01/06 - Following Newcastle’s bid for him, Nottingham Forest striker Duncan McKenzie says : "I'd love to move to Newcastle. Maybe it will even happen this week. Malcolm Macdonald has told me about their great fans and what a great place it is. He's convinced me."

07/06 - Newcastle Chairman Lord Westwood is appointed as the new president of the Football League.

10/06 - Harvey reveals that he is no longer pursuing McKenzie. Forest do not want to sell and even if they did the fee would be too high.

12/06 - Following successful talks between Joe Harvey and Bob Stokoe the United Board unanimously agree to accept Sunderland’s £30,000 cash offer for United captain Bob Moncur (29).

15/07 - The players return for pre-season training and Harvey confirms Frank Clark will take over as captain. Reserve keeper Martin Burleigh comes back weighing 16 stone.

18/07 - Hibbitt, Barrowclough and Smith have signed new contracts with an improved wage deal.

20/07 - The players have abandoned their players pool which enabled them to share bonuses equally however many appearances they made. The pool was only for the fourteen named players which meant younger players missed out. Bonuses will now relate to appearances only. Nattrass and McDermott sign on.

23/04 - NEWCASTLE SIGN HERD AS COACH - Former Sunderland player George Herd is appointed youth team coach. It was originally thought that former player Jimmy Robson was to be given the job and he is “shocked” with the change. Frank Clark is still struggling with an unspecified pelvic injury.

25/07 - BURLEIGH SAYS “I QUIT” - Martin Burleigh has told the club he is quitting football and plans to join the RAF. Joe Harvey had threatened to sign a new keeper if he didn’t lose some weight.

26/07 - Chairman Westwood blasts Burleigh. "There will be no turning back. We were fed up with his attitude and irresponsibility. We have had enough problems with him. We've bent over backwards to help him." United are to retain his registration to prevent him signing for another club.

27/07 - The keeper responds by saying he was glad to get away. "They have ridiculed me at every opportunity and blown up my weight problem out of all proportion until I feel a freak. The last straw was when I read that the club were ready to wash their hands on me and buy a new keeper."

29/07 - Fr: Queen of the South 0 Newcastle 2 - SOUTH FALL TO HUNGRY MAC - Macdonald and McDermott get the goals against the Scottish Second Division side.

02/08 - Although Birmingham are showing an interest in Tudor, Harvey makes it clear he won’t be selling.

03/08 - TC GP: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 1 - HARVEY PRAISES ROKER WIN - Thirty fans are arrested after trouble erupts before, during and after the match and one policeman suffers a broken arm. As the bulk of the 28,738 crowd are entering the ground, gangs of Newcastle fans try to get into the Fulwell End, but police direct them to the Roker End. One youth tries to hide In the queue, but a mounted policeman, without dismounting, holds him by his long hair until other officers lead him away. Minutes before the match 200 Newcastle supporters, including some with bloodstained faces, march from the Fulwell End to the Roker end, headed by a youth wearing Clockwork Orange-style clothes and eye make-up. They are chanting, "We'll fight you on the pitch”. But with police manning newly-constructed four-foot-deep moats at both ends, few fans venture from the terraces during the game. Two who did argue with Sunderland players, then try to seek refuge in the Clock Stand paddock. But the crowd chases them back onto the pitch and into the arms of policemen. Sunderland score twice in 15 minutes before Tudor reduces the arrears. Harvey concedes that “Sunderland worked hard and deserved to win. We were a bit like an engine that isn’t quite run in”.

04/08 - United introduce a tough new disciplinary code and firs-team players will be fined £25 if they are booked for dissent.

05/08 - Rotherham Town keeper Roy Tunks arrives on trial as potential cover for McFaul following Burleigh’s departure.

06/08 - TC GP: Carlisle 2 Newcastle 2 - BURNS MAKES IT RED-HOT DERBY - Burns scores the first and last goal of the game, the equaliser coming three minutes from time, and is United's star.

07/08 - Lord Westwood announces that (despite last season's pitch invasion in the Cup match with Forest) the club will not be installing fences at the moment. But he makes it clear that the crowd are effectively on probation. "In common with other football clubs Newcastle United intend to take immediate action to restore the good name of the British football supporter. These people are our enemies and unless we combine to eradicate them they will eventually deprive us of our local sport."

10/08 - TC GP: Newcastle 4 Middlesbrough 0 - GOAL KING BURNS IS CROWNED - When fans arrive at the ground they are handed Football League flyers encouraging them to keep their oratory clean. Micky Burns has a hand in the first three goals and then scores a brilliant fourth just before time after beating four men. The win and goal bonus takes United through to the knock-out stages.

11/08 - Alex Bruce is not happy that he hasn’t been given a chance to prove himself in the first team. Tommy Gibb is being troubled by a niggling back injury.

