle match their illustrious visitors with indomitable pluck and smartness. Towards the end of the game the Blades indulge in some deliberate rough play and when Boyle makes a very heavy challenge on Peddie the crowd gives vent to its feelings in no uncertain manner. It is a magnificent game in which fast, scientific thrusts are thwarted by superb defence.
28/10 - Inside-left MacDonald joins Lincoln City.
28/10 - D1: Newcastle 0 Wolverhampton 1 - A major disappointment for United's followers as they concede their first home goal and lose their first game against mid-table Wolves. The visitors are complete masters of the game before the break and although the Magpies monopolise possession after half-time they fail to make any appreciable headway against a magnificent defence until a terrific, sustained ten-minute attack towards the end of the game. Poor shooting and a weak half-back line are United's undoing. Hugely disappointed, many fans leave early. Colin Veitch makes his debut at right-half.
04/11 - D1: Aston Villa 2 Newcastle 1 - Trains from the North were heavily laden and from the demonstration of enthusiasm on the ground, it is clear that the Newcastle brigade has a strong following at the Aston Park ground. Villa have the wind in their favour in the first half and it is not long before they are 2-0 ahead. United - now wind-aided - attack with more purpose after the break and reduce the deficit. Fouls became increasingly frequent and the referee is soundly hooted at times from the cheaper parts of the ground. At one point Lindsay is hit by a stone and the referee invites the assistance of a policeman to try and restore order. Although defeated, United had more than held their own against the Champions.
11/11 - Rogers looks like being chosen for the England tour of Germany.
11/11 - D1: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1 - The table-footers have the wind advantage in the first half and take the lead, but just before the break Newcastle equalise. Liverpool defend resolutely against United's attack in the second period and at one stage the referee has to step in to stop Waller and Higgins from coming to blows. There is some unpleasantness caused by the crowd hooting a disallowed goal.
Secretary Frank Watt has taken exception to remarks made by the Midlands correspondent of the Athletic News who claimed that the incident involving the Villa supporters and Lindsay (who was hit on the head by a stone) was just “harmless chaff”. He says the United fans got a lot of criticism last year when they played the Villains, but have never behaved as badly as that.
14/11 - J Harvie is solemnised at St Bede’s; the best man is Sunderland captain R. McNeill.
15/11 - United sign Alex Gardner of Leith Athletic. He has been much sought after by a number of clubs which has rather unsettled him. He is reckoned the smartest outside-right forward in Scotland.
17/11 - When White moved to Dundee in the summer there was no fee involved; he has now moved to Leicester Fossee and a payment has been made. Although the deal has been sanctioned, Newcastle are not happy and are claiming they still have ownership.
18/11 - D1: Burnley 1 Newcastle 3 - The meteorological disposition is again unfavourable with fog being the problem this week; thankfully it gradually lifts as the game progresses. Although they get a bit of luck Newcastle are in one of their rollicking moods and are generally smarter than the Turfites in every department and particularly in defence, where they excel. It is the first time this season that Burnley have been beaten on their own ground.
25/11 - Newcastle 0 Preston 0 - The Prestonians are at the foot of the table. Both sides feel aggrieved with the referee appearing to falsely disallow a valid effort for each of them. The home supporters repeatedly call for United to "play the game" as United give a lamentably weak performance in the first-half and the loss of Ghee just before the break does not help their cause.
02/12 - D1: Nottm. Forest 1 Newcastle 0 - A game played at a rare pace from start to finish. Newcastle play a remarkably fine game, combining excellent passing with stubborn defence, but it is the Reds attack which proves more effective. The match is settled by a penalty.
09/12 - Fr: Newcastle 2 Dundee United 2 - A pleasant game played in a really friendly spirit in which United come from behind twice. The crowd is disappointing and with a £50 guarantee being paid to the Scots, United are out-of-pocket.
16/12 - D1: Stoke 2 Newcastle 2 - The Potters employed a large staff of men to clear the snow from the pitch, and it is a raw, fine day. Stoke are the better side and take a two-goal lead with Kingsley having to be at his best to keep the Magpies in the game. Then, in the last ten minutes United score twice to share the spoils.
