NUFC - 1960's Attackers

Ivor Allchurch - [1958 - 1962] - 154 / 0 - 51

Although now in his 30's "the golden boy of soccer" was still a class act. For a variety of personal and professional reasons Welshman Ivor was attempting to engineer a return back home but he was "persuaded" to stay and continued to give his all in a struggling team. He was made captain for the 1960/61 season and became the club's highest paid player when the maximum wage was abolished. Finally got his wish when he moved to cardiff in August 1962

Len White - [1953 - 1962] - 270 / 0 - 153

Len White (now 30) was still at the top of his game at the start of the decade and during 1960/61 he was on on target to surpass Hughie Gallaghers record for most goals in a season (having scored 28 in 33) when a crude tackle from Dave McKay prematurely ended his campaign.

Returned during 1961/62 but was never the same again and he left in February.

* John McGuigan - [1958 - 1962] - 55 / 0 - 17

Mcguigan appeared as a centre-forward inside-forward and left winger during 1960/61 but never made any of the positions his own.

He was exchanged with Scunthorpe's Barrie Thomas at the start of 1962.

The scotsman (now at Southampton) would later state how he and his family were much happier down South and that it "was not too pleasant living up there".

Charlie Woods - [1959 - 1962] - 30 / 0 - 10

Little Charlie had the unenviable task of replacing George Eastham at inside-right.

A decent shot provided an acceptable return but after appearing in half the games during 1960/61 he found himself out of favour during the following season and left for Bournmouth in November 1962.

James Harrower - [1961 - 1962] 6 / 0 - 0

It took a considerable sum of £15,000 to bring scots inside right James Harrower to Tyneside from Liverpool in March of the relegation campaign of 1960/61

He was rarely used (it is thought that Stan Seymour had bought him against manager Mitten's wishes) and was allowed to leave for Falkirk at a £12,000 loss 10 months later having played only six games.

Robert Gilfillan - [1959 - 1961] 7 / 0 - 2

Slight scotsman who was signed as a squad player but never really had the presence to become any more than a bit part player

Only got 2 games in 1960/61 and scored twice in the 7-2 demolition of Fulham. He returned to Scotland in January

James Gibson - [1959 - 1961] 2 / 0 - 1

Six foot Irishman Gibson was signed from Linfield on the recommendation of Jackie Milburn

A "Billy Whitehurst" style player he got one game in 1960/61 and scored against Nottingham Forest in a 2-0 victory before being dispatched to Cambridge at the end of the season.

Ken Leek - [1961 - 1961] 14 / 0 - 6

Welsh centre-forward Leek was another expensive signing (£25,000 from Leicester) who failed to settle on Tyneside.

Signed at the end of the 1960/61 relegation season Mitten looked to build a team to bounce straight back to Division 1 . He played fourteen games and scored half a dozen goals before moving to Birmingham in November. At least united only made a £2,000 loss on this one.

Ken Hale - [1956 - 1962] 35 / 0 - 16

Blyth born Hale proved to be an able reserve inside-forward with a very decent goals per game ratio.

He never got a run in the side and was not part of Joe Harvey's future blueprint. Ken moved to Coventry in December 1962 for £10,000

Barrie Thomas - [1962 - 1964] 78 / 0 - 50

It took a record fee of £45,000 to secure the services of free-scoring centre-forward Thomas and he more than lived up to the hype with a tremendous 65% strike-rate during his three year stay on Tyneside.

Missed as many as he scored but he was a pedigree poacher who relied on sharpness rather than subtle skills.

Harvey surprisingly released him (when he was only 27) during November of the promotion season despite the fact that he had been top scorer in both the previous seasons.

James Kerray - [1962 - 1963] 40 / 0 - 10

Fiery Scotsman who was equally at home in either inside forward position Kerray became the eighth player to be tried in the No. 8 shirt in 1961/62 as the search continued for a successor to Eastham .

Harvey switched him to the left in the following campain before selling him on to Dunfermiline..