17/08 - D1: Newcastle 3 Coventry 2 - UNITED START FIRST TIME - It is a stroll in the sun against the sadly innocuous visitors with Kennedy’s first goal setting them on their way to a three-goal lead. However, lax play at the back allows the Sky Blues to score twice.

21/08 - D1: Newcastle 2 Sheff. United 2 - LATE SPEIGHT ROBS UNITED OF A POINT - The Blades take the lead when Keeley, who has a nightmare game, concedes a penalty. United bounce back to score two stunning goals in six minutes from Burns and Macdonald, but an enthralling game ends all square when Speight equalises a couple of minutes from time.

23/08 - With Harvey needing money to buy a midfield ball-winner and Micky Burns doing so well, United are prepared to let Stewart Barrowclough leave.

24/08 - D1: Wolves 4 Newcastle 2 - BROTHER BOTHER - Terry Hibbitt’s brother Kenny destroys Newcastle by scoring all four goals at Molineux. John Tudor grabs a brace, but the Magpies are well beaten and clearly have defensive problems.

27/08 - D1: Sheff. United 2 Newcastle 1 - TROUBLES PILE UP FOR UNITED - Despite an impressive performance from Nattrass as a defensive midfielder, Newcastle are behind after only 73 seconds and the Yorkshiremen score again seventeen minutes later. Keeley pulls one back soon after and The Blades sit back and protect their lead.

30/08 - HARVEY TO STAY ON - Chairman Westwood states that Joe Harvey will be offered a new contract when his current one expires in October ending speculation that he will be made General Manager.

02/09 - Roy Tunks trial period ends and he is not retained with Harvey commiserating: “He was trying so hard he was a bag of nerves”.

03/09 - Derek Craig turns down a move to Mansfield.

07/09 - D1: Derby 2 Newcastle 2 - THE ENTERTAINERS - THAT'S NEWCASTLE - Macdonald and Bums both score in an excellent performance and Derby manager Mackay is impressed. “This was a magnificent match. Newcastle came to entertain and they did it". Newcastle wasted two excellent chances to win the game in the last fifteen minutes. During the first-half an asbestos sheet blows off the Osmaston End roof and more comes down at the break, injuring a number of spectators.

10/09 - FLC R2: Nottm. Forest 1 Newcastle 1 SUPERMAC GOAL SAVES UNITED - There are about three hundred policemen on duty (with the force fearing reprisals from last season's FA Cup match), but there is relatively little trouble. Forest dominate for the first hour and could have scored more, Macdonald gets the equaliser.

18/09 - TC R2 L1: Aberdeen 1 Newcastle 1 - JUST SUPER! MAC DOES THE TEXACO TRICK - Aberdeen are all over United from the start and Young puts the Scots ahead. Macdonald equalises twelve minutes later after a typical run onto a Hibbitt pass and a rounding of the ‘keeper. Jim Smith, who comes up against his old team and brother Joe, is largely anonymous

25/09 - HARVEY SIGNS - After speculation about his future it is announced that Joe Harvey has signed a new contract, although it is thought to be for three years rather than five.

25/09 - FLC R2: Newcastle 3 Nottm. Forest 0 - THREE GOAL UNITED MAKE NO MISTAKE - Forest are out-fought and out-run in the end as United progress. Macdonald and Keeley score in a seventy-second salvo in the first-half and Burns adds a third just before the end.

28/09 - D1: Newcastle 1 Ipswich 0 - PAT HAS NEWCASTLE RIGHT ON THE TARGET - It is a dogged battle of will as League leaders Ipswich put in a resilient defensive performance. From a Burns free-kick, Howard, at the second attempt, smashes the ball in from six yards for the winner. It is a top drawer performance from United who move up to sixth.

28/09 - MCDERMOTT IS READY TO GO - Although he refuses to comment, it is reported that Terry McDermott wants a move. He has allegedly been unsettled for some time due to personality clashes behind the scenes which have come to a head over the last couple of weeks. Harvey and Westwood deny knowledge of any issues and Joe says: “I can assure you nobody is leaving”.

01/10 - ITS SETTLED! TERRY IS STAYING - After Harvey meets with McDermott his response is emphatic: “The case is closed and McDermott stays”.

02/10 - TC R2 L2: Newcastle 3 Aberdeen 2 (agg 4-3) - DOUBLE SCOTCH BLOW FROM MIGHTY MAC - The Scots twice take the lead and each time Macdonald equalises before Hibbitt grabs the winner after incessant United pressure.

03/10 - Newcastle draw Birmingham again in the Texaco Cup. Lord Westwood reveals that the winners of the Cup may be rewarded with a lucrative match in America against the winners of a similar competition in the States.

