05/06 - United have registered an interest in Liam Brady who is currently with Inter Milan but they face competition from a number of First Division clubs as well as wealthy Monaco.
11/06 - Peter Beardsley makes his first full appearance for England in the 3-0 victory over Poland.
18/06 - Beardsley scores his first goal for England in the 3-0 victory over Paraguay.
22/06 - Liam Brady has decided to stay in Italy, joining Brescia.
01/07 - Aberdeen have placed a £400,000 asking price on United target, midfielder John Hewitt. The player is now technically a free agent.
02/07 - United officially announce their new sponsors, Greenall Whitney, with the new kit showcased. The package is for three years and the club are set to receive £100,000 in the first season. McFaul holds talks with Hewitt whilst Norwich want £750,000 for centre-half Steve Bruce.
04/07 - The club will video all the home matches and replays of significant action will be piped into the 23 executive boxes in the East Stand and will be shown in hospitality suites after the games. Video highlights will also be made available for purchase or hire.
12/07 - McFaul holds further talks with Hewitt, but the offer of £250,000 is nowhere near the Scots’ valuation.
18/07 - Hewitt decides to stay with Aberdeen and sign a new contract.
20/07 - Crisis-club Middlesbrough put a £250,000 valuation on United target Gary Pallister.
21/07 - Cultured left-back Rob McKinnon will join Hartlepool next month.
23/07 - LEEDS GET HADDOCK - Peter Haddock moves to Leeds for £45,000. He joined Newcastle aged fourteen when he was at Cramlington High School. Haddock made his League debut in September 1981 and made 61(4) appearances in all.
.23/07 - CLARKE GRABS HEDWORTH - Having been released at the end of the season, Chris Hedworth joins Barnsley on a free.
27/07 - Fr: Blackburn 2 Newcastle 2 - ISLE OF MISERY - Newcastle play their first game in the Isle of Man Trophy. Martin Thomas (after only three minutes) and Gascoigne both pick up injuries. Sub ‘keeper, Gary Kelly, saves a penalty and is made man-of-the-match.
29/07 - Fr: Portsmouth 2 Newcastle 2 - ROUGH JUSTICE - Injuries are building up for United. All the goals come in the last sixteen minutes with Newcastle taking a two-goal lead before being pegged back. The last goal is a dubious penalty four minutes from time.
30/07- Fr: Isle of Man IX 1 Newcastle 5
05/08 - Fr: Linfield 2 Newcastle 3 - ALLON GRABS WINNER - Both sides play the match as if it is a Cup Final. Whitehurst puts United ahead twice only for the Irish side to reply on both occasions; Allon scores the winner fifteen minutes from the end.
07/08- Fr: Coleraine 0 Newcastle 0 - A STRUGGLE FOR UNITED - Due to all the injuries teenagers Kevin Scott and Jeff Wrightson have to travel over by boat to join the squad.
11/08- Fr: Carlisle 3 Newcastle 2 - SAUNDERS HAS THE LAST LAUGH - Allon looks very sharp upfront again as he continues to show great pre-season form, but United reject Wes Saunders heads the winner for the Cumbrians.
15/08- Fr: Durham City 0 Newcastle 8 - UNITED SLAM EIGHT GOALS - Although Durham City play in the Dryboroughs Northern League Second Division McFaul fields quite a strong side, particularly in the first-half. It is a benefit match for striker Paul Main who has had to retire due to injury.
18/08- Fr: Newcastle 1 Monterray 1 - NOW FOR LIVERPOOL - Monterray are the Mexican champions and provide competitive, though limited opposition. They are quick on the break, but offer little else in a game which is played mainly at exhibition pace.
20/07 - Peter Beardsley launches a scathing attack on former manager Jack Charlton in his book “Proud to be a Geordie” and claims he would definitely have left if he had stayed. Charlton, whilst admitting that “in hindsight, I was too hasty in leaving Newcastle” hits back saying “Peter is a very good player. But Peter only plays for Peter. He never disagrees with you, but when he goes out on the field he does his own thing”.
21/08 - McFaul admits he is disappointed that he has failed to sign anyone, but makes it clear he “won’t be forced into paying silly money”.
22/08 - Gascoigne agrees to sign a new three-year contract.
23/08 - Div 1 - Newcastle 0 Liverpool 2 - LIVERPOOL IN A RUSH - It couldn't have been a much tougher opener as United host double winners Liverpool who include Ian Rush whose proposed transfer to Juventus is temporarily delayed due to the rules of the Italian FA. He scores two typically clinical goals five minutes after the start and seven minutes from the end.
25/08 - Div 1 - Tottenham 1 Newcastle 1 - SHEER GENIUS - Torrential rain makes for a tricky surface at White Hart Lane and Newcastle do well to come away with a point after a gutsy performance. Martin Thomas and Beardsley, who scores a brilliant goal just before the end, are the star players.
27/08 - Some Newcastle fans have allegedly bought £1 lifetime Luton membership cards using false names and addresses in an effort to get round Luton’s ban on away supporters.
29/08 - Martin Thomas signs a one-year extension on his current deal.
