18/06 - Eighteen-year-old Barrington twins George and William Richardson have signed for Newcastle. They are left-wing partners. George played for England in a youth international against Wales last season and is in the RAF, William is working on a farm.

10/06 - Jack Fairbrother denies reports that he has decided to stay at Preston and Newcastle deny reports that they have withdrawn their offer.

17/06 - George Stobbart is the guest referee at a charity match between women's teams from Pegswood and Lynemouth.

30/06 - United have made an offer of £10,000 for Chesterfield ‘keeper Ray Middleton, but it has been turned down.

05/07 - Hartlepool sign wing-half Bobby Donaldson.

10/07 - Jackie Milburn is a surprise participant in an old people's charity sports event, organised by West End Social Club in Ashington. Despite "severe handicapping" he wins three races although he hands the prize money back to the "Aged People's Treat Fund". Nothing is said about what he did with the ounce of tobacco the winners also received.

13/07 - Tot Smith, freed at the end of last season, has joined Consett.

14/07 - Last season’s first-choice goalkeeper Tom Swinburne also joins Consett. He was put on the open-to-transfer list and not offered a retainer at the end of last season. He has spent 12 years at Newcastle.

23/07 - It is reported that Plymouth have made an offer for George Stobbart, but he has turned them down.

27/07 - United publish their accounts and they reveal a record income from gate receipts of £111,977 which helps generate a profit of £9,077. The club now (after putting £3,000 into reserve) has a positive balance of £2,416. They had to pay out a whopping £24,771 in entertainment tax and their travel expenses of £11,390 (three times more than Sunderland) also raise some eyebrows.

28/07 - The players report back for training.

06/08 - New manager George Martin gets a cordial welcome at the AGM and states that: “I’m not a magician and I’m going to make no rash promises, but it won’t be for want of trying if we fail to get to the First Division”. The Board have to face the usual criticism from Mr Hurst and Mr Pringle. Mr Hurst complains about there being too many free tickets, director’s seats and trips to Seahouses. Mr Pringle also complains about the number of “parasites” in free seats as well as complaining bitterly, with some murmurs of support, about the distribution of cup-tie tickets.

23/08 - D2: Newcastle 6 Plymouth 1 - NEWCASTLE RAN AWAY WITH VICTORY IN SECOND-HALF - United get off to a dream start, securing their best first match score since beating Stoke 5-0 in 1902. Five of the goals come in the last half hour in which they bewilder and bewitch the visitor's tiring rearguard and all five forwards get on the scoresheet. Unbeknown to each other the Lord Mayors of both Newcastle and Plymouth attend the match. Debutant Fairbrother doesn't get a touch of the ball for the first twenty minutes.

27/08 - D2: Chesterfield 0 Newcastle 1 - WAYMAN’S GOAL WAS WINNER - A narrow and rather lucky victory in which Wayman grabs the only goal. Both sets of forwards struggle against determined defences, Brennan and Graham playing particularly well.

30/08 - D2: Luton 2 Newcastle 1 - NEWCASTLE ATTACK WAS BELOW PAR AT LUTON - A quick return home for manager George Martin who is presented with a gold watch for his services to his former club. But there are to be no more gifts in a game in which the much vaunted forward line misfires and receives heavy criticism for their lack of fight.

03/09 - D2: Newcastle 2 Chesterfield 3 - UNITED TWO GOALS UP - THEN CAME CRASH - United take an early two goal lead, but disastrously they then concede three against a side that has thus far failed to score. United’s second goal is a disaster for Chesterfield 'keeper Middleton. He mistakenly believes that the referee has whistled for an infringement and puts the ball down to take a free-kick. Realising his mistake Milburn rushes up and strokes the ball into the empty net. Manager Martin meets the directors for a crisis meeting immediately after the match and the decision is taken to radically overhaul the team for the next game.

03/09 - United sign two amateurs: centre-half Bob Stokoe (17) from Mickley and inside forward Arthur Jones (22) from Teams, Gateshead.

