Magpies and Trotters

Overall Record

Last Updated 10/01/2008

Follow the link for the full match record Newcastle v Bolton

Venue	TG	W	D	L	F	A
Home	56	36	7	13	113	56
Away	54	15	13	26	83	87
Neutral	1	1	0	0	2	1
Tot	111	52	20	39	198	144

Our overall record against Bolton is pretty decent; won 47% ,drawn 18% and lost 35%.

At the beginning of last century we had a bit of a hoodoo over The Wanderers with 13 wins in 16 games so that by 1912/13 we had won 68% of the games. The tables were turned during the fifties when Nat Lofthouse led The Wanderers attack and United went through a period of only two wins in 16 games.

Firsts

The first meeting took place in the FA Cup Second Round in February 1894 during our first season in the Football League. Bolton were an established first Division side at the time and attracted the first five figure crowd to St. Jims Park. Bolton won 2-1 with Tom Crate recording United's first goal of the fixture.

The first League meeting also took place on Tyneside in November 1898.United who were struggling to establish themselves in the top flight but pulled off an excellent 4-1 victory to record only their second win of the season.

Former Trotter Albert Shepherd recorded the first hat-trick in United's 4-0 away victory during the 1909/10 season. It was his first game against his former employers.

Trotter Trouncing and Pigs Ears

United have beaten Bolton by four goals on six separate occasions; twice away from home. The most recent match being the 4-0 away victory in 2001-02 where we were considerably helped by the fact that The Wanderers had to play the last half hour with ten men, not including a 'keeper.

Bolton have rarely beaten us by more than one goal; their best victory margin also being four goals in 1907/08 and 1980/81. The eighties reverse proved to be the death knell for Bill McGarry.

However, they did win 6-1 in a friendly game played in 1894.

More Trotter Trivia

In the 1890s the pitch at SJP was in a pretty dire state and visiting clubs often complained about it. When Wanderers arrived for the FA Cup tie in 1893/94 they took one look at it and made straight for the secretary's office. When they got no joy there they lodged an official complaint. As they went on to win they were probably relieved that their appeal was rejected.

When the clubs met in the FA Cup 4th Round at SJP half a century later a record Post War attendance of 67,596 turned up and were treated to a thrilling encounter which United edged 3-2. Unfortunately two fans died in the crush.

The United side of the early twenties had a lot of experienced players and the team that turned out at Burnden Park on April 18th 1924 was United's oldest ever team with an average age of 32 years and 193 days.

Signings

John McNee - 09/1894

United's first signing from The Trotters, the experienced but diminutive Scotsman arrived on Tyneside after a five year stay in Lancashire. An inside-forward, he stayed only a year before dropping into non-league football[App 23 - Gls 4].

Albert Shepherd - 11/1908 - £850

One of United's earliest heroes centre-forward Shepherd was an England International and had scored 90 goals in 123 games for Bolton. Small at only 5' 8" Shepherd lost two seasons to injury but still managed to be top scorer four times. Has the third best strike rate in United's history behind Hughie Gallagher and Andy Cole. [App 123 - Gls 93]

Ron McGarry - 12/1962 - £17,500

Following in Albert's footsteps over a half a century later was another small, bustling centre-forward who enjoyed huge popularity on The Toon. "Cassius" was top scorer in United's promotion season of 1964-65 but stuggled to make an impact in the top flight and was allowed to leave for Barrow [App 129/3 - Gls 46]

Wyn Davies - 10/1966 - £60,000

Another centre-forward; "The Mighty Wyn" took a long time coming but a record fee and a quick call home eventually secured the services of the talismanic taffy. Spent five seasons on Tyneside; terrorising defences, especially those of a continental disposition [App 216 - Gls 53]

Sales

Andrew Gardner - 05/1903

Scottish left-back who only made a handful of appearances during the 1902-03 season [App 10 - Gls 3]

Joseph McClarence - 03/1908 - £350

Reserve centre-forward who filled in admirably when called up for the first team [App 32 - Gls 13]

Alan Gowling - 03/1978 - £120,000

Suffered for being Gordon Lee's favourite and from resembling a baby giraffe whilst playing but had a decent goalscoring ratio. At the centre of the player-power tussle of 1977 he left for Bolton within a couple of months of Dinnis being sacked. It was a record fee for The Wanderers and the gangly graduate got some revenge by scoring a hat-trick in the 4-0 thrashing of 1980/81.[App 122/1 - Gls 52]

Alan Thompson - 07/1993 - £250,000

One of many local youngsters blooded by Ardilles left-back Thompson found it difficult to break-in to the side when Keegan took over. Scored Bolton's first goal at The Reebok. [App 17/3 - Gls 0]

Scott Sellars - 12/1995 - £750,000

Signed by Keegan to maintain United's promotion push during the 1992-93 season "Salty" became a great crowd favourite. A bad injury followed by the arrival of Monsuir Ginola saw him become surplus to requirements. [App 69/6 - Gls 8]

Robbie Elliot - 07/1997 - £3,500,000

Left-back Elliot never really established himself on Tyneside and gained his best run of matches in the season before he was sold when Dalglish gave up on Ginola. Amazingly, was Bolton's record signing at the time. Since returned after becoming unattached. [App 147/20 - Gls 12]

Peter Beardsley - 08/1997 - £450,000

No longer guaranteed a first-team place on Tyneside one of United's all-time greats moved to Burnden Park in 1997 but couldn't stop The Wanderers being relegated. [App 322/4 - Gls 119]

Gary Speed - 07/2004 - £750,000

After a difficult start his hard-working displays and crucial goals won the fans over, sorely missed since he left [App 276/9 - Gls 40]