30/08 - Div 1 - Luton 0 Newcastle 0 - SAFE KEEPING - Eighteen-year-old Ian Bogie makes his League debut. It ends goalless due largely to another excellent performance from Thomas who makes a string of magnificent saves and earns himself a standing ovation from the home fans. United only muster four shots all match and two of those come in the opening minutes. Peter Beardsley aggravates his achilles tendon injury.
03/09 - Div 1 - Newcastle 0 QPR 2 - SECOND BEST - Ten thousand fans that had turned up for the opening match fail to appear for the match against QPR who have made a decent start to the season. Joe Allon, once again a prolific scorer in the reserves, is drafted in for the injured Beardsley. United play very badly, creating very few chances of their own and gifting Rangers two second half goals. They are jeered off the pitch at the end and McFaul admits they are “lacking confidence”, but vows “we will get it right!”.
04/09 - McFaul admits that he probably needs to lower his sights to make a transfer breakthrough.
06/09 - Div 1 - Newcastle 2 Sheffield W 3 - SHUTT OUT! - United's injury problems are starting to mount as captain Glenn Roeder is ruled out, with Kevin Scott making his debut as a replacement. The Magpies are comprehensively outplayed throughout most of a lively, absorbing and bad-tempered match. They concede twice just before the break and are still 2-0 down with only eleven minutes left. Then out-of-the-blue youngsters Allon and Scott score within three minutes, only for Shutt to grab his second thirteen seconds from time. United are now winless in the first five games for the first time in 34 years and have also lost all three home games.
08/09 - Beardsley has to go into plaster due to his Achilles’ tendon injury. Chelsea slap a £1m joint asking price on United targets Joe McLaughlin and Micky Hazard.
09/09 - Neil McDonald is substitute for England U21 in the friendly verses Sweden
10/09 - A bid for Middlesbrough central-defender Garry Pallister is rejected and a move for another unnamed player also stalls as their club does not want to sell. Martin Thomas makes his Wales debut against Finland, triggering an additional £7,500 payment to Bristol Rovers.
12/09 - McFaul makes an enquiry for Aston Villa’s wantaway midfielder Steve Hodge, however he is quoted £750,000, a figure the Magpies’ will not be willing to pay.
13/09 - Div 1 - Coventry 3 Newcastle 0 - GIFT WRAPPED - McFaul decides to turn to experience at Coventry, pairing Whitehurst and Cunningham upfront, in an attempt to get the club "out of the mire". Jeff Clarke also returns from injury. But United's disastrous run continues as they gift the Sky Blues three goals in a game in which the score could easily have been doubled. The fans chant “what a load of rubbish” and McFaul concedes that: “the way we conceded those goals today was a disaster". He admits that the squad needs strengthening, but warns that there is "no bottomless pit of money". Stewart gets away with punching McGrath, United slump to bottom place.
18/09 - UNITED SIGN ANDY THOMAS - McFaul makes a breakthrough in the transfer market at last as midfielder Andy Thomas (23) is signed from Oxford for £100,000. He has been out of their side this season, but is well-known to McFaul as he scored three goals against United in the League Cup in recent seasons.
19/09 - There is interest in midfielder Liam O’Brien of Shamrock Rovers, but Hearts have rejected approaches for Gary Mackay.
20/09 - Div 1 - Newcastle 1 Wimbledon 0 - PAUL PEPS UP UNITED - Wimbledon were promoted last season and this is the first ever meeting between the two sides. Roeder is back from injury, but keeper Thomas is having muscle spasms in his back, not surprising really considering the start United have made. As a result, twenty-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international, Gary Kelly, makes his debut along with new signing Andy Thomas. Despite his small size Kelly shows up well to the inevitable direct and aerial onslaught and a perfectly judged chip from Gazza secures a vital first victory of the season.
23/09 - FLC R2 L1: Bradford C 2 Newcastle 0 - OUTFOUGHT AND OUTCLASSED! - Beardsley is back for the trip to Second Division Bradford City who are playing at the Odsal Stadium because their ground is still being repaired after the terrible fire. The (rugby) pitch is very bumpy but that is no excuse for the worst performance so far. The Magpies could have lost by a lot more, but for another fine goalkeeping display by Thomas and some slices of luck. The announcement that the dropped Whitehurst is coming on for Stewart is roundly booed by the travelling supporters. Mcfaul calls it the “biggest disappointment since I took over”.
27/09 - D1: Norwich 2 Newcastle 0 - NO JOY FOR UNLUCKY JOE - McFaul axes Stewart, Gascoigne and Whitehurst with youngsters Joe Allon (who scored four for the reserves in midweek) and Paul Stephenson both being recalled for the trip to high flying Norwich. Although Drinkell scores after only four minutes United gradually take control largely due to the running and hard work of the two youngsters. But, against the run of play Drinkell grabs a second with twelve minutes left. McFaul declares: “that was our best performance of the season. We deserved more, our luck was rock bottom".
02/10 - I CANT WAIT TO GET STARTED - Tough-tackling central-defender Ivan Gernon (23) joins on a month’s loan loan from Ipswich. A former England U21 international he has 73 First Division games under his belt.