05/10 - D1: Everton 1 Newcastle 1 - TERRY TURNS UP TRUMPS - The game is one of many that contributes to what is dubbed "Soccer's blackest day" due to the amount of trouble on and off the pitch. It is a dreadful, bad-tempered game and Newcastle's constant passing back to McFaul in the second forty-five is met with jeers from the home crowd. There are 14 arrests. Elsewhere a record eight players are sent off, not including QPR’s Terry Mancini who bares his backside towards the director’s box at the end of the game against Ipswich. He wants a move to Arsenal.

08/10 - FLC R3: QPR 0 Newcastle 4 - THREE GOAL MAC SINKS RANGERS - A Supermac goal after only thirteen seconds sets United on their way to an easy victory in which Macdonald scores a magnificent hat-trick. It is 4-0 after only 48 minutes with the Londoners lucky that the Magpies coast from then on. After the match Terry Hibbitt claims he was butted by full-back Dave Clement in an off-the-ball incident.

16/10 - D1: Newcastle 0 Wolves 0 - CHANCES QUEUE UP - BUT UNITED MISS THE BUS - A win would have taken the Magpies up to third, but they fail to score for the first time. They struggle to break down the ultra-defensive visitors and when they do get through Garry Pierce makes some excellent saves.

17/10 - After shedding a couple of stone, Martin Burleigh decides to return to football with Newcastle allowing him to sign for Darlington on loan. However, Westwood makes it clear that “he will never play for us again”.

19/10 - D1: Birmingham 3 Newcastle 0 - FABULOUS FRANCIS - Trevor Francis is the star as United’s unbeaten run comes to an end at a rain-soaked St. Andrews. There is none of last season’s animosity as the home side win the midfield battle to secure a well-deserved victory.

22/10 - Don Revie announces his first England squad for the Nations Cup game against Czechoslovakia and there is no place for League top-scorer Macdonald. McDermott and Kennedy are selected for the Under 23 side. United are linked with a move for West Brom midfielder Len Cantello.

23/10 - MCDERMOTT SET TO GO - The potential move for Cantello once more sparks off rumours that McDermott will be allowed to leave with suggestions that Liverpool are favourites for his signature.

23/10 - TC SF L1: Newcastle 1 Birmingham 1 - MAC HITS BACK WITH SUPER GOAL - United are strangely subdued and it is a drab game in which Birmingham are happy to sit back after they take the lead just before the break. Although Macdonald heads in to equalise, the goal merely precipitates a more concerted effort from the Midlanders.

24/10 - Westwood confirms that McDermott will be allowed to leave, almost certainly for Liverpool, once United have signed a replacement.

24/10 - Cassidy is upset that he missed out on a call-up for the Ireland squad as United told manager Terry Neil he was not fit. Travelling to the match in Sweden would have allowed him to meet his in-laws for the first time.

25/10 - Barrowclough asks to be involved in any deal that brings a new midfielder to Gallowgate saying “it’s obvious I have no future here”.

26/10 - D1: Newcastle 0 Leicester 1 - LEICESTER GOAL IS RECORD WRECKER - A goal six minutes from time sees Newcastle beaten at home for the first time after a shocking performance. The crowd are very vocal in their criticism and Hibbitt sympathises. "If I'd paid to watch that rubbish I would have wanted my money back as well. We've stopped playing for each other. No-one is prepared to work or accept responsibility". Visiting striker Frank Worthington, called up to the England squad by Don Revie in preference to Macdonald, also gets plenty of stick.

29/10 - Kennedy makes his first appearance for England U23 against Czechoslovakia. Harvey scouts Patrick Thistle captain and right-half Ronnie Glavin.

01/11 - Harvey says Liverpool have been told to put in a written offer for McDermott or “they can forget about the deal”.

02/11 - D1: Newcastle 1 Luton 0 - THE AGONY ENDS AT LAST - Gibb, McDermott and Burns are all axed and replaced by Kennedy, Cassidy and Barrowclough. Luton are bottom of the table and it is all United at the start of the game. But as the game wears on and they fail to score - United's confidence falls and their play begins to deteriorate. The crowd becomes increasingly angry and frustrated and there are chants of “Harvey Out” before Tudor finally makes the breakthrough with 14 minutes to go.

06/11 - COUGH UP OR SHUT UP - Lord Westwood reveals: “I have told Liverpool our minimum price is £200,000 and they can take it or leave it”. Liverpool manager Bob Paisley indicates that they will not be making a new offer.

06/11 - TC SF L2: Birmingham 1 Newcastle 4 (agg 2-5) - FULL SPEED AHEAD FOR FIVE STAR UNITED - Although Harvey rests Hibbitt and Macdonald, Newcastle win comfortably after a performance of eager running and precise finishing. Jinky has to put up with chants of “we hate Smith”.