06/09 - D2: Newcastle 1 Brentford 0 - BRENNAN THE STAR IN LAST MINUTE VICTORY - Half the team is changed and Shackleton is one of the players sent to play with the reserves. United's re-jigged side labours against the wooden-spoonists and it looks like ending goalless. Then a disastrous mistake by the visitors allows Woodburn to score two minutes from time.

06/09 - Stan Seymour watches Swansea’s Irish international outside-left Lockhart and states that he has opened negotiations for his transfer. A fee of about £8,000 is likely to be involved.

10/09 - D2: Birmingham 0 Newcastle 0 - UNITED FOUGHT FOR THIS POINT - It is all change again, with five changes and the forward line reorganised once more. It is a game played at a cracking pace with the United team putting in a decent shift. They are unfortunate that Merrick is in such great form in goal and that a Donaldson effort, which appears to cross the line, is not allowed.

13/09 - NEWCASTLE PLAN TO BECOME SOCCER’S FIRST £100,000 TEAM - The Daily Mirror reports that United may soon become the first £100,00 team claiming that the game’s big spenders already have plans to shell out £30,000 more in the coming weeks.

13/09 - D2: Leicester 2 Newcastle 2 - BRENNAN STOOD FIRM TO FOIL BID BY CITY - Shackleton is back, but once again United throw away a two goal lead. The pace throughout the game is terrific and both sets of players are exhausted at the end. Graham, Donaldson and Walker all pick up injuries.

13/09 - After watching Lockhart again Newcastle make a bid, but Swansea refuse to part with the player.

16/09 - Half-back Norman Dodgin has asked to be put on the transfer-list.

17/09 - D2: Newcastle 1 Birmingham 0 - GARBUTT WAS GREAT IN GOAL - HAIR SHOT GAVE UNITED POINTS - With Joe Harvey starting to become the leader on the pitch this is a stronger performance although United still do not look like promotion material. Garbutt, in for the injured Fairbrother, and Brennan are the stars, but upfront things are still disjointed.

17/09 - Tot Smith signs on again, but a bid for Swansea outside-left Lockart is rejected.

17/09 - United have been involved in negotiations all week with Stoke for the sale of Stobbart, but as Wayman has picked up an injury they are no longer prepared to sell at the moment. Chelsea are also believed to be interested in the front man.

20/09 - D2: Newcastle 4 Leeds 2 - IT WAS LEEDS’ GAME FOR HALF AN HOUR, THEN - The visitors start strongly, but United gradually wear them down and deservedly picked up both points. They are beginning to look more like a team, rather than a collection of talented individuals.

27/09 - D2: Fulham 3 Newcastle 0 - POOR UNITED ATTACK - Thousands are locked out at Craven Cottage. The same eleven is retained for the first time, but the Magpies concede a goal after only 10 minutes and never recover. United’s performance is too bad to be true and they would have lost by more but for Garbutt's brilliance and the profligacy of the Fulham forwards. It is time to cut out the fancy work and go for the ball for the full ninety minutes.

29/09 - Newcastle are one of a number of clubs to make an offer for Chelsea’s Tommy Lawton, however the bid is rejected and the player states that he doesn’t want to move North.

04/10 - D2: Newcastle 0 Coventry 0 - COVENTRY CITY GOALKEEPER BARRED WAY TO UNITED ATTACK - Martin shuffles his pack again with a significant revamp of the defence. It’s a much better performance and only the heroics of Sky Blues 'keeper Wood keeps the score blank.

06/10 - Jack Fairbrother is unhappy that he has not been recalled to the first-team since recovering from injury and puts in a transfer request.

07/10 - After meeting with manager Martin, Fairbrother withdraws his request. "It was a friendly do. I don't like making trouble for anyone, so I withdrew my letter".

07/10 - Lord Mayor Alderman Pearson talks of plans to build a super stadium for the club on the Town Moor. He is supported by journalist Stan Bell.