Kelly is called up to Eire U21 and Anderson to the main side.
04/10 - D1: Southampton 4 Newcastle 1 - KILLER CLARKE - A new attacking formation of Allon and Whitehurst up front with Beardsley and Thomas behind looks promising at first and United take the lead. The Saints pull one back before half-time then score three times in eleven minutes in the last twenty minutes with Colin Clarke scoring a hat-trick. Just before the end seventeen-year-old sub Le Tissier dances through the defence before being foiled by Thomas. After the game some supporters hurl abuse at the directors as they sit in the coach waiting to leave the ground. They are advised in unmistakably graphic language that it is time they bought someone.
07/10 - GREAT TO BE HERE - Striker Darren Jackson (20) is signed from Scottish Second Division side Meadowbank Thistle for £24,000. He joined from Melbourne Thistle in August last year and has scored 24 goals for Thistle, earning him a call-up to the Scotland U21’s.
08/10 - FLC R2 L1: Newcastle 1 Bradford C 0 (agg 1-2) - SHAME ON YOU - Although Roeder scores with fifteen minutes left, the Magpies go out on aggregate against the second division Bantams. Whitehurst is subbed after his tenth blank of the season and reacts to the fans' loud booing with sarcastic applause and then a two-fingered gesture as he goes down the tunnel.
08/10 - UNITED FANS IN ANGRY SCENES - After the game some 1,000 angry fans gather outside the main gates and although mounted police disperse them they reappear on the steps below the boardroom. Coins are thrown and chants include: “Sack the Board”, “we want our money back”, “where’s the money gone?”, “where’s Whitehurst” and “there’s only one Chrissy Waddle”. Windows in the guest room are damaged as are several cars in the car park, including that of the Bradford Chairman.
09/10 - WHITEHURST MUST GO - .Following his gesture towards the fans, Billy Whitehurst is disciplined and transfer-listed. McFaul says: “I think the decision is in his best interests and those of the club.”
11/10 - D1: Newcastle 3 Man City 1 - OH SO LUCKY UNITED - Tony Cunningham and Ian Stewart are recalled against a City side who have only one of their last 22 games. United come from behind to record only their second win of the season. McFaul is honest enough to admit that it was his "luckiest win as a manager", the visitors having hit the woodwork three times. Cunningham says “I’d love to stay”.
13/10 - A £100,000 bid for Whitehurst from Oxford is rejected.
15/10 - OFF TO OXFORD - After lengthy negotiations, Billy Whitehurst agrees on a move to Oxford for an initial fee of £160,000 with an additional payment of £15,000 due after a set number of games.
15/10 - Beardsley plays for England in the European Championship qualifier against Northern Ireland who include Ian Stewart.
18/10 - D1: Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2 - CLASS TELLS, UNITED - Although they take the lead, United slump to their fourth home defeat in six games as they are comprehensively outclassed on a greasy surface. The 2-1 scoreline does not reflect the visitors superiority and even ‘keeper Lukic almost gets on the score sheet when his long punt up field bounces over keeper Kelly's head before thankfully passing wide of the goal. Referee Peter Tyldesley annoys the home crowd with a number of his decisions and just before the end he waves away United’s protests when Stewart seems to be felled by Adams in the box. Inevitably, the official is loudly booed as he leaves the pitch. Wharton plays through the entire second-half with concussion.
19/10 - UNITED WE STAND - Chairman Seymour shoots down rumours regarding McFaul’s future and a potential rift at the club. “All managers work on a tightrope basis, but this one is not about to topple. We will get through this together”. He also says that “we have enough in the kitty to strengthen the team sufficiently to stay in the First Division”. Paris St. Germain are believed to have an option on Beardsley, but he denies that he is contemplating leaving.
20/10 - Newcastle are one of a number of clubs, including Liverpool and Tottenham, scouting Walsall’s young striker David Kelly.
22/10 - GET IT RIGHT PAUL! - Gascoigne has struggled at times for form and confidence this season and is one of a number of first-team players in the reserve side that loses to Manchester United. McFaul says: “He made such an impact last year that this season he is a marked man and he’s just starting to realise that for himself. The only time people can kick you is when you have the ball, so he has got to learn to distribute it quicker. He’s trying to do too much on his own”.
23/10 - I THOUGHT MY CHANCE HAD GONE - Newcastle sign Bradford City skipper Peter Jackson (25) for £250,000. McFaul, clearly impressed by the centre-half’s performances in the League Cup ties, states that he is just the sort of "no-nonsense" defender that he has been looking for to take over from Jeff Clarke. Jackson has made over 300 appearances across eight seasons for City.
25/10 - D1: Aston Villa 2 Newcastle 0 - THE HIT-MAN - The team bus is involved in an accident on the way to the ground. New signing Peter Jackson replaces Kenny Wharton and McCreery's return sees Gascoigne once again reverting to the sub's bench. The home side are one place above United and previous United target Steve Hodge is the difference between the teams. He scores twice in the first twenty-four minutes to put Villa in command and although Beardsley creates numerous chances there is nobody capable of finishing them off.
