NUFC - 1970's Full Backs

Popular Irishman who stayed at the club throughout his sixteen year professional career; he is one of the few members of the exclusive 400 plus club

During the late sixties he became recognised as one of the best full-backs in the game and won 25 caps for his country.

An intelligent and composed defender he was also the perfect sportsmen with a temperament to match. He was dogged by injuries from the 1973/74 season onwards and unluckily missed out on both United's Wembley appearances.

He was awarded a well deserved testimonial in 1975 and finally retired through injury in 1978; his time at the club almost spanning our time in the top division.

Craig and Clark were United's full-back pairing for 10 years and clocked up more than 900 games between them.

Frank made 457 League and Cup appearances; a figure no other post war player can match. Solid and consistent rather than flashy, Frank was not always a favourite of the crowd but the other players recognised his full worth.

A shock departure on a free when still only 31 he went on to enjoy a trophy laden end to his career at Nottingham Forest.

Flinthill full-back who was an England Youth international and perennial understudy to David Craig. A consistent performer, he never let the side down on the occasions he was called upon.

1970/71 proved to be his last season at the club and ironically he had a decent run of 11 consecutive games at the end of the season

He would make a shock return at the end of his career when he joined the Keegan bandwagon in 1982.

Bulky Burradon born left-back whose Tyneside career was almost a mirror image of John Craggs.

He joined as a junior and stayed at the club for almost 10 years but he only played an average of six senior games a season. This was partially due to a number of injuries but was mainly a result of the consistency and longevity of Clarky

He rarely appeared during the seventies and eventually decided a transfer away was necessary. A move to Second Division Sunderland was obviously a downward step but he'd won an FA Cup Winners medal within a couple of months.

Fishburn born Nattrass was one of the classiest full backs to play for the club; Joe Harvey referred to him as his Paul Madeley (the so called "Rolls Royce" of footballers).

A cool, classy player Nattrass looked equally at home as a full-back, centre-back or ball winning midfielder.

He made his first appearances in the 1970/71 season and for the next eight seasons he was probably the most consistent performer we had.

Newcastle born Ray Ellison was one of a number of horizontally unchallenged full-backs that turned up at SJP in the early seventies. He played 5 consecutive League games for Newcastle (all lost) during the early part of 1971/72 and never played again.

Such excellent form tempted Bob Stokoe to take him to Roker Park for the princely sum of £10,000 in March 1973. A year and 2 games later he was shipped out to Torquay on a free.

Keith was older, smaller and curlier than his brother Alan. He was also nowhere near as good a player

Therefore his only ever game was the away match against Nottingham Forest in 1972. He had just turned 20 and he would be sold to Bury before he reached 21. His fee was roughly 1/100 of his siblings transfer to Liverpool.

Makem who made his first appearances at the end of the 1972/73 season but really came to prominence during the following campaign.

He was a swashbuckling back who tackled tough and loved to make barn storming runs up the wing. A rasping shot was the icing on the cake.

Became the regular left-back during the 1974/75 season following Clark's departure and was one of United's best players over the next four seasons. Recognised as one of the brightest prospects in the game he was capped at U23 and "B" level. Only injury stopped him making the full England squad on one occasion.

Relegation and the abrasive managerial style of Bill McGarry convinced AK that he needed to move on; he even grew a beard to increase his chances of a quick departure.

Born in Bishop Auckland Crosson was one of a number of powerfully built young full-backs who made it through to the first team during the decade. He was one of the many who failed to make the grade and he was allowed to move on to Darlington

He made his debut at Old Trafford at the end of the 1973/74 season following David Craig's injury and made all of his appearances but one in that campaign.

After turning pro in the first month of 1974, Bishop Auckland lad Barker made his debut later that season against West Ham at the age of 19. In the next match he played in an injury hit United side that lost 5-4 at Ipswich at that was the last we saw of Micky for a couple of years.

He walked out on the club after a dispute over his wages but returned and had a good run in the side when Bill McGarry took over in the 1977/78 season.

Barker could bite in the tackle but was allowed to leave for Gillingham in the following campaign.

Diminutive (5' 7") Scotsman who looked as though he could go to the very top of his profession but whose career was decimated by injuries.

After joining as an apprentice Kelly made his debut at the end of 1974 having just turned 18. It would be three years before he returned to the first team but at the start of the 1978/79 season he was installed as first choice right-back..

A cruciate ligament injury sustained against Luton in November ruled him out for the next 18 months and he would not return again until the next decade was upon us. But he never fully recovered and was forced to retire at the age of 24

Bomber Blackhall was born in Ashington and turned pro at the start of the 1974/75 season; making his debut in a 3-0 defeat at Highbury towards the end of the season.

With Nattrass in control of his favoured right-back slot he often had to show his versatility by appearing in a holding midfield role. As a result he never really established himself and was part of the Summer '78 cull.

Derby born Gorry was 21 when Gordon Lee added him to his squad in 1976.

United didn't get value for money however as he only made a single appearance when he replaced the injured Blackley in a 4-0 walloping at Maine Road in December 1977 as United slid towards the Second Division.

He had a spell on loan at Stockport before moving to Hartlepool in the summer.

Born in Haltwhistle left-back Keith bore an uncanny resemblance to Alan Kenneddy; unfortunately the similarity didn't stretch as far as their playing ability.

As a result he only made one substitute appearance in his three year stay at the club and he moved into non-league football at the start of the eighties.

Bill McGarry turned to some solid pros when he started to rebuild United during 1978. Lanarkshire lad Brownlie fitted the bill perfectly; a Scottish international with a vast amount of experience.

He started out on the left side following the departure of Alan Kenneddy but soon swopped sides to his preferred right. He remained first choice for the next four seasons although a serious injury ruled him out for a number of months.

He was a quality player in a relatively poor side and his tough tackling and surging runs established him as a crowd favourite. Was allowed to leave just before KK arrived

The transfer fee paid for Davies in June 1979 [£175,000] was only £25,000 short of United's record at the time. It was a lot of money for an inexperienced youngster who had only played 34 first class games.

A left-back of the attacking variety, he never really impressed and Cox allowed him to leave on a free. Lets face it, how hard can a defender be with a middle name of Claude?

Sunderland born Kenneth started life as a striker, but when he established himself in the side in 1978/79 it was as Alan Kenneddy's replacement.

He lost his place to Ian Davies in the following season and would move towards the centre of the defence as the eighties approached. With United awash with central defenders he was deemed surplus to requirements and allowed to leave for Darlington.