04/06 - Irving Nattrass has turned down his new contract. He is due a testimonial this year and is prepared to listen to an improved offer, but he is also prepared to leave although he would prefer to remain in the North East.

06/06 - McGarry states that chief scout Len Richley has left the club by "mutual consent".

08/06 - At the meeting of Newcastle City Council a letter from United, in response to the Council Resolution in April, is discussed. Labour Councillor Walter Wilson slams the "faceless men" on the Board who should be brought to public account, but Conservative Bob Gray defends the directors stating that the Council have no right to interfere.

13/07 - Geoff Allen (who has been managing North Shields) returns to Newcastle as Youth Team manager.

17/07 - Newcastle are being linked with a move for Argentinian Claudio Marangoni.

18/07 - Frustrated by the inflationary British market, Bill McGarry jets out of Newcastle and is said to be after a Swedish international striker.

24/07 - Irving Nattrass agrees to join Middlesbrough although the deal will not officially go through until his contract ends at the end of the month. With the clubs failing to agree on a fee the transfer is likely to be decided at a tribunal. McGarry returns empty-handed from Sweden.

Gary Parkinson moves to Peterborough.

26/07 - Fr: Bath City 1 Newcastle 1 - United have to come from behind against the Alliance team with Alan Shoulder netting.

27/07 - Mick Martin is named as the new team captain.

28/07 - Fr: Plymouth 0 Newcastle 3 - A comfortable win at a ground not visited since 1964.

01/08 - Fr: Torquay 2 Newcastle 3 - United, who are backed by some vociferous holiday-makers, recover from conceding in the first minute to win.

03/08 - Fr: Exeter 3 Newcastle 2 - United are pegged back twice before Exeter score the winner a minute before the end.

09/08 - The club announce a 50% increase in the minimum admission price from £1.00 to £1.50.

09/08 - Fr: Blyth Spartans 1 Newcastle 1 - A virtually full strength United side turn out for the joint testimonial for Spartans veterans Eddie Alder and Ronnie Scott. Alan Shoulder scores early on against his old team mates, but ex Carlisle and Gateshead striker Les Mutrie levels.

11/08 - Fr: Newcastle 0 Sparta Rotterdam 1 - UNITED HANGOVER FROM PIM’s No. 1 - A fantastic performance from Sparta’s 35-year-old Dutch international keeper Pim Doesburg, who makes eight brilliant saves, denies United.

15/08 - John Connolly is still being troubled by his groin injury and is likely to need an operation.

18/08 - D2: Newcastle 3 Oldham 2 - BONUS FOR OVERTIME! - An unheard of sub-20,000 crowd for the first match of the season reflects the level of disillusionment on Tyneside. It is 2-2 after only twenty minutes and it stays that way until Alan Shoulder scores a controversial 97th minute penalty. Oldham manager Jimmy Frizzel is furious and suggests the referee must have a "Micky Mouse" watch.

21/08 - The fee for Irving Nattrass is set at £375,000. McGarry is hoping to persuade Middlesbrough boss John Neal to part with a couple of players.

21/08 - D2: Preston 1 Newcastle 0 - A TIME-BOMB! - A late penalty also decides the match at Deepdale, but this time it is United who are the fall guys. It is a terrible game in which neither side look like scoring.

23/08 - BOAM SET TO MOVE - In a shock move Middlesbrough agree to sell highly experienced centre-back Stuart Boam to Newcastle and he holds initial talks with McGarry.

25/08 - Boam has agreed to sign and has passed his medical but he is still negotiating with Middlesbrough. "He is a natural leader who can do his own job as well as help other people" says McGarry.

25/08 - D2: Charlton 1 Newcastle 1 - UNITED SLIP UP - United are far superior in the first-half and with Martin and Hibbitt controlling midfield, should have led by more than one. Charlton equalise following which the game fizzles out tamely.

29/08 - FLC R2 L1: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 2 - ROUND ONE TO PETER! - Five United players are booked despite it being an entertaining rather than violent game. United trail 2-0 with fifteen minutes left and after Davies reduces the arrears substitute Cartwright equalises seven minutes from time.