29/10 - YOU CAN’T BLAME THE KIDS - Youngsters Gascoigne, Stephenson and Allon have all seen their form dip this year which has caused them to get some stick from the crowd. McFaul says it is to be expected after they burst onto the scene last year.
01/11 - D1: Newcastle 0 Oxford 0 - IT’S RUBBISH UNITED - Newly promoted Oxford have conceded ten goals in their last two away games and turn up to shut up shop. And with Newcastle barren of ideas as an attacking force it is a drab stalemate which sees Newcastle drop back to the bottom of the table. Gascoigne in particular has a poor game and receives plenty of stick from the crowd before being substituted with fifteen minutes to go. Quarter of an hour later the rest of the players leave the field to a chorus of booing and chants of "what a load of rubbish". After the game, despite the torrential rain, a couple of hundred fans mass outside the main entrance to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the board. Chants this time include “we’re going down” and “Keegan was right” Gascoigne admits the abuse frightened him and Oxford manager Maurice Evans is critical of the crowd’s treatment of the player. “The pressure of the crowd made it difficult for him, but I’d bet my life he is going to be a very good player. The supporters need to be a bit more tolerant with young players that have skills like his”.
01/11 - Joe Harvey and Peter Kirkley scout Northampton striker Trevor Morley against Hartlepool. Other strikers under consideration are Bobby Davison (Derby) and Paul Goddard (West Ham). They are also linked with midfielder David Armstrong (Southampton).
02/11 - The club announce that they had made a £0.5m profit for the second year in the row (up to the end of May) mainly due to the profit made on transfers.
05/11 - UNITED SWOOP FOR GODDARD - Newcastle agree a fee of £425,000 (smashing their previous record) with West Ham for striker Paul Goddard. The player has held talks and has promised to provide his response tomorrow. It is believed he and his wife would prefer a move to a club closer to London and will hold further talks with West Ham manager John Lyall.
06/11 - UNITED GET GODDARD - Paul Goddard (27) agrees to sign and McFaul has “the highest hopes he is just the man we need”. He is 5ft 8in and 12st and has scored 77 goals in 239 League games for the Hammers. He also has one England cap.
08/11 - D1: Leicester 1 Newcastle 1 - BARGAIN BUY - Paul Goddard makes his debut in place of Cunningham and is inspirational in a much improved performance. McDonald gives United the lead from a penalty, with Alan Smith replying after the break. After the game Goddard confidently claims: "we won't go down".
10/11 - UNITED NO TO WIMBLEDON - It is revealed that Wimbledon manager Dave Bassett made a tentative enquiry about Gascoigne and Stephenson last Friday. It is understood that the Magpies would turn down any firm offer.
15/11 - D1: Newcastle 2 Watford 2 - PENALTY PLEASER - Despite being bottom of the table, St James’ Park hosts the biggest crowd of the day as four thousand extra fans turn up to see their new centre-forward's home debut. He doesn’t disappoint with an intelligent and hard-working display during which he links up well with Beardsley and almost scores on three occasions. All the goals come in the last twenty minutes as United come from behind twice, a McDonald penalty three minutes from time saving a point.
17/11 - Ian Stewart, who has being showing some of his best form recently had a cartilage operation at the weekend after being injured at Leicester.
22/11 - D1: Chelsea 1 Newcastle 3 - JUST NO DOUBTING THOMAS - Chelsea have made almost as bad a start as United and there are less than 15,000 present at what is United’s 4000th competitive game. And with Thomas scoring twice, they witness Newcastle securing a first away victory this season, their second victory at Stamford Bridge in 32 years and their first victory in London since promotion. Seymour is confident: “no matter what anyone says, I say we’ve turned the corner now”.
25/11 - I CAN WAIT SAYS HALL - At the AGM the Board defend their position and millionaire property developer John Hall denies that he has made a bid for the club. “If the North East wants to survive we have to go for the best and that includes the football club. To be fair to the Board, who have done a tremendous job, no formal offer has been made. Though that’s not to say one might not be forthcoming. I see them being part and parcel of the rejuvenation of the area”.
30/11 - D1: Newcastle 4 West Ham 0 - THESE KIDS ARE GREAT - West Ham have made a decent start to the season, are in fourth place and are unbeaten away from home. Newcastle confound their critics with a masterful performance and a resounding victory reminiscent of the best moments of last season. West Ham manager, John Lyall, is generous in his praise. "Newcastle deserve every credit, they outfought and outplayed us". The victory lifts United four places to 18th and brings real hope of a revival. England manager Bobby Robson is impressed with the youngsters and urges the crowd to be patient with them and “not drive them away”.
01/12 - Despite his good form this season Wharton confirms he is still on the transfer list as he still hasn’t received an improved contract offer. Rangers are believed to be scouting him.
03/12 - FMC: Everton 5 Newcastle 2 - A SHARP LESSON - A young Magpies side are 2-0 down after six minutes and 4-0 behind after thirty-six, with Graham Sharp having completing a hat-trick. Andy Thomas grabs a brace for the third game in a row.
05/12 - Beardsley continues to be linked with a number of top clubs including Liverpool, but McFaul says he will “battle to keep him”.