08/10 - Tommy Pearson asks for a transfer as he wants to return to Scotland, the request has been acceded to. Roy Bentley is given a holiday as he feels that he has not been pulling his weight and the club are keen to help him. "I hope to come back completely fit and help the club in the way that I want to".

09/10 - Dave Boyle signs as a professional having joined as an amateur from North Shields YMCA Freshers last season. He is 18 and currently in the army.

11/10 - D2: Newcastle 1 West Ham 0 - MILBURN’S LONE GOAL WON POINTS FOR NEWCASTLE - The forward line is revamped yet again, however this latest experiment is not a success. It is a laboured performance with Milburn, who is moved from the wing to centre-forward during the course of the game, netting the only goal. Martin meets with the directors after the game and is said to have suggested a course of action which may have important consequences.

13/10 - After being dropped for the West Ham game, Charlie Wayman requests a transfer.

15/10 - Martin and the Board meet to discuss the transfer requests and they agree to place Pearson, Wayman, Crowe and Dodgin on the open-to-transfer list. George Martin states: "we are determined to get harmony in the club and people not content will not be retained". However the club is looking for exchange deals rather than straight sales.

16/10 - Chairman Rutherford expresses his disappointment with the state of affairs. “I know of no other club where players are treated more fairly and more generously and I must confess that I have been disappointed that some of our efforts do not seem to have been appreciated. At the same time we are not alone in these troubles just now and we probably have as good a set of players as any club in the game. I feel all that is needed is the spirit that makes all players regard themselves as members of the club rather than members of either first or second teams."

16/10 - Nottingham Forest make an enquiry about Wayman, meanwhile United are considering a move for Dundee centre-forward Ronnie Turnbull to replace him.

17/10 - Southampton make a bid for Wayman, but United want to hold out for an exchange deal.

18/10 - D2: Bury 3 Newcastle 5 - BURY’S TEN MEN SHOW NEVER-SAY-DIE SPIRIT - MILBURN SUCCESS - Stobbart is recalled and Milburn is moved to the centre. Fairbrother returns following Garbutt’s shoulder injury. Within eight minutes of the start Bury are reduced to ten men and lose their 'keeper when Bradshaw breaks his leg. Despite a brave performance from the Lancastrians Pearson and Shackleton have the space to display their vast repertoire of skills and Milburn grabs a hat-trick.

19/10 - Martin states that they are no longer interested in Turnbull.

20/10 - No suitable exchange deals have been arranged for the listed players and United are now willing to listen to cash offers.

21/10 - Newcastle are trying to arrange a summer tour of America.

22/10 - Southampton put in a £10,000 bid for Wayman, but United would prefer a part-exchange deal with Sheffield United centre-forward Forbes.

25/10 - D2: Newcastle 5 Southampton 0 - NEWCASTLE GO “NAP” FOR SECOND WEEK IN SUCCESSION - The defence is compact and the forwards are bold especially during an exhilarating second-half performance. In particular Pearson and Shackleton demonstrate some amazing ball play.

28/10 - Tommy Walker breaks his arm during morning training. He went to retrieve a ball that had gone on the terracing but fell when he jumped the wall.

01/11 - D2: Doncaster 0 Newcastle 3 - UNITED SHOWED PROMOTION FORM - Milburn scores twice to make it six in three games since moving to centre-forward; but it is a man of the match performance from wantaway winger, Pearson, that is the catalyst for victory. Finally the forward line seems to be combining effectively. Martin declares that: "I have no players I want to get rid of and I am bound to say I have not seen any available who are better than we have". “Jack (Milburn) is unorthodox, but he gets there" reports Will Lowes. Newcastle are now second.

08/11 - D2: Newcastle 0 Nottingham F. 2 - SIMPSON’S FIRST GOALS OF SEASON GIVE NOTTS POINTS - Bentley returns from his break, replacing Sibley, but he struggles and the change disrupts the balance of the United forward line. United lack snap and Shackleton has a penalty saved as United's four game winning run comes to a surprise end against struggling Forest. They have plenty of shots, but are scuppered by a mixture of good goalkeeping and poor finishing.

