The Fans 1947/48

The Post War attendance boom showed no sign of waning as the total attendances for League games climbed to over 40 million.

And for the second year running the best supported team in the land was Newcastle with an average attendance of 56,299 (a record at the time).

Even this does not tell the full story as 44,840 turned up for the friendly verses Liverpool and the reserves averaged almost 13,000 a match.

There were five 60,000+ gates and SJP was creaking at the seams Newcastle's Lord Mayor obviously caught up in the excitement suggested a new "super stadium" should be built on the Town Moor.

The departure of Len Shackleton was mourned by many and workers at the Vickers factory even mounted a "Keep Shack" campaign.

The BBC were still trying to persuade the authorities to allow live televising of games but although the FA were in favour The Football league did not want to know.

Indeed The Beeb wanted to televise United's FA Cup 3rd Round tie with Charlton but under pressure from th League Charlton refused to accept it.