23/12 - D1: Newcastle 2 Sunderland 4 - There is a large crowd despite the wintry conditions and the early (2pm) kick-off. The ground is covered in a light covering of partially frozen snow which makes good football difficult. United adopt commendably aggressive tactics in the first-half, exhibit better football and lead 2-1. But after the break their defensive ranks suffer an utter and inexplicable collapse allowing the Wearsiders to storm to victory.
25/12 - Fr: Newcastle 4 Kilmarnock 1 - In a pretty game United are very pertinacious and win rather easily.
Snowball of Shankhouse (who played against Kilmarnock) had an unsuccessful trial at Newcastle last season. United want him for the Alliance team but Shankhouse don't want to let him go. Newcastle have taken matters to the English Association.
26/12 - Fr: Newcastle 1 Third Lanark 1 - In the first-half the Scots play down the hill, have decidedly the better of matters and lead at the break. In the second forty-five it is more even, with play becoming of an exhibition character.
30/12 - D1: Newcastle 4 West Brom. 2 - United play in white due to the colour clash. The proceeds of the match go to the reservist's fund and the club flag is replaced with a Union Jack. Newcastle win an exciting game.
01/01 - D1: Newcastle 2 Glossop 3 (abandoned 75m) - The match is played in fairly dense fog and on a hard, slippery ground. Reporters cannot see who scores the goals and have to ask the players. The referee abandons the game with only fifteen minutes remaining. It is hard luck on the wooden-spoonist Glossopians who have lost 9 and drawn 1 of their 10 away matches this season.
Former player James Collins passes away aged 27. He suffered a fearful injury playing for Chatham on Boxing Day, falling on sharp flint. Although he was sent home after being stitched and dressed in hospital, lockjaw set in. He has no relatives at all and the club are to pay for his funeral.
02/01 - The friendly with Southampton which was due to be played this afternoon is cancelled due to the state of the ground following this morning’s heavy rainfall.
06/01 - D1: Everton 3 Newcastle 2 - The weather is awful and the ground is heavy, but both teams set off at a pace and there is a flurry of goals in the first-half. The referee stops the game at one stage to remonstrate with a section of the crowd.
13/01 - At a recent meeting of the directorate it was decided to subscribe £100 to the Football Association Special Transvaal War Fund. Together with the £21 already given to the Reservists fund, United have subscribed the largest money of any club to our soldiers.
13/01 - From next Monday, United will commence special training in preparation for the Cup tie with Reading. They will be based at the salubrious Gosforth Park Hotel.
13/01 - D1: Newcastle 4 Blackburn 1
Newcastle start in half-hearted fashion and go behind, but they then play with more determination and win comfortably. At one point the referee - Mr Strawson - gives a decision which the crowd do not like. The result being a storm of hooting and hissing which at length proves too much for the gentleman in charge, play thereupon being suspended until the crowd behave themselves.
19/01 - George Mole of Stockton St John's has signed on as an amateur. He is 22, 5ft 10in and weighs between 11 and 12st. He is stated to be the best centre-forward on Teesside with a deadly shot at goal.
20/01 - D1: Derby 2 Newcastle 1 - In miserable weather play is even in the first period and it is 1-1 at the break. The second half is of the poorest class and Derby score just before the end.
Clever inside-right Goldie is suspended “sine die” for a breach of club discipline on Saturday night; it is his second offence. Nelson and O’Brien are fined for serious misconduct.
23/01 - United are to lodge a protest about the game at Derby owing, they allege, to the time limit being exceeded by three minutes during which time the Peakites scored the winner.
27/01 - FA R2: Newcastle 2 Reading 1 - It is generally accepted that leading clubs in the Southern League are on a par - at least - with those in Division 2. United take an early lead then the Biscuit Boys fight their way back into the game with their bustling tactics. They are on course for a replay until Rogers sends in a beauty ten minutes from time. It is a deserved victory, but it is a stubborn contest and a merited effort from the plucky amateurs.