15/11 - D2: Bradford PA 0 Newcastle 3 - NEWCASTLE COMPLETE MASTERS IN ROUSING AWAY VICTORY - Len Shackleton trained all week with his former teammates. United bounce back with a first rate performance which matches artistry with application. All the goals come in the first period with the players keeping their heads against some towsy tussling by the Yorkshiremen. It seems they have learned that they need to work to get and retain possession. Pearson is man of the match for the third game in a row but it is an excellent team performance and it seems that the players are less nervous when playing away from home. Len Shackleton is interviewed by Wilfred Pickles in the dressing-room after the game for the “Northern Folk” radio programme.

22/11 - D2: Newcastle 4 Cardiff 1 - SHACKLETON FLOURISH OVERLAY TEAM ARTISTRY - Cardlff come to Tyneside to play football, but Milburn scores after only ten seconds and they are taught a lesson in the finer arts of the game with United in scintillating form and Pearson and Shackleton In party mode. Shack is at his brilliant best and delights the crowd by, amongst other things, sitting on the ball and attempting to play a 1-2 with the corner flag. One Cardiff director sums it up well. "What a team you have got. We don't feel sore about this beating. None of our boys have played better, but what could we do against that". Many say it is United's best performance since their Division 1 days. Milburn starts the fun with the first goal after only ten seconds.

29/11 - D2: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Newcastle 0 - WEDNESDAY JUST DESERVED WIN OVER UNITED - Back down to earth as the same eleven fail to reproduce their best against a workmanlike Wednesday side. United lack cohesion upfront and the only goal comes when they fail to mark Froggatt at a corner.

30/11 Bentley asks to be placed on the transfer list as he does not believe that the North East is good for his health.

03/12 - THE BENTLEY RUSH IS ON - United agree to Bentley’s request but Martin makes it clear that: “We don’t want money, we want another player. Almost any position will do if the man is of the right quality”. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Luton and Cardiff have all made approaches.

A Liverpool bid for Bentley is rejected.

06/12 - D2: Newcastle 1 Tottenham 0 - MILBURN WINNER SET SEAL ON UNITED’S GALLANT DISPLAY - Martin keeps faith with the same eleven and is rewarded with a single goal victory over a classy Spurs side. United play skillfully enough, but it is their fighting spirit that gets them through as a knee injury to Graham means they have to play half the game with ten men. Milburn is all over the pitch and scores his best goal of the season so far, a goal thought worthy of comparison with the great Hughie Gallacher.

09/12 - Liverpool reject a Newcastle bid for their full-back Lambert.

A Bury bid for Bentley is turned down with United once again looking for a part-exchange deal. Bentley considers it: "rather unfair that I have to stay and be used as 'bait' to aid Newcastle United". United are said to be considering moves for Blackpool's England international inside-right Stan Mortenson, who has asked for a transfer, and Hibs right back Govan.

11/12 - As there is no home game until Next Year the players travel to Letchworth In Hertfordshire for two weeks special training.

13/12 - D2: Millwall 2 Newcastle 1 - UNITED RELIED TOO MUCH ON INDIVIDUALISM - The game is played at Selhurst Park as Millwall have received a seven day ban from playing at home. This is because of an incident in the home match with Barnsley in October when a spectator threatened the referee at the end of the game. In the first half United are well on top and deservedly take the lead. But they start to showboat rather than compete and the Londoners come back to win.

16/12 - Newcastle decide not to put in a bid for Hibernians back Govan and an approach for Stan Mortenson is rebuffed with the Lancashire outfit turning down his transfer request.

The BBC wanted to televise the FA Cup match with Charlton, but the Football League have refused permission and Charlton have acceded to their wishes.