06/12 - D1: Charlton 1 Newcastle 1 - SARGE EARNS HIS STRIPES - Charlton have lost five in a row and are just below Newcastle in the table. Less than 8,000 turn up at the Valley where a late goal from Goddard, at last breaking his duck, secures an ill-deserved point for the Magpies.
09/12 - Gascoigne, who suffered ankle and knee injuries at the beginning of the season and has been out with a groin injury for the last few weeks, has picked up a new groin injury.
13/12 - D1: Newcastle 3 Nottm Forest 2 - MONEY WELL SPENT - Nottingham Forest are second, but although they control the game for long periods, it is United who grab all three points in an entertaining game. Andy Thomas, who scored his seventh goal in the last five games is proving to be a bit of a bargain. Beardsley scores the third, side-footing cooly home after running from the half-way line.
21/12 - D1: Sheff Wed 2 Newcastle 0 - CHRISTMAS GIFTS, BUT NO YULE SPIRIT - As usual, there is a large travelling contingent at Hillsborough to see high-flying Wednesday make a blistering start which brings two goals within twenty minutes. United never recover and although there are no more goals they return home well beaten.
26/12 - D1: Newcastle 0 Everton 4 - SORRY NEWCASTLE BACK IN TROUBLE - A Boxing Day bashing as the Toffees outclass United in no uncertain style. It is the joint worst ever Boxing Day defeat. Eighteen year old Jeff Wrightson is the latest youngster thrown in to help fill the huge gap left by little McCreery.
27/12 - D1: Watford 1 Newcastle 0 - GIFT WRAPPED - McFaul sticks with the same eleven for the visit to Vicarage Road. John Barnes gives the Hornets the lead in their first meaningful attack and despite plenty of possession a subdued United attack cannot find an equaliser. The defeat makes it three losses in six days without a single goal scored and the Magpies slump back down to 21st.
29/12 - United have been bedevilled by injuries this season and currently have eleven players under treatment.
01/01 - D1: Man United 4 Newcastle 1 - HERO AND VILLAIN - Peter Jackson is a hero despite being credited with two own-goals. He heads past a bemused Thomas after only four minutes and Whiteside makes it 2-0 a couple of minutes later. Despite the disastrous start Newcastle reply well, Darren Jackson pulls one back and Goddard really should have equalised. After the break the home side are in control despite being down to ten men for the last thirty minutes after Kevin Moran swallows his tongue. Jackson reacted quickly to the situation and immediately called for ambulancemen.
02/01 - WILLIE GETS TOUGH - In his team meeting, McFaul makes it very clear to the players that he is looking for “a big improvement” in their performances.
03/01 - D1: Newcastle 1 Coventry 2 - MISERY - Beardsley is missing with a knee injury. David Bennett opens the scoring after only 42 seconds and Newcastle never recover from this early set-back. They are out-thought, out-fought and without a doubt second best in every department. After being impatient in the first, the crowd tries to rally the players after the break, before giving up and resorting to chants of ”what a load of rubbish”. McFaul admits “the players are down and so am I”.
14/01 - Coventry City are believed to be monitoring Neil McDonald.
16/01 - Fans help clear snow off the pitch to try and ensure tomorrow’s match against Tottenham goes ahead.
17/01 - The match is called off after an inspection due to parts of the pitch being frozen and icy.
21/01 - FAC R3: Newcastle 2 Northampton 1 - WHAT A RELIEF - Although Goddard scores after three minutes Fourth Division leaders Northampton give United a tough match. Hill equalises half-way through the second with Andy Thomas restoring United’s lead a minute later. Chunks of the game are played at a frantic pace and Graham Carr’s side are more inventive and better all-round than nervy Newcastle. They thoroughly deserve the standing ovation they get at full-time.
24/01 - D1: Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0 - IN THE RED - Newcastle are under the cosh for most of the game as they miss the combative midfield skills of the injured McCreery. It is a sixth successive defeat in the League. Anfield target Beardsley is applauded by both sets of supporters at the end and some of the travelling Geordies are none too impressed with Beardsley's acknowledgement of the home fans.
31/01 - FAC R4: Newcastle 2 Preston 0 - GODDARD’S GOALS LIKE GOLD TO NEWCASTLE! - Beardsley aggravated his knee injury against Liverpool so Tony Cunningam gets a rare chance to impress against Preston, who are second in Division 4. The players slither around on the icy pitch and McFaul opts for long ball tactics. It is tough going, but goals from Roeder and Goddard in the last half hour secure passage into the Fifth Round for only the second time in eleven years. The impressive Wharton is lucky that the officials do not see him throw a punch at an opponent just before half-time.
04/02 - HE’S GOT IT - Twenty five year old midfielder, Albert Craig (5ft 8in), is signed from Hamilton in a £100,000 deal. Hamilton’s boss, Lambie, gives him a good reference: “when he puts his mind to it, he can do the job of two players. He has a big heart, skill and is not afraid to go in where it counts”. He was a part-timer at Dumbarton until last summer.
05/02 - MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS! - Barnsley boss Alan Clarke claims that McFaul should have bought his central-defender Larry May rather than Peter Jackson, claiming he would have done “a much better job of tightening up the Newcastle defence”. McFaul blasts back: “I’m very annoyed by this, Alan Clarke should look after his own club and I’ll look after mine!”
