Season 1946/47 - You Won't Be Satisfied

Best Year of our Lives?

War was over and people were desperate for a good time; as a result it was boom time for all forms of entertainment. Big Band leaders like the incomparable Louis Jordan had us jitterbugging at the dance halls whilst the emergence of Film Noir cinema offered a much more sombre. pessimistic view of life.

The lack of competitive action during the war years meant that the quality of football was relatively poor, but crowds were never higher than during the immediate post-war years, no more so than on on Tyneside.

When United held their AGM in July 1946 they announced profits of £7,567; only First Division Aston Villa could better that figure. This was the result of the average gate during the last year of the war time topping 40,000.

The war had ended the career of many players, but Seymour had used the break to scour the North East for young talent. He also used the buoyant cash flow to buy-in players such as Joe Harvey, Roy Bentley and Frank Brennan before the League re-started. Little wonder United were hot favourites to achieve promotion.

The club was also confident. "Only the best is good enough for us and the best is the First Division" stated Seymour in Hallish manner.

United carried on spending through the season. They signed Len Shackleton for a record £13,000 fee and spent that much again on bolstering the squad further. It should have been no contest.

However, despite a promising start and 95 goals scored we finished ten points shy of a promotion place.

Newcastle's squad was overladen with talent, but on too many occasions it failed to perform to the sum of its parts. What they had in skill they seemed to lack in team spirit, what they had in individual flair they lacked in tactical direction.

Their home form was particularly disappointing and it was often suggested that they wilted under the pressure of the large and vociferous crowds attending SJP.

Another factor was the growing disaffection amongst a number of players. Nationally the Players Union were campaigning for better conditions for their members and there were more parochial problems on Tyneside.

United responded by appointing George Martin as manager towards the season's end to address these weaknesses.

The Wayman always strikes Twice

August - September

United kicked off with a resounding 4-1 defeat of Millwall at The Den. The team was Garbutt (keeper), Craig and Graham (fullbacks), Harvey, Brennan and Wright (halfbacks) and a forward line from right to left of Milburn, Bentley, Stubbins, Wayman and Pearson.

Another good away victory at Forest was followed by a damp squib in the first home match against Swansea with 54,996 in attendance. More disappointment lay ahead as wartime scoring sensation Albert Stubbins re-iterated his desire to leave and was sold to Liverpool.

Middlesbrough's reserve centre-forward George Stobbart was signed and he scored two goals on his debut in the home victory over Coventry.

A disappointing run of three draws and a loss followed with United struggling in their home games especially with the talented forward line failing to gel.

October

It was time to bring out the cheque book again and inside-forward Len Shackleton was bought from Bradford for a British transfer record of £13,000. The unfortunate Stobbart lost his place as Shack's debut at home to Newport went quite well

But United remained inconsistent; disappointing results at Southampton and Bradford being followed by a pulsating 3-2 victory over Man City at SJP in front of a season's best of 65,798. United moved up to fifth.

November

The eleventh month saw United hitting a rich vein of form and taking over at the top of the table. Excellent away victories at Fulham and West Ham and a thumping 4-0 home victory over Sheffield Wednesday had the crowd and the press in raptures.

Reporting on the Fulham match The Journal said "At one time or another on Saturday Newcastle produced everything which thrills and delights the most critical observer".

Typically United followed it with two poor performances. They struggled to a home draw against 20th place Bury then lost 4-3 at Luton after leading 3-0 after half an hour. Frank Brennan was injured in the Bury game and his absence for a couple of months was crucial as United started to leak goals at an alarming rate.

December

A month of two halves after three wins were followed by three defeats; two of the defeats coming at home. Significantly captain Harvey was injured in the third victory at Chesterfield leaving United without their two main half-backs.

As things started to go awry the directors started chopping and changing the team. New signing Burke took over at right-back, Stobbart replaced the struggling Milburn and various players were used to try and fill the half-back void without too much success.

At the turn of the year United had slipped back to to fourth.

Laughing On The Outside

January

The New Year saw things starting to look up again as United returned to form with three victories out of four in the League and both Harvey and Brennan returning from injury. The team seemed to be playing more like one and were starting to grind out results in difficult matches against more physical sides.

More cheer in the FA Cup where Crystal Palace were despatched 6-2 in the Third Round in a match which saw all five forwards scoring one after another from right to left. In the fourth Wayman's fourth hat-trick of the season saw United hit-back to beat Southampton 3-1 after trailing at half-time.

The last match of the month saw United travel to Turf Moor to take on promotion rivals Burnley. The Lancastrians ran out easy winners on an ice-bound pitch (3-0) in a match described by The Journal as a "dismally complete defeat".