20/12 - D2: Plymouth 3 Newcastle 0 - UNITED FOUND EVERY MOVE BLOCKED BY LOWLY ARGYLE - United hit a new low with a pathetic performance at table-footers Plymouth in a game in which they could have been beaten even more heavily. The team as a whole is poor, but the main problems are in attack where there were just five individuals scurrying around.

24/12 - A crisis meeting between the manager and the players is held at the club's temporary headquarters in Letchworth. Mr Martin's advice is: "it's up to you chaps to get together". So the players did just that, holding their own two-hour conference.

26/12 - D2: West Brom 0 Newcastle 1 - UNITED’S DEFENCE BEST IN GREAT WIN - The same eleven, although Stobbart and Shackleton are switched, are given another chance at second-placed West Brom and United produce a much more hard working and tight knit performance. The marking is meatier and the inside-forwards forage harder and - as a result - the Magpies record their fifth away win of the season.

01/01 - D2: Newcastle 3 West Brom 1 - Despite the torrential rain a huge crowd descends on St. James’ for the New Year’s Day clash with the second-placed Throstles. There are over 60,000 in the ground and many thousands more are locked out. The Magpies hit top form and their ball moving policy and rousing team effort secures a comfortable victory. It could easily have been even more, although they were helped by the fact that West Brom’s 'keeper was injured half way through the first half.

03/01 - D2: Newcastle 4 Luton 1 -

LUTON LUCKY TO MISS ROUT AT ST. JAMES’ - Almost 65,000 witnesses United thrash Luton 4-1 with Milburn grabbing a hat-trick having took the defence round and around as dizzily as on a Town Moor fair ride. The team is afire with confidence and Shackleton resorts to downright comedy, trying trick shots when he has an open goal.

08/01 - Chelsea and Newcastle have agreed terms for the transfer of Bentley to Chelsea which should go through tomorrow night. The player had to be brought back from the coast where he had been enjoying billiards and table tennis at North Shields YMCA (the weather having put paid to their golfing plans). Bentley will travel down to London with the United party tomorrow. McCaul is on Tyneside and talks of being delighted at having a chance to play in England, especially at a place which “didn't seem too far from Scotland".

10/01 - FA R3 - Charlton 2 Newcastle 1 - Despite dominating the game United are beaten by a great performance from goalkeeper Bertram and two soft goals. Pearson also misses a penalty just after Charlton's second. Sibley suffers a bad injury during the game.

13/01 - Sibley has not fractured his collar-bone as had been feared. Fairbrother is to see a specialist regarding a hand injury but is likely to be dropped anyway after his errors in the Cup tie.

Two amateurs are signed from FH Juniors, R Simm (18 rh) and Cecil Sands (16 - oh). A fortnight ago they signed Peter Davidson (the son of David) from the same club.

17/01 - D2 - Brentford 1 Newcastle 0 - RUDDERLESS NEWCASTLE BEATEN POINTLESS - Garbutt replaces the dropped Fairbrother and McCall makes his debut. United's performance at lowly Brentford is less than mediocrity as they fail to adapt to the wet and blustery conditions. They are rudderless and plan-less. Brennan, who has suffered a loss of form, had to leave the field for ten minutes for emergency repairs to a boot. Trainer Smith had to nail on the loose sole and strap up the toe cap.

19/01 - United make tentative enquiries about Alex Forbes (Sheffield United and Scotland wing-half) and Ivor Broadis (Carlisle inside-forward). Meanwhile there is a huge demand for tickets for the game at Leeds. United could have taken all the stand seats and one individual’s request for four hundred tickets has been turned down.

21/01 - Woodburn requests a transfer; he might be allowed to go if United get Forbes.

22/01 - The Sheffield United Board meet to discuss the offers for Forbes but it is revealed that he is in hospital after having an operation for appendicitis Martin and Seymour are to travel to Ireland on a scouting trip at the weekend. They are believed to want a half-back and/or a full-back.

