Strange Happenings - Newcastle v West Ham [1970/71]

The game at home to The Hammers a week before the end of the 1970/71 season was an inauspicious match in an inauspicious season.

It was a poor end of the season affair with John Tudor putting United ahead after 38 minutes before Geoff Hurst equalised five minutes later.

The match put the supporters into a doze although a small minority roused themselves to barrack the returning Pop Robson who had departed SJP in controversial circumstances a couple of months earlier.

So, what makes this game so memorable? Well how about a couple of clues; it was a blustery Spring day and referee Ricky Nicholson from Manchester was a couple of follicles short of a barnet.

Not so proud of his balding pate, risky Ricky was wearing a detachable hair ornament. On a couple of occasions sudden gusts had almost separated him from his crowning glory and on each occasion only a "frantic snatch" kept it in place.

When it happened a third time The Man in Black took matters into his own hands - literally - by removing the aforesaid item and secreting it into his pocket.

Not surprisingly the previously morose crowd where now in a much finer fettle and when John McNamee was booked towards the end of the match the inevitable "keep your hair on ref!" emanated from the terrace wags.

The referee's wig woe may partly be explained by the fact that he'd been refereeing since 1469; according to the programme.

Needless to say it was a puntastic opportunity for the Sunday Sun who featured the event on the front page under the headline "Thatch of the Day" and followed up with "hairline decisions" and "bald statements". But then again, who are we to criticise such punditry.