31/08 - United have failed in a bid for Everton winger Dave Thomas; McGarry says he is not prepared to meet their asking price of £400,000.

01/09 - D2: Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1 - WITHE HEADS OFF CHELSEA - Withe has a fair old scrap with Chelsea's giant centre-back Mickey Droy who hands out some rough-house treatment in the first half. United struggle to get going for the first hour and then all hell lets loose and Withe powerfully heads home twice.

05/09 - FLC R2 L2: Newcastle 2 Sunderland 2 (aet - Sunderland win 7-6 on pens) - ROKER GET SPOT LUCK - United concede an equaliser in what is virtually the last kick of the match and then lose on penalties with Pearson's miss proving crucial. Hibbitt admits he was a coward for not taking one.

08/09 - D2: Orient 1 Newcastle 4 - WITHE IS STAR OF GEORDIE SUPER SHOW - United romp to victory, but it is harsh on the Londoners who have the vast majority of the play but miss their chances and are poor defensively.

15/09 - D2: Newcastle 3 Leicester 2 - UNKNOWN DUO SHATTER CITY - Peter Cartwright scores the winner with a courageous diving header just before the end of an entertaining match to take United into top position. There are three penalties, a sending off (leaving the Foxes with ten men for the last half hour) and four other players are booked.

17/09 - McGarry is lining up a couple of Yugoslavians for a two-week trial: an international midfielder and a goalkeeper. Ipswich and Derby are believed to be interested in Withe, but he says: "there's no way I want to leave".

18/09 - McGarry makes his position clear on Withe and tries to boost Shoulder's fragile confidence by declaring that he: "would not swap them for any other forward partnership in the country".

21/09 - Newcastle discover that the Yugoslavian midfielder they are interested in is 26 which scuppers their plans as their FA only allows players over 27 to leave the country.

22/09 - D2: Newcastle 1 Wrexham 0 - SPOT PRIZE! - Yet another penalty wins the match for Newcastle when Joey Jones is harshly judged to have brought down man-of-the-match Brownlie. The MoD cameras turn up, but the game does not have many highlights.

29/09 - D2: Birmingham 0 Newcastle 0 - HARDWICK THE HERO - United’s 3000th League game is an exciting encounter kept goalless by some excellent 'keeping from both ‘keepers (Hardwick is man of the match) and some dodgy finishing from the home side. United fight for every ball but once more lack drive and determination and are uninspiring upfront.

06/10 - D2: West Ham 1 Newcastle 1 - IT’S THE DEMOLITION MEN - The Hammers take an early lead, but a highly controversial decision by referee Clive Thomas gives United a way back into the game at Upton Park. Hammers keeper Parkes is penalised for raising his foot when collecting the ball even though no United players appeal. The infringement took place on the edge of the 6-yard box and West Ham have the whole team on the line. Martin lays the ball to Withe who blasts it past them. Cartwright does a great marking job on Devonshire and Hardwick is in superb form to deny the home side further goals although United are also guilty of missing chances in the second period.

10/10 - D2: Newcastle 0 Preston 0 - UNITED LIMP TO THE TOP - Although United go to the top of the table it is a really frustrating game as the tense Magpies produce an unconvincing performance and fail to break down the mediocre but resolute visitors who are well marshalled by former player John Blackley. The nearest United come to scoring is when Cameron heads against his own post.

11/10 - Unhappy Middlesbrough striker Stan Cummins is granted a transfer, Newcastle and Sunderland are both thought to be interested.

13/10 - D2: Newcastle 1 Shrewsbury 0 - FANS PLEAD FOR LEADING REPLY - Another laboured victory over limited opposition which has the wet and disillusioned crowd jeering. United start well and take an early lead, but despite flashes of neat, inventive football they are generally poor. There are chants of “what a load of rubbish” towards the end and Alan Shoulder sympathises: "they're frustrated, we're frustrated, everybody's frustrated."

14/10 - Middlesbrough manager John Neal admits that Newcastle and Sunderland have made offers for Cummins, but both were unrealistic.