24/01 - D2 - Leeds 3 Newcastle 1 - Martin keeps faith with the same eleven although Shackleton and Stobbart switch sides. It is to no avail as the Magpies are hustled out of their game and then eventually outplayed. One reporter suggests that “individual effort which has for a long stretch camouflaged a lack of team-plan and team-play is rapidly collapsing". Petrol check by police.

29/01 - Len Shackleton is informed that he will be playing for the "stiffs" at the weekend and immediately asks to be placed on the transfer list. "I have asked for a transfer because I felt I was playing well .. and was being dropped without justification. I am very happy on Tyneside and shall be very sorry to leave the district, but I felt I was left with no option". Martin suggests "a dissatisfied player is of little value to the club" and Bob Rutherford also has his say. "No club in the country can do more for the comfort and happiness of it's players. In what light is one to regard a player who wants to leave. Surely it is reasonable for a club to put a player on the reserve team...without expecting the man left out to immediately seek transfer. For any individual or section of a team to try and run the team is just nonsensical". Hull immediately make a £15,000 offer and lots of other clubs are thought to have expressed an interest. Meanwhile, Woodburn comes off the list.

29/01 - No decision has yet been made by the club on Shackleton's request, but that has not stopped the offers pouring in; including ones from Sunderland, Liverpool and Arsenal, who are believed to have made the top fid so far of £16,000. With so much interest it is highly likely that the British transfer fee record will be broken.

31/01 - D2: Newcastle 2 Leicester 0 - Martin makes four changes and the new line-up is heavily criticised in some quarters with flair being sacrificed for work. It is a dour performance full of good honest stuff without great distinction, but also without over-individualism or lopsidedness.

31/01 - The directors meet after the match and accede to Shackleton's request.

03/02 - Liverpool are believed to put in an offer of £17,000 for Shackleton .

07/02 - DEATH OF A NEWCASTLE UNITED PIONEER - W.A. Coulson passes away at the age of 84. He started the Newcastle East End club in 1879.

09/02 - Fr: Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 2 - Eric Garbutt and Ernie Taylor are the stars in a surprisingly competitive victory over First Division Villa. One of their directors says it was “the finest exhibition of football seen on the ground this season”.

09/02 - Aberdeen make a bid for Pearson, but after two hours of negotiations Aberdeen manager David Halliday fails to agree on a fee with United.

14/02 - Fr: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 3 - REDS TAKE GOALS TO NEWCASTLE - A record crowd for a friendly off 44,840 witnesses a humbling 3-0 defeat by First Division strugglers Liverpool. Liverpool's manager Kay describes the attendance as "astonishing". Stubbins misses a penalty for the visitors and Milburn becomes the latest United player to fail from the spot.

16/02 - Jackie Milburn gets married.

20/02 - Newcastle are one of a number of clubs showing an interest in Barnsley forward George Robledo, but the Yorkshiremen say he is not for sale.

21/02 - D2 - Coventry 1 Newcastle 1 - THE NEW FIGHTING LOOK OF NEWCASTLE - The Magpies battle well on an ice rink of a pitch and come from behind to gain a deserved draw despite having to play against the wind and with ten men for the last half hour due to an injury to Fraser. It is a supreme collective effort with Harvey at its fulcrum.

23/02 - With Fraser, Graham, Cowell and Corbett all injured United are running out of full-backs and they are one of a number of clubs involved in negotiations with Stockport with regards to their full-back Staniforth. His club would prefer an exchange deal.

28/02 - D2 - West Ham 0 Newcastle 2 - UNITED SMASH LONDON BOGEY - United win with goals from Thompson and Milburn in the 68th and 70th minute. The main talking point is caused when the Hammers have a "goal" controversially chalked off when the referee blows for half-time just before the ball enters the net. It is a triumph of team spirit combined with individual excellence and is United's first away victory since the end of December.

29/02 - After watching Staniforth at the weekend United decide to end their interest in the player. It is believed they may turn their attention to Walton of Manchester United. Joe Harvey is selected for the League team who will meet the Scottish League at St. James’

09/03 - Manchester United place United target Walton on the transfer list and the Magpies also declare an interest in Sheffield united inside-right Nightingale.