07/02 - D1: Newcastle 2 Luton 2 - OH KENNY! - Grimes gives the Hatters an early lead, but United bounce back to lead at the break. The score remains the same until fifteen minutes from time when the visitor’s equalise after a bad error by Wharton. Newcastle should have gone on to win but Goddard and Cunningham collide with each other when faced with an open goal and Roeder gets in the way of a goalbound shot from Thomas.
14/02 - D1: QPR 2 Newcastle 1 - PAUL STARTS THE ROT - Goddard scores against his old club just after the hour mark, but United concede twice in the last twenty minutes. McFaul comes under fire from the press who question both his tactics (including playing five at the back) and his future at the club whilst also suggesting that Beardsley might put more effort into away games. McFaul himself says “I wasn’t very happy with one or two contributions out there - not naming names. I don’t send them out there to lose”. With Beardsley once more regularly dropping deep to get the ball McFaul is asked whether he has instructed him to do this. The Irishman replies: “I never, ever ask Peter to play deep….He was playing behind the front two where he’s supposed to play. I don’t think he’s been asked to play any different to what he did last season”.
16/02 - Beardsley responds by saying: “It’s not by choice that I’m playing so deep, but I have to do what is best for the team”.
18/02 - Beardsley impresses as Lineker scores all four in England's 4-2 victory in Spain.
19/02 - McFaul shoots down suggestions of an issue with Beardsley claiming: “There’s no hint of a rift between us”.
21/02 - FAC R5: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 0 - KILLER CLIVE - Despite a huge gulf in class, United give a brave, battling display. The game is settled by a controversial penalty, Peter Jackson being adjudged to have pushed Richard Gough.
21/02 - RAMPAGING UNITED FANS WRECK PUBS - There are numerous issues during the day. United fans wreck one of the coaches taking them down to London and damage others. As the drivers then head home many are left stranded. Police have trouble finding space in the ground for the twelve thousand Newcastle fans and after the game a youth suffers a broken leg in fighting outside the ground. United fan Stephen Robson requires plastic surgery after a knife attack. Significant numbers of Newcastle fans stop off for a night out in Northampton on the way back and are involved in clashes with both Barnsley fans (also returning from London) and locals. Five police officers, including a woman, are injured and £100,000 of damage is caused as two pubs are wrecked. Thirty-seven arrests are made in Northampton out of a total of around fifty on the day.
21/02 - IM STAYING - In a televised interview after the game Beardsley clarifies his stance. “I have no urge to leave Newcastle United. I have said in the past that I will honour my contract which runs until June ‘88 and that I will do”.
23/02 - After receiving the Newcastle Sports Personality aof the Year ward from the Duke of Edinburgh, Beardsley reaffirms his position. Although he does say rather ominously: “hopefully I will honour that contract, unless the club decides otherwise”.
27/02 - Although United are favourites for relegation McFaul comes out fighting. “The bookies did the same last season and it’s up to us to prove them wrong again. I think we have a hell of a chance of staying up. Most of our home games are against clubs who are down there with us, so it’s in our own hands’”.
28/02 - D1: Wimbledon 3 Newcastle 1 - SUCKER PUNCH - Newcastle womble closer to Division Two as a first senior hat-trick by Andy Sayer brings another demoralising defeat. Having only gained one point from the last nine games Newcastle are now five points behind 19th place and safety. McFaul remains tight-lipped after the game.
02/03 - Morale hits a new low and there are rumours of mounting aggravation between Beardsley and the rest of the team. McFaul hits back saying “I wouldn’t have thought there is a dressing-room split here” and claims that the unsubstantiated rumours are based on an argument in the player’s lounge between Beardsley’s wife and the wife of another player.
03/03 - SHUT UP AND GET ON WITH IT - McFaul holds a behind-closed-doors meeting with the players where he demands that they pull together and stop leaking stories to the press. Afterwards the manager also has a go at negative criticism from outsiders making specific reference to Malcolm Macdonald.
05/03 - Having suffered an Achilles tendon injury at Wimbledon Goddard is put in plaster and is likely to be out for ten days.
07/03 - D1: Newcastle 2 Aston Villa 1 - FAITH, HOPE AND PETER! - A relegation six-pointer on Tyneside as Villa are two places and four points above the Magpies. With Goddard unavailable, Cunningham and Allon form a new partnership up front with Beardsley operating in a free role on the left hand side. The Longbenton lad has faced quite a lot of criticism recently, but he is the outstanding player and scores a great goal, in a scrappy match. Opposition manager Billy McNeill generously says: “he is a class player with a touch of genius”. It is only Beardsley’s second goal at home this season and the first win in ten games.
15/03 - With deadline day approaching McFaul states there has been no approach by Liverpool for Beardsley.
17/03 - UNITED STUNNER - Albert Craig is ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a dislocated collar bone in training.