07/11 - Luton are interested in signing Jim Smith and Paul Cannell.

09/11 - D1: Middlesbrough 0 Newcastle 0 - ONE MOMENT OF DERBY MAGIC! - Macdonald fails to score for the tenth game in a row against the newly promoted Teessiders. It is a rugged game, fought out in grim determination, which is poor in the first half, but improves after the break. The highlight of the game is when Platt superbly tips over a bullet header from Macdonald. A massive police operation keeps major trouble at bay until well after the game, when trouble erupts at the railway station. Police with dogs and horses are called to the station and 15 arrests are made. Three people are arrested during the match and two policemen are injured.

10/11 - Frank Clark reveals he has turned down a lucrative offer to join New York Cosmos.

13/11 - FLC R4: Newcastle 3 Fulham 0 - NEWCASTLE HIT THE WEMBLEY TRAIL AGAIN - On a wet and miserable night United progress to the Quarter-Finals of the League Cup for the first time at the expense of Second Division Fulham. The Cottagers offer spirited resistance, but Newcastle’s superior skill and stamina eventually sees them through.

18/11 - Terry Hibbit is likely to be in plaster for at least a fortnight after an x-Ray reveals damaged knee ligaments.

19/11 - Kennedy plays for England U23 again, against Portugal.

23/11 - D1: Burnley 4 Newcastle 1 - NOBLE RETURNS TO HAUNT NEWCASTLE - Former United player Peter Noble registers a hat-trick of headers in the second-half. Macdonald is substituted for the first time when not injured.

23/11 - TUDOR’S COACH HORROR AS UNITED FANS GO ON THE RAMPAGE - Before the game a fight breaks out at the Princess Royal Hotel and a woman passing by is injured when a bar stool is hurled through a window. After the game several public houses are damaged and fourteen fans are arrested who are mainly from the North-East. John Tudor requires 12 stitches after a stone (half the size of a brick) is hurled through the window of the United coach.

26/11 - With injuries racking up Harvey says (with regards to the Texaco Cup Final tomorrow) that: “as the situation stands now this is a match we could have well done without. I hope this is our last year in the competition”.

27/11 - TC Fin L1: Southampton 1 Newcastle 0 - UNITED GO DOWN BUT FAR FROM OUT - Second Division Southampton are guilty of missing numerous chances as they fail to take full advantage of a nervous debut performance from goalkeeper Tony Bell.

27/11 - Joe Harvey is reprimanded by Chairman Westwood after saying that the club may not compete in the Texaco Cup again. "Our involvement in the competition is a matter for the board to decide, and this certainly is not going to be our last season in it*.

04/12 - FLC QF: Newcastle 0 Chester 0 - NEWCASTLE GRATEFUL FOR SECOND CHANCE - After impressing in the reserves, seventeen-year-old full-back Peter Kelly makes his debut. Fourth Division Chester have already knocked out Leeds so this was never going to be straightforward. The visitors play with fire, determination and skill and keeper Grenville Millington is in superb form. There are chants of “we want our money back” and the final-whistle is met with a chorus of boos. Cassidy suffers a groin strain.

05/12 - Cassidy needs a hernia operation and will be out for at least three months and Smith has a cyst on his knee.

14/12 - D1: Coventry 2 Newcastle 0 HARVEY NEEDS A MIRACLE NOW - The experiment of playing four forwards results in the midfield being overrun. It is an abysmal performance and Coventry can afford to coast in the second period. Referee Kevin McNally books four United players which incenses Harvey. “It was diabolical. An absolute disgrace”. As has happened before, several established players' head's drop.

14/12 - Newcastle are drawn at home to Man City in the FA Cup Third Round draw held on Match of the Day. But the match will be held at Maine Road as a result of the punishment United received for the pitch invasion last season.

16/12 - BURKINSHAW BLASTS PLAYERS - The defeat left Burkinshaw “saddened and embarrassed” and he suggests that the defeat showed “a lack of moral fibre”. Although he accepts that the injuries have not helped “it seems that some players have not been caring about how they play”. The coach lashes the players in a lengthy team talk before training.

18/12 - It is reported that Arsenal are prepared to offer midfielder Eddie Kelly plus cash for Nattrass.

18/12 - FLC QFr: Chester 1 Newcastle 0 - JESSE SHOOTS DOWN SAD NEWCASTLE - United are beaten by Fourth Division Chester in a fiercely fought game of few chances. John “Jesse” James gets the winner fifteen minutes from time. Nattrass suffers a suspected fractured jaw. There are 140 policeman on duty. Six arrests are made after minor trouble, but it is the celebrating home fans who are the main cause,

19/12 - Despite the predictable backlash on Tyneside Harvey says: “I’m no quitter. I am still proud to be manager of Newcastle. I’m not ashamed of my team”. Chairman Westwood says “we will certainly not panic... I personally will not be seeking to sack anyone. Joe Harvey is our manager and the rest of the staff is his department and his responsibility”. This includes coach Burkinshaw, who does not have a contract.

