NUFC - 1926/27 Squad

William Wilson [Age 26] Edinburgh [App:45 Gls: 0]

Scotsman who had joined United in September of the previous campaign and despite conceding seven goals on his debut he played in every match in his first two years at the club including every game of the Championship season

United's dominance meant he was occasionally under employed but he kept a good goal and exhibited excellent handling and fine positional sense. He excelled at close-range parries and exhibited improved judgement on crosses.

Alf Maitland [Age 30] Edinburgh [App:39 Gls: 0]

Maitland had covered Hudspeth in the left-back slot since his arrival in October 1924 (making only 16 appearances). But in 1926/27 he switched flanks, replaced Chandler and kept his place in the team for the remainder of the campaign.

He struggled to find his feet at first and his distribution was initially poor but he tackled smartly and recovered quickly. He tended to dally on the ball sometimes which brought forth some comment from the terraces.

But he was also decisive and robust and became renowned for his spectacular last ditch clearances. Formed an effective and contrasting combination with the calmer more assured Hudspeth.

Frank Hudspeth [Age 36] Percy Main [App:45 Gls: 3]

One of United's true greats; he spent 19 seasons at the club and no outfield player has played more games in the club's history. Was skipper during the previous three campaigns and still carried out the role when Gallagher was missing.

Many wondered whether he still had the legs to play in the First Division at the age of 36 but "old surefoot" did not miss a single game and was regularly United's best back.

He was the club's penalty taker at the time and two of his three goals came from the spot.

Roddie McKenzie [Age 25] Inverness [App:41 Gls: 2]

McKenzie arrived at the club in September 1922 and stayed for 12 seasons during which time he made over 250 appearances.

He was a tenacious hard working right-half who was keen and quick in the tackle. He also was a "wizard of ball control" but had a tendency to overdo the fancy footwork at times, inviting disaster and the wrath of the terraces. Roddie's brilliant form that season attracted the interest of the Scottish selectors

Charlie Spencer [Age 26] Washington [App:38 Gls: 0]

Joined United from non-league football in October 1921 as a half-back but was converted into a centre-half following the change in the offside law as United became the first team to use a "third back formation"

A consistent performer who was particularly impressive in intercepting and breaking-up enemy forays. He had in the past been criticised for lacking aggression but after replacing the dropped Mooney he gradually grew in stature and retained his place for the rest of the campaign.

William Gibson [Age 28] Larkhall [App:35 Gls: 0]

Right-half Gibson joined the club from Ayr United in November 1923. He established himself in the side immediately and was the first choice during the campaign.

Only 5' 8", despite the fact that he appears to achieves gigantic proportions on the cigarette card. He was a classy player who excelled at sharp tackling and interceptions and was exemplary in his distribution.

He was in brilliant form at the start of the campaign and the triangular work of Gibson, McDonald and Seymour was a key feature of United's play.

Tom Urwin [Age 30] Haswell [App:42 Gls: 5]

Tiny tot from makemland who is one of the select band of players to have played for all the "big 3" North-East clubs. He joined United in August 1924 from Boro and joined Sunderland six years later.

Nippy and clever he played on both flanks for United but spent most of his time on the right and that is where he played throughout this campaign. Produced consistently good performances although was accused on occasion of being shot-shy.

Bob McKay [Age 26] Glasgow [App:28 Gls: 11

Robert McKay was regarded as one of the best players in Scotland and it took a £2,750 fee to rise him from Glasgow Rangers in November 1926. When he arrived at the end of October United were 8th but he provided the "missing link" in the forward line.

He scored a hat-trick on his debut and went on to notch goals on a regular basis but it was not really his goalscoring that set him apart. It was his "dainty footcraft" that allowed him to beat his man with ease and his ability to coax rather than pass smooth, glided balls that were a gift for his fellow attackers.

