1893/94 Season - December

Our next "prestige" friendly was an away visit the mighty Dipton Wanderers. Why, I sure don't know. First half goals from Crate and Quinn brought an unspectacular win in front of a less than stunning crowd. On the same day W. Macfarlane - an old West End player - lost his fingers in a factory accident.

In "exceptionally fine weather" Newcastle ended their miserable run of four games without a win with a comprehensive victory over The Lambs.

Thompson put United ahead in the first half as they played up the incline

The homesters continued to dominate in the second period. Crielly departed injured and it was reported that the United attack was "severe but useless". But Wallace bagged a brace towards the end of the game "admist loudly expressed enthusiasm" and United moved up to 11th

The trip to Birmingham marked the debut of Willis United's new signing from Shankhouse. More significantly the good attendance again Notts County meant that there was enough money available to allow the team to travel down the night before and stay in a hotel.

It certainly seemed to do the trick as United romped to a 4-1 victory over the second placed Heathens who had won seven of their previous eight home games.

Two of the directors - Black and Bell - also travelled down and they were so pleased that they bought all the players an (undisclosed) present. The victory took United up into 8th.

More unusual opposition at the end of the month. They were a well known army team stationed in York and all their members had previously played for Scottish clubs. A Crate brace and one from Willis were enough for United to emerge victorious.

It was an unchanged side that made the short journey to Teesside on Christmas Day to play "The Irons" who were in an even more perilous financial state than Newcastle

In a gale of wind and rain neither team played particularly well. Ironopolis went ahead in the first half through Grewar but Crate equalised in the second period.

United's tour moved to the Midlands on Boxing Day where they took on the Town Swifts. It was the Townies who showed first and they scored after only ten minutes following a "combined rush". But The Novocastrians stormed back with two goals from Wallace to lead at half time.

Walsall dominated the second forty-five but weak finishing and a brilliant display of custodianship from Lowery (including a penalty save) enabled United to record their third win in four games. So impressed were the locals with the visitors that at the end of the game "they broke onto the field of play and gave the United team an ovation".

The third game in three days marked the end of the Christmas "tour" and took United to Crewe to play the Alexandra.

It was a closely fought first half with some excellent play from both sides. The homesters took the lead after quarter of an hour, but once again United fought back to equalise.

Newcastle pressed well in the Second Half but couldn't grab a winner.

Back at home for the first time in three weeks, the visitors were third place Burslem Port Vale. As they - like United - played in red shirts, Newcastle decided to play in the "county colours kindly lent for the occasion". This was the first outing for the Black and White stripes.

Law replaced the injured Wallace and the first half was keenly contested. Vale went ahead before a Crielly shot deflected in for the equaliser. United were the better side in the Second Half and a goal from Crate gave them a deserved victory.

United climbed back to 7th.