16/10 - NEW TALKS ON NEXT STAGE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF ST. JAMES’ - Talks are held between the Club and the Council about the redevelopment of the Leazes Stand. The club want to start by building a new covered 3200-seat stand with a projected cost of £1.8m plus fees.

19/10 - £2m SUPER STADIUM SCHEME BOOTED OUT - United's Leazes Stand plan is rejected by the Council’s Development Control sub-committee although there is only one vote in it. They state that the new stand would be “visually unacceptable” as it would not join on to the East Stand. Therefore they want the club to start the redevelopment by building a corner stand between the East Stand and the Leazes with accommodation for 1,400 seats at a cost of £1.5m. The club’s plan involves building a corner section at a later date, however the Council do not trust them to carry it through.

20/10 - UNITED MAY FIGHT COUNCIL DECISION - Bob Rutherford says that the club are considering an appeal to the Environment Secretary as the Council's plan is, in the club's view, not financially viable.

20/10 - Long-standing midfield target Barry Powell moves to Derby.

20/10 - D2: Watford 2 Newcastle 0 - MIDFIELD DISASTER - The midfield is particularly lacking in a really poor performance. McGarry moans: “We have too many non-tacklers, you don’t win anything with non-tacklers”.

27/10 - D2: Newcastle 2 Cambridge 0 - SUPER SCHEMER MICK - Rafferty is quiet on his debut but his signing seems to have re-energised the team as they play with skill, speed and aggression and could have won by a lot more with a bit more luck. Mick Martin is the star in what is a much improved team performance.

30/10 - I’M OUT OF CASH! - Despite previously claiming he was willing to put the club "in-hoc" in order to secure promotion McGarry admits he will have to sell before he can buy again. He has refused to meet the asking price for Stan Cummins, Terry Yorath and Barry Powell and still wants a combative midfielder.

03/11 - D2: Oldham 1 Newcastle 0 - NEWCASTLE TOPPLED BY REVENGE KIDS - United struggle to retain their composure after conceding after only five minutes and can't find a way back in a fast and furious game. They are not helped by the distraction on the terraces where fighting erupts on numerous occasions and stones and pieces of concrete are thrown in the direction of the Latics keeper Peter McDonnell. Skipper Mick Martin is furious, stating that the players were distracted by the actions and that "no club wants to be tainted by the antics of these sort of people".

10/11 - D2: Newcastle 1 Cardiff 0 - SECOND BEST - McGarry rates the performance as “below par”, claiming they played better in defeat last week. United were not great, however Cardiff’s keeper, Ron Healey, made five excellent saves. He can do nothing about Shoulder’s sharp header from close in.

13/11 - Test: Newcastle 4 Man. City 1 - Willie McFaul’s testimonial sees three former favourites - Macdonald, Kennedy and McDermott - wear the stripes one again and the latter is the star of the game.

17/11 - D2: Bristol Rovers 1 Newcastle 1 - MCGARRY WOE - Although United win the corner count 13-1 they have to settle for a draw as they spurn a series of chances against their struggling hosts. There is plenty of slick football but also much slack finishing from Withe and Rafferty in particular. "We should have won by a cricket score" moans McGarry.

19/11 - THE POOR RELATION - The club's accounts are published and McGarry makes great play of the fact that four of the players earned more than him last season.

24/11 - D2: Swansea 2 Newcastle 3 - UNITED TURN ON THE STYLE - Billy Rafferty gives a "performance of pure gold" (according to McGarry); scoring one and setting up the other two. "I've got a team now", beams McGarry and he believes they have a "fair chance" of promotion.

27/11 - CUT-BACK! - McGarry reveals that the playing staff will need to be pruned to cut costs. There are 36 professionals and a full complement of apprentices and he says that the number of professionals will be cut to 22 by the start of next season.

01/12 - D2: Newcastle 2 Fulham 0 - HIBBITT IS THE SPARK - Although the Londoners play much the better football it is United who take the points with a couple of snap goals totally against the run of play.

