Toonarama - Top Toon Scorers

Hughie calls the Shots

The chart below shows the all-time best strike-rates (for all players who have made at least 20 appearances; Hughie Gallagher (82% - 143/174), Andy Cole (81% - 68/84), Albert Shepherd (75% - 92/123), Charlie Wayman (68% - 36/53), Jack Smith (65% - 73/112), Barrie Thomas (64% - 50/78), Les Ferdinand (60% - 50/83) and Bill Appleyard (60% - 87/145)

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Taking the Average

What the figures do not take into account is the variations in the average number of goals per match which is in turn a fair reflection on how easy it is to score. Gallagher for instance joined the club just as the offside law was being changed when there was a massive upsurge in the number of goals scored. In Gallagher's time at the club the average number of goals scored per game was 3.59 compared with an average number of goals per game in recent years of 2.60.

If the figures are adjusted to take this into effect (strike-rate/average goals per game expressed as a percentage; multiplied by 3 to retain the numeric range) the effect is quite considerable. The main differences are: Andrew Cole's and les Ferdinand'sachievements in their time on Tyneside are highlighted and Supermac (6th with a 121/228 return) comes into the reckoning.

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