Lindsay has come into conflict with the directorate after a breach of training regulations and has been suspended.
31/01 - at a meeting of the directors the subject of Peddie’s non-appearance at Gosforth Park is considered. It transpires that he was granted leave of absence until 5.30pm, but had failed to adhere to the arrangement and had not since appeared. He has been suspended “sine die.”
03/02 - D1: Newcastle 2 Bury 1 - Wardrope replaces Peddie following his suspension by the club. It is end-to-end and although United win, the crowd are very caustic in their criticism and remark freely on the performances of each player. During the break the cornet soloist (who is present at every home match) plays "Cock O' The North”
06/02 - At the weekly meeting Peddie’s suspension is lifted as he has apologised.
08/02 - At a meeting of the Football League, Newcastle’s protest about the Derby (away) result being allowed to stand is dismissed. United claimed that the referee had allowed the match to go two and a half minutes overtime during which period the home side scored the winner.
10/02 - FAC R2: Southampton 0 Newcastle 0 (abandoned 50m) - It’s bitterly cold on the South Coast and snow falls heavily throughout the first-half. The ground is very slippery, making the game a lottery and Farrell departs with a broken collar-bone. Soon after the break the snow starts falling even more heavily and the players run for shelter. With it showing no sign of ceasing, the referee declares the match abandoned.
15/02 Newcastle’s train to Winchester is delayed by thirty minutes due to the arrival of a distinguished Chinaman alighting from the train at Newcastle. During the journey they are snowed up for several hours. The club’s medical advisor Dr Vickery reveals that Dave Gardner is very bad with a severe throat and chest infection and is unable to get out of bed.
17/02 - FAC R2: Southampton 4 Newcastle 1 - In a grandly contested match the Sotons recover from conceding early to win convincingly and they also have two goals disallowed for offside. United's performance contains too much dally and fiddling business which fails to come off on a heavy ground. As the game wears on the Cherry Stripes redouble their efforts whilst United’s play falls off considerably.
03/03 - D1: Wolverhampton 1 Newcastle 1 - Both sides play a short passing game and have chances, but United's shooting is wretched. Towards the end of the game the Wolves captain Griffiths receives a terrific blow on the forehead from the ball. He falls down unconscious and up to late on Saturday night remained so, the injury resulting apparently in serious concussion of the brain.
04/03- Griffiths thankfully regains consciousness.
10/03 - D1: Newcastle 3 Aston Villa 2 - Games against the Villains are second only to the "derby" games in terms of the anticipation level and with Villa heading the table the enthusiasm is even greater. Excursions are run from as far away as Berwick and Darlington and the gates are opened two hours before kick-off. Before the game the band treats the supporters to a rendition of "The Soldiers of the Queen" and they are stirred to join in heartily with the chorus. The stands embody a shifting mass of humanity which seems to be perpetually on the move, but always in the best of temper. It is a ding-dong tussle and the finest game seen at St. James’ this season.
14/03 - D1: Newcastle 1 Glossop 0 - Struggling Glossop play the kick and rush game magnified tenfold and United’s play is very scrappy. There is a lot of erratic shooting including a third penalty miss from Peddie. Throughout the season United have shaped up very indifferently when placed against teams occupying a lowly position. It would appear at times that the weaker the opposition the poorer the exertions of the home side.
17/03 - D1: Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0 - In a well contested match United's shooting does not match the slickness of their passing and they are beaten by two well executed goals. Informalities naturally happen while the game is intense, but there is an astonishingly hostile reception given to Lindsay. It is unkind, unwarrantable and unsportsmanlike. And when he leaves the field he is fairly mobbed, the crowd booing unceasingly. It is thought that the reaction may be a result of what happened in a previous game when Lindsay was playing for Grimsby against Liverpool.
21/03 - Dave Gardner, Alec Gardner and Jock Peddie all play in the Scots verses Anglo-Scots trial in Glasgow. Aitken should have played too, but the selection committee thought he was unavailable. Peddie Scores.