03/12 - Fr: North Shields 1 Newcastle 4 - United send a full side to celebrate North Shields' 50th birthday.

08/12 - D2: Luton 1 Newcastle 1 - GEORDIES GRAB - A "promotion cracker" in a game played at a fierce pace. A draw is a fair result and Luton manager Pleat praises the Magpies: "some of their touch football was a joy". Mick Martin suffers what looks a bad injury.

02/12 - Reserves Peter Manners, Keith Armstrong and Robin Armstrong are all released and will take up invitations from Hong Kong.

11/12 - Stuart Boam will take over as captain in Martin's absence.

15/12 - D2: Newcastle 4 QPR 2 - BARKING OFF - The game of the season (so far) as United come from behind at the break to win. "I feel certain we can do it (get promotion) with this team", says McGarry. Withe's equaliser comes from a free-kick which immediately follows a short break in the action during which the centre-forward attempted to catch an invading dog. Did the interruption cause QPR to lose their concentration? If so it could be a rare case of a canine assist. The game is sponsored by S&N Breweries.

20/12 - BIG TIME AHEAD - McGarry proclaims that Newcastle are “on the verge of something big” and specifies his priorities. “My priorities for Newcastle are to make them really professional through and through. That’s the job I set out to do just over two years ago and I think we have gone a long way to achieving it”.

22/12 - D2: Notts County 2 Newcastle 2 - JOHN TOPS IT FOR UNITED - United survive the loss of Withe after only 15 minutes and the conceding of two penalties in six minutes to secure a draw. It is a fast and entertaining game in which all the goals come in the first-half. United take back over at the top.

26/12 - D2: Burnley 3 Newcastle 2 - TURFED OUT - Bottom of the table (but recently resurgent) Burnley shock United at a windy and rain-lashed Turf Moor. All United's back four are booked with McGarry moaning that the officials are "threatening to ruin the game".

29/12 - D2: Newcastle 2 Charlton 0 - SHOULDER THE HIT-MAN! - United labour long and hard against Charlton's ultra-defensive approach, but despite their dominance are frustrated for over an hour until a scrappy goal from Shoulder breaks the deadlock.

01/01 - D2: Newcastle 3 Sunderland 1 - DERBY TOPPER - The 100th derby takes place in difficult, ice-cold conditions and the match is as raw as ever. Cummins draws first blood in the 25th minute but Cartwright equalises with an angled drive five minutes before the interval. Two goals in three minutes just before the hour mark settle the match. Cassidy slams home a superb effort from twenty-five yards and Shoulder scores from the spot after Elliot is judged to have handled.

05/01 - FAC R3: Newcastle 0 Chester 2 - MINNOWS NAIL NEWCASTLE - Prior to the game McGarry stresses the financial need for a good cup-run and the importance of not being complacent and true to form the Magpies are beaten on home soil for the first time this season. Third Division Chester are well worth their victory and their first goal is scored by Peter Henderson from Berwick . When Terry Hibbitt is subbed he aims a double "V" sign at McGarry. "That will be an expensive gesture as far as he is concerned" states Bill. An unrepentant Hibbitt blasts back "he's not told me I'm being fined and if he does I will take it further".

06/01 - McGarry states that there had been "absolutely no interference" from the directors on team matters and that there is "tremendous spirit" within the camp.

McGarry meets Hibbitt for two minutes and imposes a heavy fine.

12/01 - D2: Chelsea 4 Newcastle 0 - MISERY FOR MCGARRY FLOPS! - The Blues replace United at the top after a pitiful performance full of caution and squandered possession. McGarry tears a strip off his players: "The trouble is they have started to believe their own publicity" and "hard work" is needed to get back on track. Withe suffers further damage to the shin he injured at Christmas.

18/01 - MCGARRY SHAKE-UP - An angry McGarry withdraws the players' loyalty bonus scheme and believes there is a need for a “shake-up" to rid the side of complacency arguing that "it's got to the stage where they don't bother to look at the team sheet".