Hughie Gallagher [Age 23] Bellshill [App:41 Gls: 39]

United's directors shocked the footballing world when they made the young, fiery, little Scotsman their captain in place of the experienced Hudspeth. It was a controversial move but wee Hughie led us to the Championship

He scored four goals on the opening day and scored an average of a goal a game throughout the season including five hat-tricks. He would have probably scored many more if he had not missed a number of games through international duty.

Gallagher is recognised as one of the greatest players of all time and during this campaign he was in blistering form. Given just the slightest opening he could shoot with accuracy and power from any angle.

But he wasn't just a finisher, his "fascinating footwork" and "whimsical moves" enabled him to take on defenders in mazy dribbles and he also had an awareness of players around him which made him an ace provider as well as scorer.

He was only 5' 6" and defenders often resorted to foul means to try and stop him and Hughie often ended up in trouble as he usually sought to get his own retribution.

Tom McDonald [Age 31] Inverness [App:44 Gls: 23]

A class act, Tom combined a decent goalscoring ratio with brilliant and unselfish link up play. He excelled in providing sharp incisive through balls and sweeping passes out to the flanks.

At 5' 8" he was one of United's taller forwards that season and his left side link up with Seymour and Gibson was provided a constant supply of ammunition to Gallagher whilst Seymour and McDonald both weighed in with a fair share of goals.

Stan Seymour [Age 33] Kelloe [App:41 Gls: 39]

Seymour would later become manager and director and earn the epithet Mr Newcastle; at this time he was nearing the end of his playing career

He maintained an excellent level of performance throughout the campaign and achieved a highly impressive strike rate of just under 50%

Jim Park [Age 23] Bellshill [App:5 Gls: 0]

Park was given limited opportunity but did a sound job whenever he was called on to fill in for Spencer

Tom Curry [Age 32] South Shields [App:5 Gls: 0]

Wing half Curry had been at the club since 1912, but the excellent form of United's half-back line meant he rarely got a look in 1926/27. Whenever he did play he performed excellently as was as good as any of the half-backs on view.

James Boyd [Age 19] Glasgow [App:2 Gls: 0]

Glasgow born Boyd was a hard running outside right who had been signed during the previous campaign. The teenager made his debut in the home game against Cardiff and played against Leicester too.

It was noted that he did not reach his true form and it was not until later in his career that he established himself on Tyneside

James Low [Age 32] Kilbirnie [App:2 Gls: 1]

Scotsman who had lost the outside right shirt to Urwin a while back and was now nearing the end of his career. Scored United's last goal of the season.

Edward Mooney [Age 29] Walker [App:3 Gls: 0]

Half back Mooney joined the club just after the war but had been out through injury since December 1925. Acted as "pivot" for the first three games of the season but struggled and was dropped and replaced by Spencer. He left for Hull at the end of the season.

Albert Chandler [Age 29] Carlisle [App:4 Gls: 0]

Right-back Chandler had served Derby well for six years before joining United at the end of the 1924/25 season.

He struggled to find his form in the early weeks of the season and lost his place in the side to Maitland in mid September before being sold to Sheffield United.

John Clark [Age 23] Newburn [App:17 Gls: 4]

At six foot and over 14 stone inside right John Clark was a giant amongst United's diminutive forward line.

He was generally only used as a back up to the main strikers but he held down a first team place for the first couple of months before McKay's arrival.

Strong and hard working with a decent shot but his lack of pace and his clumsiness of touch meant he never really fitted into United's sharp passing attack.

But he always tried his best and kept it simple and as a result never let the team down when called into action.

Billy Hampson [Age 42] Radcliffe [App:2 Gls: 0]

The "ancient" Hampson was in his thirteenth and last season for the club; he deputised for Maitland during a couple of games in April.

Joe Harris [Age 30] Glasgow [App: 9 Gls: 0]

Another experienced wing-half who performed excellently whenever he was called up to the first team. A Scottish international he played a simple, hard game and was an excellent ball winner.

James Loughlin [Age 21] Darlington [App:4 Gls: 0]

Turned out at both centre-forward and inside forward and was always plucky in his play. Let down by a lack of ball control and the fact that he was "overweighted". He was sold to West Ham at the end of the season.