20/12 - Luton manager Harry Haslam reveals that Newcastle have enquired about midfielder Peter Anderson, but refuses to confirm they have offered Jimmy Smith plus £150,000. It has been decided that Hibbitt needs a cartilage operation.

20/12 - HARVEY SPENDS BIG IN DOUBLE SIGNING - In a dramatic evening United agree deals to sign two midfielders for a combined quarter of a million pounds. The moves for Sheffield Wednesday’s Tommy Craig and Geoff Nulty of Burnley are subject to medicals which will be performed tomorrow. The last two major signings, Bruce and Burns, have not had the impact hoped for and the pressure is on Harvey to have got it right this time in what seems like a last throw of the dice. Luton manager Haslam is angry that the deal for Anderson fell through, but with the extended loss of Hibbitt adding to his problems Harvey needed players who would be available immediately and Luton apparently wanted him for one more match.

22/12 - Tommy Cassidy is back in light training. It was not a hernia after all, but a badly pulled groin muscle.

23/12 - Terry Hibbitt tequires a cartilage operation and is ikely to be out for about three months.

26/12 - D1: Carlisle 1 Newcastle 2 - CRACKER FROM SUPERMAC SINKS CARLISLE - Both sides play well in an entertaining encounter. Tommy Craig and Geoff Nulty both make their debuts in the all-ticket match at Brunton Park. Tudor’s opener is cancelled out fifteen minutes from time, but a typical electrifying burst from Macdonald in injury time settles the game. Both sides play well in an entertaining encounter. Although thirty are ejected from the ground only one (Carlisle) fan is arrested and there is no trouble on the trains.

28/12 - The home match against leaders Liverpool is postponed due to gale-force winds. It is the first time since 1894 that wind has caused a postponement.

30/12 - Alex Bruce is put up for sale. Burns is also said to be unsettled.

03/01 - FAC R3: Man. City 0 Newcastle 2 - WE FOUGHT LIKE HELL - HARVEY - Despite coming out of the hat first the tie is played at Maine Road as part of the penalties imposed for last season's pitch invasion. The kick-off is at 3.15pm to try and reduce traffic congestion (Manchester United are also at home) and over 10,000 fans travel from Tyneside. United pull off a "commando-style" raid with dogged defending combined with a two-goal salvo within a minute from Burns and Nulty. A stone is thrown at the team coach as it is leaving the ground, but thankfully although a window is broken it does not shatter and no-one is injured this time. John Tudor is once more nearest the window.

11/01 - D1: Newcastle 2 Tottenham 5 - NOW FOR SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT - An injury to Martin Chivers sees summer signing Alfie Conn make his long-delayed First Division debut. And the Scot scores a hat-trick for struggling Tottenham in a game which United lose heavily despite dominating. The Magpies are thwarted by the woodwork and Pat Jennings and have four cleared off the line whilst The Cockerels score from all their clear chances on a day McFaul and his defenders will wish to forget.

13/01 - Following a request from the club Manchester police have stated they will provide police protection for the team bus on Saturday.

14/01 - Don Revie calls up Glen Keeley for the U23 match with Wales next week. Kennedy is not included this time and there is still no place for Nattrass despite his outstanding form.

16/01 - UNITED’S BIG GAME GETS SPONSORSHIP - Newcastle announce that the home match with Middlesbrough will be their first ever “sponsored game”. In return for their sponsorship Goldfinch Wines and a 100 Pipers will get special advertising around the ground, a full-page advert in the programme, propaganda broadcast over the loudspeakers and promotion girls trying to ‘win over the fans’. Secretary Cushing says “we were approached and decided to give the idea a chance”.

17/01 - BURNS BOMBSHELL - Micky Burns says that he has chosen the wrong club and that United are not geared to providing success. He is also unhappy at playing out wide rather than as a central striker. Harvey has discussed his issues with him on three occasions and states that he will not stand in his way if he wants to leave.

18/01 - D1: Man. City 5 Newcastle 1 - ANGRY HARVEY BLOWS HIS TOP - Increasingly bad blood between the two sides produces a bad-tempered game in which United suffer another defensive collapse. Dennis Tueart becomes the fifth player to score 3 or more goals in a game against Newcastle this season. Rodney Marsh escapes without punishment despite appearing to punch Burns during a first half struggle and an incensed Harvey storms into the referee's dressing-room at half-time and demands more protection for his players.