19/01 - D2: Newcastle 2 Orient 0 - BARTON TOPS - United put in a determined performance against a side which has gone seven games without defeat on the road. Orient’s defence is resolute and the goals from Barton and Connolly come in the last twenty minutes.

21/01 - WITHE IS OUT OF POCKET - Withe picks up his fifth booking of the season and his second for dissent. Before the season started he championed the idea of fining players that got booked more than once for dissent and now looks like falling foul of his own idea. The players fly out to Majorca for warm weather training.

01/02 - McGarry fails with a bid for Plymouth midfielder Gary Megson.

02/02 - D2: Leicester 1 Newcastle 0 - NEWCASTLE RUN OUT OF STEAM - An early penalty secures the points for Leicester who move to the top of the table. The first-half sees a frustrated Withe left isolated upfront and although Newcastle are the better side after the break they cannot find a way through. Leicester fans pelt United supporters with coins as they are escorted to their enclosure.

Peter Kelly is advised to quit the game by a specialist.

06/02 - PEARSON QUITS - Jim Pearson is advised to quit the game due to serious knee problems.

09/02 - D2: Wrexham 1 Newcastle 0 - WITHE ROBBED - United's forward line struggles badly again and although McGarry says he isn't panicking he admits that his strikers, particularly Shoulder, are clearly out of form.

15/02 - Fr: Dundee 1 Newcastle 3 - Cropley picks up a thigh strain

20/02 - D2: Newcastle 0 Birmingham 0 - POINT TAKEN - Promotion rivals Birmingham are much the better team especially in a massively one-sided first-half. And although the football is often entertaining United fail to score for the sixth time in the last seven games.

21/02 - UNITED SEE AN X-FILM - The players are ordered in and given a verbal blasting from McGarry and forced to watch a tape of yesterday's game.

23/02 - D2: Shrewsbury 3 Newcastle 1 - UNITED GET THE JITTERS - The Magpies serve up a shocking performance and could easily have lost more heavily. McGarry admits that the team is playing with no confidence at all and suggests that they might need to jettison their "stylish play" in order to stop the rot.

McGarry is looking for new players to resurrect the promotion campaign and is believed to be interested in midfielder Len Cantello (Bolton) and forward Bobby Shinton (Manchester City).

CROPLEY NO DEAL - McGarry decides against making Cropley's move permanent. The midfielder accepts he has not played well but also claims: "I don't think Pele could have fitted in here at the moment"

29/02 McGarry makes a plea for crowd support suggesting the fans "have always been knowledgable and understanding" and "a cheer is always better than a jeer".

01/03 - TARGET CANTELLO - United are reported to have made a bid of £200,000 for Bolton midfielder Len Cantello and negotiations are believed to be at an advanced stage.

01/03 -D2: Newcastle 0 Watford 2 - A GEORDIE GLOOM SHOW - United start badly and get worse as they fall to their first home defeat in the League against the struggling Hornets. McGarry admits that there is not a "shred of confidence" in the side. United lack guile and often squander possession in midfield and the mood of the crowd Is turning angry. Hardwick and Davies, in particular, suffer abuse and a couple of supporters run onto the pitch and stamp on their scarves whilst gesturing towards the director's box. McGarry is trying to remain positive: “Don't write us off yet. If we had won we would have been top of the table." Three points separate the top eight teams.

08/03 - D2: Cambridge 0 Newcastle 0 - NO JOY FOR BILL - Shinton, Bird and Walker come in for the dropped Shoulder, Barton and Rafferty but it makes little difference as another poor display results in a goalless draw. Shinton stubs his toe when trying to convert his only chance.

12/13 - Cassidy suffers a knee injury whilst training with Northern Ireland.

15/03 - D2: Newcastle 0 West Ham 0 - TIME GANGING UP ON UNITED - Having reached 20 penalty points Withe is banned which means out-of-favour Rafferty makes a rare appearance. He misses the best chance as United drew a blank once more, they have now managed a paltry 3 goals in 10 games since that New Year's day win over Sunderland.