21/03 - D1: Man City 0 Newcastle 0 - WASTERS! - Both Roeder and Goddard are available again as United are involved in another relegation battle at Maine Road. Tony Cunningham and former United favourite Imre Varadi are both guilty of missing some gilt-edged chances. Newcastle remain bottom, but now have games in hand over their rivals with four home games in a row coming next.
22/03 - BEARDSLEY CAN GO! - It is claimed that Beardsley has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave for a club outside the Football League this summer.
25/03 - D1: Newcastle 1 Tottenham 1 - GODDARD THE SAVIOUR - Fit-again Gascoigne returns to the side for the first time in four months against a Spurs side who have won five games in a row and are in tremendous form. Glen Hoddle gives them an early lead, but United hang in there and in a much improved and gutsy second half performance, Paul Goddard equalises fifteen minutes from time.
26/03 - Despite his best efforts McFaul fails to make any signings on deadline day.
28/03 - D1: Newcastle 2 Southampton 0 - GASCOIGNE MAGIC - Although Southampton have pulled away from the relegation zone, they have lost eight away games in a row. McFaul has the rare luxury of naming an unchanged team and United run out worthy winners. Talking point of the match comes when Gazza, who is in irrepressible form, shoots into the side netting when a simple pass to Goddard would have left him with an open goal. Goddard rushes up to Gascoigne and gives him a hefty push in the chest and at one stage it looks as though he is going to hit him. Newcastle are off the bottom for the first time in three months.
30/03 - John Anderson signs a new three-year contract.
01/04 - Beardsley sets up Waddle for the second goal in the 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland.
04/04 - D1: Newcastle 2 Leicester 0 - THE GREAT ESCAPE - Goddard and Wharton make it 2-0 within six minutes and although they cannot build on the great start. United triumph over another relegation rival.
05/04 Beardsley is included in the All-Star-Eleven at the PFA Awards.
08/04 - D1: Newcastle 4 Norwich 1 - PURE MAGIC - Drinkell opens the scoring for the Canaries early on, but Goddard equalises just before the break and three goals in the last thirty minutes secure an excellent victory. It is the best performance since the home game against West Ham as United ooze flair and finesse, power and purpose in an exhilarating performance that moves them out of the relegation positions for the first time this year. The Canaries’ Geordie centre-back Steve Bruce has a night to forget: he gets booked, concedes a penalty and deflects in Gascoigne’s goal.
11/04 - D1: Oxford 1 Newcastle 1 - SAFETY ON THE HORIZON - Oxford are just above United in the table. Goddard is on target once more but Ashington-born John Dreyer ensures the points are shared eleven minutes from time. It is a fair result on a day that both sides struggled to deal with the blustery conditions.
14/04 - D1: Arsenal 0 Newcastle 1 - GOAL-DEN GODDARD - Paul Goddard scores his sixth goal in as many games as he combines superbly with Beardsley in attack, but it is the outstanding Gascoigne who is the star of the show. McFaul calls the win “the most important of my managerial career”.
17/04 - McFaul praises the fans. “Their backing has been fantastic all season. The fans have been as important as the players and I know it is something the team appreciate. They have never lost faith - even in the darkest hours of the season - and we are grateful to them”.
18/04 - D1: Newcastle 2 Man Utd 1 - LOCKED OUT AND ECSTATIC - The gates are locked twenty minutes before kick-off leaving an estimated 6,000 fans locked outside including some who had tickets. Police with dogs and on horseback disperse the crowd although some gather on Strawberry Lane to add their support from outside. Roeder opens the scoring with his first of the season, but Strachan equalises and the game seems to be heading for a draw. There is an expectation amongst the fans outside that the gates will re-open fifteen minutes from time, but the club decides against it. One steward, who is letting some people out, is persuaded to let a couple of fans in, which leads to others trying to storm the gates. The police move in quickly, but just as things look like turning ugly Paul Goddard scores in the 79th minute and the fans start celebrating and chanting. The Londoner thus equals Len White’s post-war record of scoring in seven successive matches in what is an action-packed and often tetchy game. Newcastle are now nine points above the relegation positions.
18/04 - I’M STAYING - Having picked up a hamstring injury in the game and with rumours of a move to Barcelona resurfacing, Beardsley is asked whether it will be his last game for the club. He maintains that “I will be happy to see my contract out”.
20/04 - D1: Everton 3 Newcastle 0 - DEFEATED AND DISMISSED - Despite a brave battle, Newcastle’s unbeaten run finally comes to an end, on Bank Holiday Monday, at the tenth time of asking. The League Leaders pin United back for the majority of the game and Wayne Clarke scores a second-half hat-trick. Neil McDonald is sent off in the last minute for foul and abusive language after contesting Clarke’s third.
