1947-48 Links
Season Review 1947/48 [Part 1]
August
The season got off to a good start with two winds in two games.
23rd August - Div 2 - Plymouth [H] - Won 6-1 [52,642]
Team: Fairbrother; Craig, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Woodburn; Walker, Bentley, Wayman, Shackleton, Pearson
Scorers: Bentley, Pearson, Shackleton 2, Walker, Wayman
United got off to a dream start, winning 6-1 with all the attackers scoring (Shackleton getting a brace) and five of the goals coming in the second half.
Debutant Jack Fairbrother had a very quiet debut.
27th August - Div 2 - Chesterfield [A] - Won 1-0 [15,000]
Team: Fairbrother; Craig, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Woodburn; Milburn, Bentley, Wayman, Shackleton, Pearson
Scorers: Wayman
Milburn replaced the injured Walker for the trip to Chesterfield where a single second-half goal from Wayman secured a narrow and rather lucky victory in a match where both sets of forwards struggled against determined defences.
30th August - Div 2 - Luton [A] - Lost 1-2 [ 26,000]
Fairbrother; Craig, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Woodburn; Milburn, Bentley, Wayman, Shackleton, Pearson
Scorers: Bentley
A trip to Luton saw a return home for George Martin who was presented with a gold watch for his services to the club.
But there were to be no more gifts as a goal from Bentley was not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat in a game when the much vaunted forward line again misfired and received heavy criticism for their lack of fight.
September
September was a busy month with no less than seven games in twenty four days. Three wins , two draws and two defeats was not a disastrous return and they moved up to 5th. However, United were struggling to combine their many talented individuals into a team. In an effort to find the right blend the team was chopped and changed with 20 different players being used.
3rd September - Div 2 - Chesterfield [H] - Lost 2-3 [58,334]
Team: Fairbrother; Craig, Graham; Dodgin, Brennan, Woodburn; Milburn, Bentley, Wayman, Shackleton, Pearson
Scorers: Bentley, Milburn
An injury to Harvey allowed Dodgin to make his debut in the return fixture with Chesterfield. Goals from Bentley and Milburn gave United an early two goal lead, but disastrously they then conceded three against a side that had thus far failed to score.
Manager Martin met the directors for a crisis meeting immediately after the match and the decision was taken to radically overhaul the team for the next game against Brentford.
6th September - Div 2 - Brentford [H] - Won 1-0 [ 56,622]
Team: Fairbrother; Cowell, Corbett; Fraser, Brennan, Woodburn; Milburn, Bentley, Stobbart, Taylor, Pearson
Scorers: Woodburn
Craig, Graham, Dodgin and Wayman were all dropped whilst Taylor and Corbett replaced the injured Shackleton and Graham
It was another uninspiring performance against the struggling Londoners and United only won when a disastrous mistake by the visitors allowed Woodburn to net with only 2 minutes left on the clock.
10th September - Div 2 - Birmingham [a] - Drew 0-0 [ 51,704 ]
Team: Fairbrother; Cowell, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Woodburn; Walker, Bentley, Donaldson, Taylor, Hair
Once again the side saw half a dozen changes
It was a game played at a cracking pace and in a much better performance United battled well for a point.
13th September - Div 2 - Leicester [a] - Drew 2-2 [35,472]
Team: Fairbrother; Cowell, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Woodburn; Walker, Bentley, Donaldson, Shackleton, Hair
Scorers: Donaldson, Shackleton
Shackleton was back for the trip to Leicester, but once again United threw away a two goal lead. Donaldson and Shackleton put United ahead but the scores were level by half-time and there were no further goals
17th September - Div 2 - Birmingham [H ] - Won 1-0 [ 51,704 ]
Team: Garbutt; Cowell, Corbett; Harvey, Brennan, Woodburn; Milburn, Bentley, Wayman, Shackleton, Hair
Scorers: Hair
Birmingham were the next visitors to Tyneside and keeper Garbutt was handed his first start of the season
The returning custodian had a great game and his heroics plus Hair's goal earned United the two points in a game where United's forwards still flattered to deceive.
2nd September - Div 2 - Leeds [H ] - Won 4-2 [52,275]
Team: Garbutt; Cowell, Corbett; Harvey, Brennan, Woodburn; Milburn, Bentley, Stobbart, Shackleton, Hair
Scorers: Hair, Shackleton 2, Stobbart
Leeds were the visitors three days later and United won 4-2 as this fine set of individuals seemed at last to be starting to gel as a team.
27th September - Div 2 - Fulham [a] - Lost 0-3 [41,500 ]
Team: Garbutt; Cowell, Corbett; Harvey, Brennan, Woodburn; Milburn, Bentley, Stobbart, Shackleton, Hair
The last match of the month at Fulham saw the same eleven retained for the first time, but it was a complete disaster.
The Magpies conceded a goal after only 10 minutes and never recovered. The fact that they only lost 3-0 in the end was a result of Garbutt's brilliance and the profligacy of the Fulham forwards.
A contemporary report called it "too bad to be true" and stated it was time to "cut out the fancy work and go for the ball for the full 90 minutes"
Newcastle finished the month in 5th.
October
During the tenth month things started to improve; at least as far as results were concerned as United won three and drew one.
Not everything was going to plan though as Fairbrother and Pearson asked to join Dodgin on the transfer list and Bentley was allowed a "rest" ; Clearly there was significant unrest amongst the players. Another crisis meeting was held and the club stated that unhappy players would not be retained. Walker also broke his arm.