15/03 - PETROL BOMB ATTACK ON FANS - A milk bottle filled with petrol and set alight is thrown from the East Stand into the West Ham supporters in the Leazes End. Anthony Short, aged 20. from Essex, is taken to the RVI after the missile set fire to his clothes. He is treated for shock and burns. Throughout the game rival supporters throw beer cans, bottles, coins and bricks. At least one supporter is hit by missiles and a policeman has his neck gashed. After the game fans stage a series of battles whilst leaving the ground. Police with dogs move in and surround the West Ham supporters as United fans rain bottles and stones on them. Twice police have to wade in and force them back.

22/03 - D2: Cardiff 1 Newcastle 1 - UNITED LET IT SLIDE - Bobby Shinton opens his scoring account after Steven scores a brilliant early volley for the Bluebirds. McGarry claims that: “we should have murdered them. We had 75% of the play”.

29/03 - D2: Newcastle 3 Bristol Rovers 1 - BLASTED! - United are desperately poor in the first half and are deservedly behind at the break. They turn the game around in the second period, but McGarry is in an unforgiving mood after the game. "The game is about courage and we didn't have any. In the first half we just folded up. They are paid to be professionals, but they lost their professional attitude and once you do that you're finished".

02/04 - D2: Newcastle 2 Notts County 2 - UNITED LET IT SLIP IN LAST MINUTE - A tense game in which United recover from going behind only to concede in the last seconds through a stunning strike from Benjamin.

05/04 - D2: Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0 - STAN’S STUNNER - Both sides are in the hunt for promotion and it is a tense and disappointing affair. United dominate the first half but fail to score and they are made to pay for their profligacy when Cummins scores the only goal with seventeen minutes left. McGarry, with just a degree of exaggeration, calls it "the biggest travesty of justice I have known since I came into football". It is Sunderland's first win over United at Roker Park since 1967.

07/04 - D2: Newcastle 1 Burnley 1 - BLACK AND BLUE, BILL - Although Ian Davies puts United ahead against struggling Burnley they fail to build on their lead and Hamilton thumps a header past Hardwick.

12/04 - D2: Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 - STRIKERS ON STRIKE - Although McGarry demanded commitment and effort, too many players seem to think the win is there for the taking. United dominate for long periods before Gordon Davies buries a far-post header with seven minutes left. Fulham are on their way to Division 3 and United can no longer realistically win promotion.

14/04 - Under the terms of the lease the club was supposed to complete the redevelopment of the ground by November 1981. They have now written to the Council asking for a fifteen-year extension.

15/04 - McGarry is "going to do everything within his power" to persuade Peter Withe to sign a new contract. And that includes some unsubtle blackmail as he alleges that he "will be letting down the fans" and that "after helping him become a better player he has an obligation not to walk out on them".

19/04 - D2: Newcastle 1 Swansea 3 - RELEGATION FORM, UNITED - McGarry promised that there was too much pride at stake for United to simply go through the motions but he was sadly misguided as the Black and Whites slump again and are booed off at the end. Only teenage debutant Kenny Wharton can be pleased with his performance.

19/04 - REPRIEVED - KELLY SET FOR NEW CHANCE - Two months ago Peter Kelly was told his career was over due to his serious knee ligament injury, but after seeing a Harley Street specialist he makes a comeback for the reserves against Stoke.

26/04 - D2: QPR 2 Newcastle 1 - Youngster Brian Ferguson fires United ahead after only two minutes, but second-half goals from Roeder and McCreery (with a thunderous strike) secure the victory for the Londoners.

03/05 - D2: Newcastle 2 Luton 2 - WITHE WAVES GOODBYE - A hard ground and a high wind contribute to a poor game. Newcastle make a good start and Shoulder fires them ahead. Hatton replies with two goals and is unlucky to see another effort hit the bar. Withe scrambles in an equaliser and at the end of the game he does his own personal lap of honour.

Nine players are given free-transfers, but only John Bird and Stuart Robinson have first-team experience. Cassidy is also likely to be listed.

McGarry will not let Willie McFaul manage Northern Ireland on a part-time basis.

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