24/03-D1: Newcastle 2 Burnley 0 - Playing down the hill United shade the play and with the defenders making Kingsley's position a positive sinecure they build up a two goal lead. The interval brings patriotic solos from an instrumentalist and a singer in the stands. United dominate the second-half with the highlight being a great dribble by Alec Gardner which takes him the length of the field before he loses possession to Woolfail.
26/03 - D1: Sheff. United 3 Newcastle 1 - Snow before the game affects both the gate and the ground. The homesters are the better side and score twice before the break. United try to get back into the game but the Cutlery Town defence holds firm.
31/03 - D1: Preston 4 Newcastle 1 - Although Kingsley is in superb form, United are overplayed by the struggling Prestonians.
07/04 - D1: Newcastle 3 Nottm. Forest 1 - A designated benefit match for Aitken and Wardrope in which United are much the better side. At one stage in the second-half a thick cloud of smoke from a chimney fire comes over the ground .
09/04 - To assist Middlesbrough in their present troubles; Wardrope, Niblo and Ostler all head for Teesside.
13/04 - It is rumoured that the Middlesbrough signings are temporary until the end of the season only.
13/04 - D1: Newcastle 0 Man. City 0 - Good Friday brings sunshine, but hopes for a scientific game are ruined by the gusty and puzzling wind.
14/04 - D1: Glossop 0 Newcastle 0 - The Magpies make the journey to the somewhat outlandish Glossop who are doomed. It is a disappointing game in boisterous weather which proves uninteresting
16/04- D1: Notts County 0 Newcastle 0 - A third goalless game in a row and although it is a good game the shooting is poorly judged.
17/04 - Fr: Coventry City 1 Newcastle 5 - A very comfortable victory against the amateurs.
19/04 - The standard weekly wage for first-teamers is £3 10s and it is rumoured that some of the players are agitating for £5.
21/04 - D1: Newcastle 2 Stoke 2 - Although the solar rays are too scorching for football, it is mildly interesting with the Magpies scoring twice late on to save a point. Happy-go-lucky Newcastle’s display is full of lackadaisical movement and unprofitable finessing which raises the ire of their supporters.
23/04 - The financial question which had threatened to cause a serious difficulty in the re-engagement of the principal players has been satisfactorily resolved. The players will get a substantial wage and substantive bonuses.
28/04 - D1: Sunderland 1 Newcastle 2 - The Wear-Tyne derby brings the usual mass migration of supporters with numerous trains travelling to Monkwearmouth Station, many of the carriages are so full that they take some minutes to empty. Non-train travellers commandeer every kind of contraption on four wheels with vehicle proprietors making rich pickings. Even though fifteen turnstiles are open, there are chaotic scrimmages at the entrances. On entering the field of play the cornetist performs periodic outbursts of tbc music". It is possibly the last game in custodianship of the whistle for famous referee John Lewis, both sides had their best eleven out. With the benefit of the wind and sun in the first-half, United are the better side and take a two-goal lead before Sunderland pull one back just before the break. After the home eleven start the second-half well the game becomes completely tame. During the match supporter William Rutherford (57) dies due to failure of the heart brought on by over-excitement.
There are rumours that Newcastle and Sunderland have been asked to join the Scottish League.
01/05 United sign Charles Burgess, right full back of Millwall Athletic and late of Dundee.
The players get a bonus of £10 for finishing 5th.
04/05 - The transfer back from Middlesbrough of Wardrope, Stott and Niblo is not passed by the Football League and the clubs have been ordered to attend the next League meeting.
04/05- Higgins moves to Middlesbrough
09/05 At a special meeting of the Football League, representatives of Newcastle and Middlesbrough are asked to explain the position of the Newcastle players. Following their deliberations the transfers of Ostler and Wardrope are refused, but the transfer of Niblo is granted.
12/05 - The services of left full back Edward Allan have been secured from Millwall Athletic.
30/05 - The balance-sheet is issued, showing total income of about £11,000. There is a deficit of £1,700, but it must be remembered the club spent £3,200 on ground improvements last summer.