Gola! Gola! Gola! - Highest Scoring Matches

Surprisingly there have only been seven competitive matches involving Newcastle that have had more than 10 goals in them and only one since the Second World War. However, the thirteen goals scored in the match against Newport has never been bettered in the top two divisions and has only been equalled once.

One match that deserves a mention is the Zenith Data Systems Cup match against Tranmere at Prenton Park in 1991/92. The match was one of the first matches televised live by Sky and ended in a 6-6 draw after extra time. Surprisingly United lost 2-3 in the penalty shoot out. Although the competition can just about qualify as competitive (both sides did have their best sides out) the match has been "disqualified" on the basis that half of the goals were scored during extra-time! But fear not this crazy match will be covered in it's own article in the very near future.

Newcastle 13 Newport 0 - Division 2 5/10/1946

Predictably this famous victory still holds a number of records As well as being the most goals in a match it is also Newcastle's biggest ever victory, the most goals scored by a United player in a match (6 by debutant Len Shackleton) and the only match when 3 hat-tricks have been scored by Magpies players.

"Shack" had been signed for a record £13,000 from Bradford and took his place in a forward line which also included Milburn, Wayman, Bentley and Pearson. Newport were struggling and had conceded 7 goals to WBA in their previous game; indeed they finished the season bottom after conceding an incredible 133 goals.

52,137 turned up at SJP and at half time the score was 7-0 with three goals from Wayman and four from Shackleton. Five of the goals came in a an amazing twelve minute spell including a 155 second hat-trick from Shackleton.

In the second half United maintained the pressure and were rewarded with further goals from Milburn (2), Wayman (1), Bentley (1) and Shackleton (2) although the final Shack goal was really an own-goal from Wookey.

Newcastle 7 Aston Villa 5 - Division 1 10/03/1928

Almost certainly one of the best ever games staged at SJP. A Gallagher inspired United had won the Championship in the previous season, but 1927/28 was to prove to be a disappointing year as they finished 9th (Villa finished one place higher). The offside law had been changed and there were goals aplenty both for and against; indeed this was one of five matches that season in which Newcastle conceded 5 goals.

Gallagher was in the middle of a two month suspension but within half an hour United were 4-0 ahead (Stan Seymour, Tom Mcdonald, Jock McCurley and Jonathon Wilkinson). But Villa hit back with goals from Cook and "Pongo" Waring.

In the first 30 minutes of the second half United again roared ahead with three more goals (McCurley and 2 more goals from Gallagher's stand-in Wilkinson). Then, despite being down to 10 men after having their 'keeper Olney carried off Villa recorded 3 goals in only 8 minutes.

Liverpool 6 Newcastle 5 - Division 1 4/12/1909

United had won the championship in the previous season whilst Liverpool had narrowly avoided relegation. In 1909/10 both teams were riding high; United would finish 4th whilst Liverpool would finish 2nd behind Aston Villa.

Before the game Liverpool were 5th and United was 6th, but the game would be even closer. Within 1 minute the score was 1-1 and by half-time four goals by Albert Shepherd and one by Howie against goals by had put United into a commanding 5-2 lead.

In the second period there was a dramatic turnaround in fortunes as the Scousers inspired by former United misfit Ronald Orrscored 4 goals without reply to make a sensational comeback.

Man Utd 4 Newcastle 7 - Division 1 13/09/1930

After narrowly averting relegation in 1929/30 United had sold superstar striker Gallagher to Chelsea and supporters wondered how they would survive without him. With only four goals in the first 4 games of the season their fears looked valid. But the trip to Old Trafford appeared to offer hope as they took on bottom placed Man United who would be relegated that season conceding 115 goals in the process.

Man United had already conceded 19 goals in their first four games and a crowd of only 7000 turned up. Despite taking an early lead the Red Devils found themselves 3-2 down at the interval.

With an hour gone the teams were level at 4-4, but in the last half an hour United grabbed three more to take the points.

United's goals were scored by Cape (3), Starling (2), Duncan Lindsay and JR Richardson while Man United's Tom Reid also grabbed a hat-trick. .

It was a high scoring day generally in Division 1 with 59 goals in the 11 matches played and every team scoring at least one.

Newcastle 4 Portsmouth 7 - Division 1 15/11/1930

Two months after the Manchester goalfest Newcastle were involved in another 11 goal thriller, but this time they were on the losing side. Portsmouth finished the season in 4th place while United once again narrowly averted relegation; finishing in 17th place. This was to be one of the highest scoring seasons in the club's history (3.93 goals per match).

When they played each other Portsmouth were riding high in 4th and United were 14th. United's home record was poor with 3 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats including heavy defeats against Liverpool (0-4) and Derby (2-5). Portsmouth meanwhile had an excellent away record of 5-2-2. At half time Pompey led 4-2. In the second period the scoring was very similar with United doubling their total and Portsmouth nearly doubling theirs.

In the next game at Roker Park shell-shocked and famously grotesque goalkeeper Albert McInroywas picking the ball out of the net five more times as United crashed to a 0-5 defeat against the Makems.

Newcastle 9 Liverpool 2 - Division 1 01/01/1934

1933/34 was a disastrous season with the club being relegated for the first time largely a result of their inability to keep a clean sheet (only 3 all season, 77 goals conceded) . However, they boasted 6 internationals, four of them forwards.

They won only 10 games all season, but over the Xmas period they recorded a couple of amazing victories over the two Merseyside clubs. They beat Everton (14th place finish) at Goodison Park on Boxing day then - after a 0-2 defeat at Fratton Park - they took on Liverpool in front of an 18,000 crowd at SJP.

Prior to this match United had won only 3 of their 11 home games - scoring 20 goals - and were in 17th. Liverpool were one place below which was also their finishing position . On a heavy pitch Newcastle took the lead twice (through Jimmy Richardson and Sam Weaver) but at half-time the score was level at 2-2 (Taylor and Alec Betton og).

There were no further goals in the first 15 minutes of the second period, but in the last half hour United hit an incredible 7 goals without reply. Richardson and Weaver completed their hat-tricks and Jimmy Boyd, Tommy Lang and Ronnie Williams all weighed in with one. This is the only time The Magpies have scored seven second half goals.

Chelsea 6 Newcastle 5 - Division 1 10/09/1958

The FA Cup winners of the early fifties had virtually all gone and their successors were finding it difficult to maintain the same standards. Chelsea, who had won the Championship in 1955 were also in a period of gradual decline.

Both teams had made a reasonable start to the season and in their previous home game Chelsea had beaten Wolves 6-2 whilst United had won their previous three games. The two sides played out one of the most exciting games in the club's history with the lead changing constantly and the winner coming with 5 minute left on the clock. The scoring went (Newcastle first) 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, (second half) 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6.

Newcastle scorers were Wright (2), White, Davies and Franks. It was a particularly bad day for stand-in keeper Stewart Mitchell who had also conceded 5 goals in the first game of the season.