NUFC - 1970's Midfielders [Part 1]

Tantobie born Sunderland reserve who was one of three players signed by Joe Harvey in a desperate bid to stave off relegation. The ploy worked and the stocky midfielder remained an important part of the squad throughout the sixties.

By the seventies he had become surplus to requirements and played only once during 1970/71 before being sold to Southend.

Small and chunky Dane who joined United just in time to take part in the Fairs Cup win of 1969. He arrived via Morton thereby getting round the ban on signing players from foreign clubs. "Benny" was a tireless worker and team player and he served United well for three seasons.

Lost his place to Jimmy Smith during the 1970/71 season and moved on to Blackburn the following year.

Scotsman Gibb was a hard working box to box player who always put the team's needs before his own. He joined as a squad player but did so well that following his debut he played in 171 consecutive games (a club record)

But if you thought this would bring him favour with the Gallowgate regulars you would be wrong as he suffered at the hands of the boo boys who had him so upset that he once asked to be excused from home games.

In the end he stuck it out before he eventually moved to Sunderland at the age of 30.

Left-sided midfielder Hindson made his debut during the 1968/69 season having just turned 19. Despite some promising displays he rarely made it into the first team.

Played only two games in the first two campaigns of the decade before being allowed to leave for Luton

Tall and tricky, Jinky was one of the crowd's favourites during the early seventies but inconsistency and perceived laziness meant that he was often out of the first team picture.

The crowd loved his style and revelled in his nutmeg party piece but he often used to drive Harvey and Burkinshaw to distraction.

Had a darker side to his game which resulted in his record breaking 53 second sending off against Birmingham in 1972/73. Troubled by injuries throughout his stay on Tyneside a dodgy knee eventually brought a premature end to his career.

Originally signed as an attacker, Cass is the only player to feature in every season of the decade. Belfast born Tommy was converted into a portly playmaker with deceptively subtle skills.

Early problems with homesickness and weight limited his appearances at first but he established himself in the side during the 1973/74 season and was capped by his country.

He was one of the few players who stayed at the club following relegation and he remained until leaving for Burnley at the age of 29

Joe Harvey signed some great midfielders during his time on Tyneside and not only was Terry Hibbitt one of the best he was also one of the cheapest; costing only £30,000 when he was signed from Leeds. He is also a member of the exclusive set of players who have spent more than one period at the club.

He had a magic wand of a left-foot and was regarded as one of the best passers in the game; specialising in first-time balls over long distance. Although frail looking he was a tireless, worker whose non-stop scheming made United tick.

Full profile of the man with the talking left foot

The true testament to Tony Green's all to brief stay on Tyneside is the fact that most current supporters know his name even though he made less than 40 appearances and played his last game 25 years ago.

At a time when Joe Harvey made many great signings he regarded Green as his best even though his career was cruelly cut short by injury. Despite only joining at the end of October Tony was voted Player of the Season for 1971/72 after winning the Man of the Match award in two thirds of the matches in which he played.

Full profile of the little Green giant

Geordie Hodgson was unlucky that his time coincided with United having a glut of exceptionally talented midfielders. Despite showing excellent touch and skill he rarely player after making his debut at against Nottm Forest at the end of the 1971/72 season.

His only real run in the side came during the following season when he stood in for the injured Macdonald. Moved on to Mansfield when still only 21.

Joe Harvey rarely made a mistake in the transfer market but it's fair to say that the ginger headed Glaswegian was one of his less successful forays.

Reid was signed (at the age of 24) from Morton and got a number of games in his first season at the club whilst never really fully adapting to the English game

He was rarely seen after that and soon returned from whence he came

Belfast boy who signed for United as an 18 year old at the start of 1967. He played a couple of times at the end of the sixties before suffering a bad knee injury which sidelined him for a lengthy period

Re-appeared at the start of the 1972-73 season as a deputy for Tommy Gibb but was very rusty after his long lay off and he moved to Drogheda as player-manager at the start of the next campaign.

Another brilliant bargain basement buy from Harvey who moved quickly to sign the gangly 21 year old from Bury. He would later find fame and fortune on Merseyside before returning to Toon when the Keegan bandwagon got rolling

Had to wait until the end of the 1972/73 season to make his debut but fully established himself during the following campaign where he won rave reviews and a call up for England Under 23.

Clashed with Harvey at the beginning of 1974/75 leading to an acrimonious departure to Liverpool.

Dunston Hudson was an exceptionally gifted player who never reached his full potential during his Toon career. He became a star after he left; but only in the sub standard American League.

"Rocky" got his first taste of action when he came on as a sub against Stoke in November 1973 but despite some promising displays his lack of consistency held him back.

He appeared to have established himself in the side at the end of Gordon Lee's first season in charge, but at the start of 1976/77 he lost his place to Cassiddy and rarely played again before departing to the US of A.

Despite being inextricably linked with Gordon Lee's tenure, Nulty was brought to Tyneside by Joe Harvey in his last season in charge.

He struggled a bit at first but his hard working style was ideally suited to new manger Lee and he starred in the following two campaigns.

By 1976/77 he had dropped back into a sweeper role and he was one of the main protagonists in the player power period that resulted in Richard Dinnis being appointed manager.

His absence due to injury for much of the 1977/78 season was a significant factor in United's dramatic decline and when McGarry got his broom out Mr Lee was only too pleased to take him to Everton.

Terry Hibbitt's injury problems prompted Harvey to splash out on another cultured left-sided midfielder when he rescued the small, stocky Glaswegian from struggling Sheffield Wednesday.

Fitted in seamlessly and when Harvey was replaced by Lee it was Hibbitt who was viewed as dispensable. Craig was in brilliant form during the next two seasons and was called up by his country

The Dinnis debacle and the subsequent arguments over contracts had a dramatic effect on Craig who made it clear he wanted out. As a result, had to suffer the fans abuse before moving to Villa for what was a record sale for United.