10/03 - Walton moves to Preston. George Martin and Stan Seymour receive a "tip off" regarding a player's availability and make an air dash to Wrexham to take in The Wales v Ireland international. Target is not known but speculation surrounds Welsh International forward George Lowrie who is unsettled at Coventry.

13/03 - D2 - Southampton 4 Newcastle 2 - SOUTH COAST SHOCKER - George Lowrie makes his debut and has the ball in the net after only twenty seconds; only for the effort to be chalked off for offside. Then Charlie Wayman nets twice against his old club to help put the Saints three up inside the first seven minutes. They score a fourth on the hour before United register twice to give the scoreline some respectability.

17/03 - In miserable weather the Football League play out a 1-1 draw with the Scottish League at St James' Park; Norman Smith managing the team and Joe Harvey playing. The match generates huge interest and the gates are locked an hour before kick-off with an estimated ten thousand locked out. Such is the clamour to get in that at one point ten policemen have to guard a gap in a gateway which cannot be closed because fans are forcing their way through. Inside the ground hundreds of fans have to be allowed onto the track. The game is played in the afternoon and therefore there had been fears of significant absenteeism but it was not as bad as expected (5%). Instead men turned up straight from work including unwashed miners from Ashington. Four men require treatment due to the crushing.

20/03 - D2: Newcastle 2 Doncaster 0 - UNITED SCRAPED POINTS FROM WIND-RULED GAME - ln atrocious conditions United just about deserve their victory over struggling Doncaster. Thompson scores the first and Stoobbart nets direct from a freekick for his first United goal. Thompson then misses a penalty for the visitors. In an error-strewn game a shout of “Howay Jackie” was heard from the crowd in hope that he could inject a bit of quality into the game. United are four points behind leaders Birmingham and one point behind second placed Cardiff over whom they have a game in hand.

26/03 - D2: Newcastle 1 Barnsley 0 - Another narrow victory with a second half goal from McCall being just enough to earn maximum points. United move up to second.

27/03 - D2: Nottm. F. 0 Newcastle 0 - Wlth the attack falling to Impress It Is left to the defence to ensure that United return with a hard earned point from a hectic match against struggling Forest. McColl has a penalty saved meaning United have failed with seven out of eight penalties this season.

29/03 - D2: Barnsley 1 Newcastle 1 - A “MIRACLE” POINT FOR UNITED IN HECTIC DUEL - Harvey, Sibley and Taylor are all out. A heroic defensive performance against a second-half onslaught with Lowrie (injured after only 15 minutes) a passenger on the right-wing and Brennan and Craig both requiring treatment. With Cardiff losing, United are now two points ahead of the third placed Welshmen.

01/04 - Lowrie has suffered a bad knee injury and is likely to miss the rest of the season. Charlie Crowe is more settled now and has asked to be taken off the transfer list.

03/04 - D2: Newcastle 2 Bradford PA 0 - UNITED ‘SMASH-GRAB” SOCCER DOES TRICK - Bradford’s bus breaks down just South of Catterick and the hour delay nearly stops them from arriving on time for kick-off. With thirteen players out injured Martin shocks everyone with his selection of three half-backs (Harvey, Houghton and Woodburn) in attack. It is a rough and tumble tussle in which there is precious little combination, but United show great fight and get the win they need. Woodburn scores within four minutes and Stobbart doubles the advantage just before the break. United have adopted “spoil and counter” tactics and it is a the ninth win in a row on Tyneside.

09/04 - The Newcastle party visit Porthcawl and have tea at the Seabank Hotel.

10/04 - D2: Cardiff 1 Newcastle 1 - MATCH OF THE SEASON - After a poor run Cardiff are now four points and two places below United. It is a match of good football, terrific fervour and exciting incidents in which both teams have periods of ascendancy. Stobbart's first-half goal seems to have won the game before the referee controversially awards a penalty with only five minutes left, the Cardiff player admitting after the game that he'd fallen over the ball. However, a draw is a fair result from a terrific game. Fairbrother came well through a severe test on his return to the side. Newcastle remain second, one point ahead of third-placed Sheffield Wednesday.