24/04 - UNITED CALL STAND BAN CRISIS TALKS - The directors are to call a crisis meeting after the Council make the decision to ban the club from using its ageing West Stand, stating that the closure must come into force after the last home match of the season. As the club's £3.5m. scheme to build a new West Stand is still in the balance the ground's capacity could be reduced by between 4,000 and 5,000 seats. Chairman Stan Seymour says it is a "very grave situation. It's seating accommodation and it's a much bigger figure as far as revenue is concerned." Seymour is also annoyed by the accusations of some councillors that the club have been dragging their feet. He says the club have spent thousands of pounds over the years on ground improvements and blames the council for not accepting schemes which have been put forward. The city council has offered to underwrite a major part of the club's borrowing on the new stand, as long as United clamps down on racism and widens the club's ownership. United are also expecting a decision in June on an appeal over a plan to build a supermarket on its Benwell training ground. The club wanted to use the cash from the sale of the ground to help pay for the new stand, but planning permission was refused. The club have spent some £350,000 upgrading the stand over the last couple of years and have estimated that the loss of the accommodation for a season would cost £700,000 in lost revenue.
25/04 - D1: Newcastle 1 Chelsea 0 - STAYING UP - United make a great start and although they start to lose a bit of confidence their determination sees them through and they eventually secure the winning goal nineteen minutes from time when Goddard plays a 1-2 with Gascoigne then calmly slots the ball past Freestone. Newcastle are virtually safe. With only three games left, neither Manchester City or Aston Villa can now catch the Magpies who are also eight points ahead of Charlton (20th), who still have to travel to Tyneside.
28/04 - With the financial implications of replacing the West Stand looming large, McFaul once again has to refute suggestions that Beardsley will be sold to Liverpool. “I’m sick of these stories coming out. And so far as the financial side goes, I am under no pressure whatsoever to sell Peter. Both my directors and myself want him to stay. I would be very disappointed if he left here.”
02/05 - D1: West Ham 1 Newcastle 1 - SPOT ON! - Neil McDonald gives United an early lead with his fifth successful penalty of the season thus maintaining his 100% record. Martin Thomas (making his 300th appearance) brilliantly saves Cottee's spot kick, but six minutes from time Mark Ward equalises. A couple of minutes later Anderson is sent-off for swearing at a linesman, but United hang on for the precious point that guarantees safety. Charlton lose at home to Luton.
04/05 - Although Newcastle still want to sell their Benwell training ground they have axed plans to sell to a supermarket company.
05/05 - UNITED’S GOAL - At their emergency meeting the directors decide to plan for having a new West Stand built by early next season. But if this proves impossible they are likely to appeal against the closure. The new planning application is unlikely to be discussed by the Council until June 10th leaving the club and season ticket holders in limbo. The council have also stated they will only act as guarantors for the loan if there is a public share issue.
04/05 - D1: Newcastle 0 Charlton 3 - WHAT A DISGRACE! - With Goddard and McCreery injured and McDonald suspended, McFaul is forced to shuffle his pack against relegation-threatened Charlton. He does not make excuses. “I thought we were a disgrace and the players know it. We’ve disappointed a crowd of almost 27,000. We have let them down and that disappoints both the players and myself”. The Londoners dominate the game particularly in an embarrassing first-half.
07/05 - Gascoigne is called up to the England-U21 squad for the summer tournament in France.
09/05 - D1: Nottm F 3 Newcastle 1 - NO LUCK - A strikeforce of Cunningham and Andy Thomas does not bode well, but with Gazza in ebullient mood, United put up a decent performance. The match is marred by trouble after the game when both sets of supporters swarm onto the pitch and some fighting breaks out. Mounted police are brought on and Forest manager Brian Clough wades in to drag some of the home supporters away from the trouble. McFaul takes a more lenient view: “I don’t think the fans were violent, it was more a case of high spirits”.
11/05 - MCFAUL IN MASS CLEAROUT - The club releases eight professionals: Jeff Clarke, Ian Stewart, Alan Davies, Joe Allon, Jeff Wrightson, Stuart Dickinson, Neil Wilson and Peter Harbech.
12/05 - The club are to install undersoil heating, at a cost of £100,000, during the summer.
20/05 - Beardsley puts in a brilliant performance for England against Brazil.
22/05 - BEARDSLEY - THREE COMPETING - Tottenham are believed to have joined Manchester United and Liverpool in the chase for Beardsley. McFaul admits that he spoke to Alex Ferguson about Beardsley earlier in the week, but denies having quoted a £2.5m asking price. He says: “If someone came along and offered £3million we would have to think about it”.
23/05 - LIVERPOOL BEARDSLEY’S FAVOURITE - John Gibson reports that that both the club and the player are preparing for a possible departure this summer. Beardsley has turned down the offer of an extended contract and will be free to join any club under freedom of contract next summer. The player is understood to prefer a move to Merseyside and admits: “I wouldn’t object to going. If the club decide they would rather have the money that’s a different thing.”
26/05 - WAITING GAME - McFaul says that Alex Ferguson has not contacted him regarding Beardsley and clarifies that he, himself, approached Manchester United for one of their players (believed to be Peter Davenport) and Ferguson took the opportunity to ask about Beardsley’s availability and valuation.
27/05 - Celtic make an enquiry for Neil McDonald, but McFaul tells them to “forget it”.
29/05 - FERGUSON SCARED OFF - Ferguson contacts McFaul who confirms “he asked me if I’d changed my mind on the price (£2.5m) and I said no. That is the end of the matter”.
30/05 - DOUBLE YOUR MONEY KEN - Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has offered £1.25m for Beardsley, an offer which is turned down flat.