4th October - Div 2 - Coventry [ H] - Drew 0-0 [ 55,569]
Team: Garbutt; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Milburn, Bentley, Wayman, Shackleton, Hair
Martin shuffled his pack again for the home game with Coventry with a significant revamp of the defence.
He was rewarded with a much better performance and only the heroics of Sky Blues 'keeper Wood keeping the scores blank. This was Wayman's last game for the club.
11th October - Div 2 - West Ham [ H] - Won 1-0 [55,767]
Team: Garbutt; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Walker, Milburn, Donaldson, Shackleton, Pearson
Scorers: Milburn
A laboured single goal victory over West Ham followed, Milburn (who was moved from the wing to centre-forward during the course of the game) netting only his second goal of the season.
A couple of days later the club announced that Tommy Pearson, Charlie Wayman (who had been dropped for the game), Norman Dodgin and Charlie Crowe had all been put on the transfer list at their own request.
"We are determined to get harmony in the club" pledged manager Martin, "and people not content will not be retained"
18th October - Div 1 - Bury [a ] - Won 5-3 [23,827]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Walker, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson
Scorers: Milburn 3, Shackleton, og
This match has gone down in folklore as the day a legend was born as Martin persuaded Milburn that he could take over at centre-forward from Wayman. Jackie was reluctant but fate was on his side.
Within minutes of the start Bury were reduced to ten men and lost their 'keeper when Bradshaw broke his leg.
Despite a brave performance from the Lancastrians Pearson and Shackleton had the space to display their vast repertoire of skills and Milburn grabbed a hat-trick.
25th October - Div 1 - Southampton [ H] - Won 5-0 [ 57,184]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Walker, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson
Scorers: Milburn, Pearson, Stobbart, Walker 2
A week later and United went nap again with a 5-0 crushing of Southampton. The Magpies moved up to 3rd place.
November
United remained inconsistent throughout November; hitting the heights and plumbing the depths. Three wins and two defeats meant that The Magpies slipped to fourth
1st November - Div 1 - Doncaster [a] - Won 3-0 [28,340]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Sibley, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson
Scorers: Harvey, Milburn 2
Milburn made it six in three games since moving to centre-forward; "Jack is unorthodox but he gets there" reported Will Lowes
it was a good team performance and a comfortable victory and United moved into second place.
8th November - Div 1 - Nottingham F [H] - Lost 0-2 [ 60,244]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Stobbart, Shackleton, Milburn, Bentley, Pearson
A bad day at the office as an off colour United slumped to their first home defeat since the Chesterfield debacle.
Bentley had returned to the fold but he had a poor game and it would be the last game he played for the Black and Whites.
15th November - Div 1 - Bradford PA [a] - Won 3-0 [24,654]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Sibley, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson
Scorers: Stobbart, Sibley, og
Len Shackleton trained all week with his former team mates in the build up to the match as United bounced back with a first rate performance which matched artistry with application.
They scored all the goals in the first period and kept their heads against some very "provocative" play by the Yorkshiremen.
22nd November - Div 1 - Cardiff [H] - Won 4-1 [56,904]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Sibley, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson
Scorers: Milburn 2, Shackleton, Stobbart
The Welshmen came to play football but they were taught a lesson in the finer arts of the game with United in scintillating form and Pearson and Shackleton treating the crowd to their party tricks.
Shack was at his brilliant best and delighted the crowd by, amongst other things, sitting on the ball and attempting to play a 1-2 with the corner flag.
29th November - Div 1 - Sheffield W [a] - Lost 0-1 [ 41,355]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Sibley, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson
Back down to earth as the same eleven failed to reproduce their best against a workmanlike Wednesday side.
The only goal came when they failed to mark their man at a corner; a particular weakness they had that season.
December
The same pattern continued through December and after a disastrous performance at Plymouth more crisis talks followed. Whatever was said in those meetings it was the precursor to a frenzied foray into the transfer market during the first two months of the New Year.
As the year came to an end United were in 3rd.
6th December - Div 1 - Tottenham [H] - Won 1-0 [ 57,950]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Graham; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Sibley, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson
Scorers: Milburn
Martin kept faith with the same eleven and he was rewarded with a single goal victory over a classy Spurs side.
United played skillfully enough but it was their fighting spirit that got them through as an injury to Graham (who would be ruled out for the rest of the season) meant they had to play half the game with ten men.
13th December - Div 1 - Millwall [a] - Lost 1-2 [ 30,000 ]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Craig; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Sibley, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson
Scorers: Pearson
Benny Craig returned to the side to replace Graham and in the first half United were well on top and deservedly took the lead through Pearson. But they started to showboat rather than compete and allowed the Londoners to equalise before half-time.
A Dodgin own goal led to the second.
20th December - Div 1 Plymouth [a] Lost 0-3 [25,000]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Craig; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Sibley, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson
United hit new low with a pathetic performance in Plymouth in a game that they could have been beaten even more heavily.
The team as a whole was poor but the main problems were in attack where there were "just five individuals scurrying around".
On the Wednesday after the game (with the club based in Letchworth) a crisis meeting was held between the manager and the players. Mr Martin's advice was "it's up to you chaps to get together".
So the players did just that, holding their own two hour conference.
26th December - Div 1 - West Brom [a ] Won 1-0 [48,322]
Team: Fairbrother; Fraser, Craig; Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin; Sibley, Stobbart, Milburn, Shackleton, Pearson
Scorers: og
Martin decided to give the same eleven (although Stobbart and Shackleton were switched) another chance and United produced a much more hard working and tight knit performance.
The marking was meatier and the inside-forwards foraged harder and as a result The Magpies recorded their 5th away win of the season.