20/01 - The FA Cup tie at Walsall is all-ticket and as United are only eligible to 5,000 tickets they decide to offer them to season-ticket holders only which is not a popular decision amongst the rest of the supporters. The tickets sell out in three hours.

21/01 - The players are banned from talking to the press.

25/01 - FAC R4: Walsall 1 Newcastle 0 - SUICIDE SQUAD DO IT AGAIN - The Fellows Park pitch is extremely heavy and Harvey warns the players that “It’s going to be all about battling. If it’s a mud bath then the skill factor is going to be less important”. However, Newcastle attempt to employ a passing game and are not prepared to fight for their right to play. When Jimmy Smith is substituted he refuses to come off and argues with coach Burkinshaw for several minutes as the game carries on with United playing with ten men. Six supporter’s buses stop off at Stafford on the way back and fans leave a trail of havoc. As the fans stream off the special trains, chants of “Harvey out!” echo around the station.

27/01 - The Journal prints an open letter to the Board asking them what they are going to do to sort things out the club. They state that neither Harvey nor Burkinshaw should be made scapegoats and make the point that failure in any other industry usually has repercussions for the Directors of the company. Harvey says he will not quit and Westwood states he will not be sacked. Keith Burkinshaw’s position seems less secure as the Board refused to give him a contract or a cost-of-living rise or allow him to receive bonuses like the players. However he is extremely popular amongst the players and Harvey stands by him. “He has my support. I don’t know why Keith should be singled out. He’s doing a job here, a good job”.

29/01 - Alan Kennedy and Malcolm Macdonald receive call-ups for a 4-day England "get-together" involving 29 players.

29/01 - HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR HARVEY - After an evening Board Meeting, attended by Harvey, secretary Cushing reads out a short statement. "After prolonged deliberation, and in view of their recent disappointments, the chairman and directors of Newcastle United Football Club Ltd. have decided to advertise for an assistant to the manager to strengthen the club management." Harvey offers a terse “no comment”.

30/01- Harvey and Burkinshaw have been informed not to talk about the subject and the club provide no further clarity on how the new appointment will impact upon Harvey and Burkinshaw. Former skippers Stan Anderson and Jimmy Scoular are reported to be interested in the post.

31/01 - Middlesbrough manager Jackie Charlton brushes off rumours linking him with the job. “It is pure speculation and I want nothing to do with it”.

01/02 - D1: Newcastle 2 Middlesbrough 1 - NEWCASTLE ARE ALL RIGHT, JACK! - Middlesbrough have returned several thousand tickets and it is thought, that because of the situation at the club, the gate will only be about 40,000. With Souness controlling the midfield the sixth-placed Teessiders deservedly lead at the break. But Macdonald scores from a tight angle within two minutes of the restart and Smith and Craig get control of the midfield. Burns grabs a second half-way through and the visitors are hanging on after that. It is a deserved victory full of character.

02/02 - NEWCASTLE WILL GO FOR TOP MAN - Dave Alexander, writing in the Sunday Sun, believes that the new appointment will effectively become the manager with Joe Harvey being given a new role. He hinted more than a year ago that he would be willing to step back from the day-to-day running of the club. He also believes that Burkinshaw will be released.

03/02 - Stan Anderson becomes manager of Doncaster Rovers and former player and Sunderland manager Bob Stokoe rules himself out of the running. John Gibson reports that the club are after a top-class, young manager who will take a tough attitude to discipline and suggests Jackie Charlton might be an option.

06/02 - A number of Middlesbrough fans have complained to the club stating that they were attacked and spat on by Newcastle fans in the Gallowgate and blaming it on a lack of segregation. The club accept the criticism, but reveal that they had wanted to erect two sets of scaffolding to keep the supporters apart and provide a gangway for the police, but when the firm arrived to install them they were stopped by pickets involved in the ongoing dispute at the Eldon Square development site.

08/02 - D1: Luton 1 Newcastle 0 - THE EUROPE DROP-OUTS - Macdonald is made captain for his return to his old stamping ground, but it is his opposite number - teenager Ron Futcher - who scores the only goal, United are disrupted by the late withdrawals of Howard and Nattrass and never really get going,

12/02 - Dennis Laughton is to see a specialist about his ankle injury.

12/02 - Westwood responds to all the criticism he has received over the last few weeks and defends himself and the Board. He refutes any ideas of a “dictatorship” and offers the fact that the Board has never interfered in team affairs under his Chairmanship.

12/02 - D1: Newcastle 4 Liverpool 1 - WE WANT OUR CUP BACK - United are brilliant In the first-half at a rainswept St. James' and leave the field at half-time to a standing ovation after scoring with their first three shots to lead 3-0 after only 23 minutes. After the second goal, the fans chant “we want our Cup,back”. It is more even after the break and both sides make numerous chances in a thrilling game.

