1893/94 Season - February

The weather was fine but there was a strong wind which Graham chose to use to United's advantage in the first half. Both teams wore red shirts which caused some confusion, but it was a pacy and even first half. It looked like United had failed to make use of the breeze but Wallace (or perhaps Willis) scored seconds before the interval.

The second period saw United penned back in their own half but a combination of sound United defending and weak Valeires shooting kept United ahead. The defending was sometimes desperate and the ball was kicked out the playing area twice and one of the Novacastrians was cautioned for "roughness".

With five minuted left Wood equalised for Burslem.

Newcastle's next Cup opponents were also from the First Division: Bolton Wanderers, who were one of the League's founding members. The Trotters offered United a substantial amount of money to forfeit their home advantage.

The directorate turned down the move on the grounds that they thought they could make more money playing at SJ and would stand a much better chance of progressing.

Rebuffed, Wanderers lodged an official complaint against the United pitch and facilities. The FA set up an emergency committee who inspected the ground and overruled the Lancastrians.

Before the match local photographer Mr R Barras photographed the players in their resplendent red jerseys. Conditions were not good; there was a howling gale and the ground had been made slippery underfoot by way of precipitation. Despite the inclement weather the match attracted United's first five figure gate.

The toss went to the Trotters and they gained the wind and topographical advantage and despite a relatively even game it was they who scored twice. Agonisingly both goals conceded were "of the soft variety".

With the conditions reversed United threw everything they could at the visitors and ended up having three times as many shots. Crate headed one in but Bolton No. 1 Sutcliffe gave the best display of custodianship ever seen (thus far) at Gallowgate and prevented further scoring.

Despite the awful conditions the game was strong, fast and exciting and United emerged from it with a great deal of credit as well as a healthy boost to their bank balance. Bolton would go on to reach the Final where they were beaten by Notts County.

After the game the United committee made their own protest about Bolton but it "fell through".

Back in the League United still had a chance of reaching the play offs and the directors must have been heartened by the number of supporters who turned up for the game against Rotherham.

Almost continuous rain had left the pitch "in a most disgraceful state" and right up to kick-off the game was in doubt. In the end the ref ignored the players' protests and the match went ahead.

Despite playing uphill United had opened up a two goal lead at the interval through goals from Wallace and Law. During the break the supporters all moved round to the lower end of the field in anticipation of more home goals whilst the pitch now resembled a ploughed field. Play was even but it was United who doubled their lead though Graham and Quinn

During the latter stages the weather further deteriorated and the "crowd shouted to keep themselves warm" as the wind hurled sleet in their faces.

A week later the "weather presented its smiling face" for The Fisherman's first visit to Tyneside. Grimsby were two points and two places behind fourth placed United

Grimsby played with the wind at their backs and downhill the First Half and went in at the interval 1-0 ahead after Lowery first caught and then dropped a shot from Rose. It was against the run of play but despite a number of "warm" and "hot" shots erratic shooting at let the homesters down.

United dominated the second period and once again found the net four times. The victory left United five points behind 3rd placed Small Heath who had also played one game less.