14/04 - D2: Newcastle 1 Fulham 0 - STOBBART GOAL SENT CROWD WILD - The Magpies look to be heading for a goalless draw until the 85th minute when they are awarded a controversial penalty. There is a deathly silence around the ground as Stobbart lines up to take the spot-klck. Superbly casual, he steps back, kicks, and in a flash the ball is in the back of the net. There is a roar which rent the skies and old timers later claim it was as loud a noise as they ever could remember.

17/04 - D2: Newcastle 4 Sheffield W 2 - HOUGHTON HAD TO BE TOLD OF GOAL - Wednesday have been preparing at North Shields’ Appleby Park. Fans start arriving at 9.00 am in the morning and the gates are shut an hour and a quarter before the game. Many of the thousands locked out stay around the ground during the game.The official attendance is a 66,483 for the promotion showdown. Wednesday are two points behind the Magpies and as both sides have three games left. United know that a win will effectively guarantee promotion due to their significantly better goal difference. It is a rip-roaring see-saw game in which the more skillfully constructive Wednesday side is beaten by the sheer determination of the Magpies. The hero of the hour and a half is emergency winger Houghton who scores twice in the last five minutes to win the game. After his first goal some fans pour onto the pitch from the Gallowgate and swarm around the goalmouth where Houghton and a defender are still prone on the ground and they are lucky not to be injured.The twenty-year-old then suffers severe shock after breaking his arm and gashing his leg scoring the fourth and he did not know what he had done until he was informed in the dressing room. When the final whistle blew there is a thunderous roar that lets the rest of the City know they had made the grade. Pandemonium let’s loose as hundreds of fans swarm onto the pitch and mob the players who eventually require police assistance to get back to the dressing room.

24/04 - D2: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 1 - UNITED BATTLED ON TO CONFIRM DIVISION 1 STATUS - After a slow and nervy start a missed penalty by Tottenham kicks the match into action. It transforms into a terrific battle, studded freely with fine football and exciting high-speed happening. Although United are behind at the break, Sibley grabs an equaliser soon after the restart. Stobbart has to move to the right wing owing to a boot nail piercing his foot.

04/05 - Newcastle travel to Belfast, both the senior and reserve teams travel and they have 26 players in total.

05/05. - Fr: Linfield 0 Newcastle 6 - NEWCASTLE’S EASY WIN - Milburn scores four as United open their Irish tour with an easy win over the Irish Cup holders at Windsor Park. As a local reporter admitted they “displayed skill and science seldom seen here”.

08/05. - Fr: Ballymena 2 Newcastle 3 - UNITED HAD TO STRUGGLE FOR VICTORY- A sluggish and disjointed performance as Newcastle never seem fully comfortable on the small pitch. The winner comes five minutes from time. The biggest cheer of the day is for Frank Houghton who kicks off at the start of the game.

10/05. - Fr: Shelbourne 0 Newcastle 6 - SKILFUL NEWCASTLE’S MAKE SCORING LOOK EASY - A two minutes silence is held before the game at Dalymount Park in respect of Mr. James Rowan who founded the club in 1895 who has just passed away. It is a magnificent performance by the whole team including Fairbrother who saves two penalties.

15/05. - Fr: Cork 2 Newcastle 2 - NEWCASTLE DRAW WITH CORK UNITED - The bumpy ground disconcerts United who are given a good workout. Fairbrother suffers an injury and with Garbutt not ready Bobby Cowell has a spell in goal during which he makes three good saves in quick succession.

24/05 - Full-back Ronald Rattray joins Brighton. He joined United in January 1947 from Seaton Delaval Amateurism . Tall and well built, a substantial sum has been paid for his services.

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