15/02 - D1: Newcastle 3 Burnley 0 - UNITED BACK IN THE GREAT RACE - Now third-placed Burnley’s thirteen-match unbeaten record is put to the sword by a resurgent United. Macdonald leads the way with improved work-rate supplementing his blistering finishing.

17/02 - There have been over sixty applications for the advertised managerial post so far and the directors will sift through them at a Board Meeting on Thursday. The new man will be allowed to bring his own coach. Current coach Keith Burkinshaw is one of the applicants.

17/02 - Tommy Craig is rewarded for his superlative form with the captaincy, as an over-age player, for Scotland-U23 who face Wales next week.

19/02 - BURKINSHAW READY TO QUIT GALLOWGATE - With his position on Tyneside uncertain and his ambition to manage someday, Keith Burkinshaw reveals he has been interviewed for the vacant Grimsby job. He is on a shortlist of three.

20/01 - At the Board meeting none of the applicants received are deemed suitable at this point in time.

22/02 - D1: Chelsea 3 Newcastle 2 - IT'S A SUPER MISS FOR SUPERMAC - Despite dominating the first half-hour against the struggling Londoners, United end up getting beat. Howard has a bit of a nightmare as his slip leads to the first goal and he gives away the penalty for Chelsea's third. Macdonald’s tame penalty is easily saved to deny United an equaliser.

28/02 - D1: West Ham 0 Newcastle 1 - NOW UNITED HAVE TWO SUPERMACS - The Friday night fixture sees the Magpies adopt a cautious approach, defending deep and counter-attacking at speed. Macdonald scores the only goal, but it is McFaul, who pulls off a series of stunning saves, who Is the real star of the show. Tommy Craig is made captain and also has a superb game. After a nervous start, Micky Barker does well on his debut.

01/03 - Dennis Laughton has been advised to quit the game due to his ankle injury. Ray Hudson has joined Morton on a month’s loan. Harvey wants to sign cover for McFaul and is away scouting Morton’s Roy Baines.

02/03 - The Sunday Sun report that United have made an approach for their ideal managerial target, but he has turned them down.

05/03 - Macdonald and Kennedy are both included in the England squad to play West Germany. Unfortunately after a specialist check Kennedy has his leg put back in plaster and therefore has to immediately pull out.

06/03 - Gibb is attracting interest from a number of Scottish clubs. Dumbarton put in a bid and if it goes ahead it is likely striker Tom McAdam will come to Tyneside as part of the deal.

08/03 - Fr: Newcastle 0 SC Internacional 3 - IT'S BRAZILIAN MAGIC! - Internacional, who have seven members of the Brazilian World Cup squad in their ranks, have won all their previous seven matches on their European tour without conceding a goal. They murder United and have no problem maintaining their unblemished record.

10/03 - Having agreed a £30,000 fee with Torquay on Saturday, goalkeeper Mick Mahoney makes the 381-mile trek to Tyneside for his medical. Unfortunately the train is two hours late arriving and does not arrive until late at night.

12/03 - Macdonald scores his first goal for England in the friendly against West Germany.

15/03 - D1: Ipswich 5 Newcastle 4 - I CANT BELIEVE THIS - HARVEY - With Clark, Howard, Kennedy and Keeley all unavailable Harvey calls up 17-year-old centre-back Aiden McCaffrey for his debut. He will play alongside Nattrass (22) and Barker (19) with Craig at least adding some experience. Newcastle lead 3-2 at the break and it could have been four as they have another "goal" controversially disallowed. Nattrass has to go off injured and Ipswich score three without reply before Mac (who also hits the underside of the bar) pulls one back. There is still time for Ipswich to survive a late penalty claim. Bryan Hamilton becomes the sixth player to register a hat-trick against United this season. Harvey laments: "this club is jinxed: we are not meant to win anything".

15/03 - Newcastle turn down a Carlisle bid for Paul Cannell.

16/03 - Nattrass has torn a thigh muscle which will need complete rest.

18/03 - D1: Arsenal 3 Newcastle 0 - NEWCASTLE ARE GUNNED DOWN - The injury to Nattrass sees United’s defence get even more inexperienced with Ray Blackhall (18) making his debut and Dave Crosson (22) making only his fifth appearance with McCaffrey (17) retained. The pitch is a mud-bath in places on a wet and miserable night and there are only 16,540 in attendance. The Magpies are 3-0 down after little more than half-an-hour. Thankfully, the Gunners are happy with their lot and the game gradually peters out.