Dave Hilley - [1962 - 1967] 209 / 0 - 33

Harvey's first signing Dave Hilley had the unenviable task of trying to replace Ivor Allchurch

After a shaky start he settled in well and was a regular for 5 seasons playing in both inside forward positions and on both flanks.

An excellent ball playing schemer he served the club well before leaving at the end of 1967

Ron McGarry - [1962 - 1967] 129/3 - 46

Stocky and strong, a defender would always know he had had a game after sparring with "Cassius" McGarry

Playing as either an inside-forward or centre-forward he maintained a decent goal ratio as The Magpies forced their way to promotion.

Struggled to score as freely in the top flight and the arrival of the Mighty Wyn made him surplus to requirements.

Willie Penman - [1963 - 1966] 64 / 1 - 18

Scotsman who replaced Kerray at inside-left during the 1962/63 season.

A regular in the side during the next three campaigns he was another player who struggled to make the step-up when United got into the First Division and he moved on at the start of the 1966/67 season.

George Watkin - [1962 - 1963] 1 / 0 - 0

Chopwell was a champion in the reserves and juniors but only got one game in the first team when he deputised for Thomas in an away match at Bury on 1st December 1962 .

The match ended goalless and six footer Watkin (a raw 17-year old at the time) wasn't given a look in by United old boy Stokoe and he left for Kings Lynn at the end of the season

Bobby Cummings - [1963- 1965] 44 / 1 - 14

Ashington born centre-forward Cummings didn't get a game during his first spell at the club in the mid fifties but was straight in the team when he was sre-signed in October 1963

He stayed at the club for a couple of years sharing ther No 9 shirt with Thomas and McGarry before being dispensed with in United's first year back in the top flight.

Alan Kirkman - [1963 - 1963] 5 / 0 - 1

Inside-left Kirkman was an "emergency" signing in September 1963 for £12,300 but 3 months later he was sold to Scunthorpe thus enduring one of the shortest ever careers on Tyneside.

His last game was the 2-3 defeat at home to Northampton and one reporter summed up United's defeat by stating "the lack of class is further emphasised when Alan Kirkman is considered" (for the team).

Les O'Neill - [1961 - 1965] 1 / 0 - 0

Little Les was part of United's FA Youth Cup winning side where he appeared as a speedy left-winger.

He only got one chance in the first team (aged 19) as an inside-left in the 5-2 defeat at Portsmouth on the 19th October 1963.

Les struggled to get into the game with United were reduced to 10 men early on following an injury to Burton then he got a knock on the head in the second half leaving him with double vision.

Albert Bennett - [1965 - 1969] 89 / 1 - 23

"Ankles" as he became known due to ain injury problem he had in his latter days on Tyneside was signed following United's promotion.

Tall and lanky he was a regular at inside-right but the goals started to dry up until his partnership with Davies blossomed in 1967/68.

Struck down by injury at the start of 1968 and during his rehabilitation Bryan Robson had replaced him and he rarely featured again.

Wyn Davies - [1966 - 1971] 216 / 0 - 53

"The Mighty Wyn" was never a prolific scorer during his time on the Toon but his aeriel power provided numerous chances for others and he formed an excellent partnership with "Pop" Robson

Certainly the johnny foreigners had no answer to the aerial aggression of "Wyn the Leap" and his mere presence in the forward line often scared them shotless

Struggled more and more to score goals domestically and when Supermac arrived he was a reluctant departee.

Alan Duffy - [1966 - 1970] 2 / 2 - 0

At only 5' 6" Duffy was on the small side for an attacker and this was a major factor in curbing his Tyneside career .

He made his debut (aged 18) at Old Trafford in October 1968 and got a couple more chances in the following season before being allowed to leave for Brighton at the start of 1970.

Arthur Horsfield - [1969 - 1969] 8 / 2 - 3

Geordie Arthur was aged 22 when he was signed from Middlesbrough to provide cover during the latter stages of United's Fairs Cup campaign of 1968/69.

Had the pleasure of scoring the winner in 3 of the games he played but he was still sold at the end of the season.