Billy Whitehurst (1985/86 to 1986/87)

With Newcastle struggling for goals in 1985/86 new manager Willie McFaul decided to replace centre forward and former bricklayer George Reilly with Hull’s centre-forward and former bricklayer Billy Whitehurst.

The bustling striker had been signed from non-league Mexborough five years previously for £1,800, but McFaul had to hand over more than one hundred times that amount to get his man.

The price had been pushed up by alleged interest from a number of clubs and almost equalled the Magpies’ record fee. Although Billy was top scorer for the Tigers in 1984/85 with 23 goals and had already netted 12 times in 1985/86, it was a big fee for a player who had never played in the top flight.

He was a player noted for his strength, bravery, effort and commitment. At six foot one and over 14 stone he was certainly an imposing figure and would regularly commit to crunching challenges.

However his first touch and technical ability were not of a First Division standard and he was not fast, although he took some stopping once he got going.

On signing him McFaul described him as "a big strong lad with a big heart" and said further that “the things I love about Billy is that he is direct” and “he gets a lot of efforts on goal”.

Billy said: “I’m a northern lad and, while other clubs down south were supposed to be interested in signing me, I’m delighted to be joining Newcastle”.

He made his debut on December 7th at Luton and scored his first goal three months and eleven games later. It hadn’t been the best start to his time on Tyneside, but he did score another six before the season ended, although a number of them were tap-ins.

Billy had some niggling injuries during the season and these continued into the 1986/87 campaign with minor thigh, knee and calf issues.

United made a very poor start to the season and with Whitehurst not scoring a single goal, he was dropped to the bench for the First Leg of the Second Round League Cup tie at Bradford. And the announcement that he was coming on for Ian Stewart was roundly booed by the travelling supporters. McFaul called it the “biggest disappointment since I took over”.

By the time of the return tie Whitehurst was back in the starting line-up. But when he was subbed - after his tenth blank of the season - he reacted to the fans' loud booing with sarcastic applause and a two-fingered gesture as he went down the tunnel.

Billy was disciplined and transfer-listed with McFaul stating: “I think the decision is in his best interests and those of the club.”

A couple of weeks later he moved to Oxford (who were in Division 1 that season) for an initial fee of £160,000 with an additional payment of £15,000 due after a set number of games.

Billy was a bit of a legend at Hull, but it is fair to say that he isn’t remembered with quite as much affection on Tyneside. As one fan said in a letter to the Sunday Sun: “A non-scoring Newcastle number nine is about as popular as a porcupine in a balloon factory”.