22/03 - D1: Newcastle 0 Derby 2 - DERBY’S DAY A WINNER - Terry Hibbitt returns after injury with Harvey asking him to fill in at left-back. Conditions are awkward with driving rain falling on an already greasy pitch. Despite playing with an inexperienced defence again it is United's attack which lets them down against Championship chasing County.

25/03 - D1: Liverpool 4 Newcastle 0 - FOUR GOAL REVENGE FOR LIVERPOOL - Liverpool make a blistering start and after Keegan nets early on they dominate possession. Terry McDermott, who has been struggling to get into the Anfield side since his move, scores the fourth before criticising the lack of effort from some of his former teammates.

29/03 - D1: Leeds 1 Newcastle 1 - UNITED RESTORE GEORDIE PRIDE - Over six thousand fans make the trip to Elland Road where Nulty gives United the lead after only 62 seconds. They also hit the woodwork twice as they dominate against a tired looking Leeds side who played an FA Cup tie 48-hours earlier. Leeds get a second-wind after the break and grab a deserved equaliser just before the end.

31/03 - D1: Newcastle 2 QPR 2 - ALMOST A DEAD MARCH - Another draw means the Magpies have only garnered two points from six games this month. The Hoops take the lead from the penalty spot after a Keeley foul and could have scored more with United struggling in the wind. After the break Tudor and Macdonald score to make it 2-1 before Gillard equalises seven minutes from time. Tudor suffers a knee injury.

05/04 - 01: Leicester 4 Newcastle 0 - SAD NEWCASTLE - Ray Hudson makes his debut, replacing Hibbitt whose knee is continuing to trouble him. It is a a thumping victory for the relegation-threatened Foxes with United guilty of suicidal defending.

07/04 - Macdonald is called up by Don Revie for the Nations Cup match against Cyprus.

08/04 - In a surprise move, acting Northern Iteland manager Dave Clements calls up Jim Platt rather than McFaul to be Jennings’ deputy.

12/04 - D1: Newcastle 0 Everton 1 - DOBSONS DAZZLER - To tip off a bad week for the Irishman, he is replaced by Mick Mahoney who makes his debut. It is an insipid performance with United failing to match the work ethic of the Toffees who still have an outside chance of the Title. A banner is stuck on a wall simply saying "WE WANT SUCCESS".

A specialist has advised Jimmy Smith that he will need to have a third cartilage removed from his knee. Meanwhile Cassidy is still under hospital treatment following his two severe groin strains.

16/04 - Macdonald scores all five goals in England's win over Cyprus. It is the highest individual score for an England striker since 1938.

19/04 - D1: Stoke 0 Newcastle 0 - NEWCASTLE PLUG THOSE GAPS - United battle hard at a muddy Victoria Ground, but they have now gone 10 games without a win. However, having conceded 22 goals in the last 8 matches, a clean sheet represents some progress. Mahoney, even though he suffers an injury, is superb.

23/04 - D1: Newcastle 3 Arsenal 1 - BRUCE HITS BACK WITH A WINNER - Although Rostron gives the Gunners an early lead they go on the defensive and United hit back with a Tommy Craig screamer and a rare goal for Bruce. Macdonald scores the third with the last kick of the match.

26/04 - Gordon Milne (Coventry), Tony Waiters (Plymouth) and Bob Stokoe (Sunderland) are named in the Journal as the three leading contenders to replace Harvey.

26/04 - D1: Newcastle 1 Birmingham 2 - SAD FINALE FOR HARVEY - The last match draws the lowest crowd of the season and results in another poor defeat. The visitors are 2-0 up after 23 minutes and although Macdonald pulls one back it is an inauspicious end to Harvey's 13-year managerial career on Tyneside.

27/04 - The Sunday Sun report that Jackie Charlton was the club’s first choice, but has already turned them down. Stokoe and a third unknown manager are the only others currently in the running.

28/04 - Test: Sunderland 3 Newcastle 2 - Testimonial for Martin Harvey which is the first of a two-legged battle for the “testimonial trophy” between the two local rivals.

30/04 - Test: Newcastle 5 Sunderland 3 (agg 7-6) - MAC HELPS CRAIG TO BONANZA NIGHT - Testimonial for David Craig. Sir Alf Ramsey is there to present Pat Howard with the “prestigious testimonial trophy".

10/05 - Fr: Hearts 2 Newcastle 2

21/05 - JUST THE JOB SAYS CLARK - Frank Clark signs for Nottingham Forest. A delighted Brian Clough, who delayed the start of his holiday to sign him, says: “I couldn’t have done better if I paid £100,000. He will give us vital experience”.

21/05 - Chairman Westwood states that there are three candidates on their shortlist, two of whom are “extremely good” and an “outsider”.

22/05 - George Hope signs for Charlton.

30/05 - Alan Kennedy and Malcolm Macdonald are selected for the latest England "get-together'.

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