February

The next match at home to Barnsley seemed to sum up the whole season. A brilliant first half performance saw them lead by four goals at the interval. But in the second half the open expansive football of the first period was replaced by "cramped and gloomy" football and The Tykes got a couple of goals back.

The only other League match was a disappointing home defeat by Southampton sandwiched in between two FA Cup Fifth Round ties against Leicester. They beat The Foxes after a replay 2-1 in a match which United dominated against their fellow Second Divisioners; but their League form did seem to be suffering as a result.

March

March started with an excellent 2-0 win over cup favourites Sheffield United at Brammal Lane in the Quarter Finals. United were two up after half an hour and they decided to hold onto their lead during the second half. To this end they used every tactic in the book to waste time; The Yorkshire fans were particularly aggrieved with United's ploy of kicking the ball over the heaped straw at the side of the ground and onto the adjacent cricket field.

The only League match was another home defeat against Fulham that "sent a wave of depression over Tyneside" and more importantly left United in fifth.

United prepared for the semi-final with "sherry and eggs tonics" and ten minutes in a peat bath. It didn't seem to work as we were thrashed 4-0 by a Charlton side that were struggling at the foot of the First Division and suffering from food poisoning. It was a desperately poor performance as United "seemed to think it undignified to roll their sleeves up". Charlton - whose fans later staged a "mock burial" of United's cup hopes - went on to beat Burnley in the Final

During the next few days there were more shocks instore. Top scorer Charlie Wayman asked to be transfer listed (after being controversially dropped for the tie); a decision publicly questioned by director Lord Westwood. Then Joe Harvey and Len Shackleton went on "strike" over their accommodation.

April

The team's inconsistency remained throughout April with six games shared equally between wins , draws and losses. The high point was a 7-2 thrashing of Luton. The scores were even after half an hour four goals in seven minutes resulted in a 5-1 interval lead. Three more goals in the last quarter of an hour finished off the goalfest.

During the month it was announced that the club would advertise for a full-time manager.

May

An excellent away win over promotion chasing Manchester City was followed by a 5-0 hammering of Bradford with United's entertainers Pearson and Shackleton in fine form; "they held the ball with that magnetic touch, 'drew' and often parted with that debonair accuracy that leaves one satisfied that one has seen something out of the top drawer in style"

The season tailed off in disappointing fashion with two defeats and two draws; the last game a 4-2 defeat against Newport County.

Before the season was complete George Martin took over as manager.

Notorious

When Hitler brought the 1939/40 season to a premature close manager Tom Mather was allowed to leave; Seymour and his director cohorts retaking control.

During the season they seemed to be beset by problems with unsettled players. Their attitude was that the "upstarts" had a duty to the club and it's supporters.

When Stubbins asked for a transfer in July Seymour said "Stubbins will have a Division 1 chance next season with the team who made him famous. He has his public to satisfy and so has Newcastle United"

As Christmas approached chairman Rutherford categorically rebuffed suggestions that the club were going to appoint a manager. "There is not the slightest question of any change whatsoever in control or managerial policy of the club".

But after the semi-final collapse and with the promotion dream fading statements from within the club itself suggested a change was on the way.

Stone Gold Len in the Market

United spent an incredible £41,000 in an attempt to get instant promotion, albeit recouping a third of the amount in sales. But it wasn't all big money buys.

Out of Toon

W Scott	Jul 1946	Consett	Free
G Bradley	Sep 1946	Millwall	£1,000
A Stubbins	Sep 1946	Liverpool	£12,500

Into Toon

F Brennan	May 1946	Airdrie	£7,500
R Bentley	Jun 1946	Bristol C	£8,500
T Thompson	Aug 1946	Lumley YFC	£25
G Stobbart	Sep 1946	Middlesbrough	£4,650
L Shackleton	Oct 1946	Bradford	£13,000
WR Anderson	Oct 1946	Throckley Colliery	£25
R Burke	Dec 1946	Blackpool	£3,250
R Fraser	Dec 1946	Hibs	£3,750
A Sibley	Jan 1947	Southend	£500

Transfer Balance

Spent			£41,205
Received			£13,500
Balance			- £27,705

I'm Always Chasing Rainbows

In the post-war years it was boom time for attendances and United's average attendance for League and Cup matches was 49,435; the best ever in the club's history. Even a pre-season trial match attracted 27,763.

There were 1,500 season tickets made available and the club was deluged with applications. The 60,00 marker was surpassed three times with the highest attendance being 65,798 for the match against Manchester City.

Unfortunately the expectancy generated by their huge following created a lot of pressure and the team often performed better away from home. They only won half of their matches at SJP and this was a major factor in promotion being missed.

The club unveiled plans to cover the 1s 3d enclosure; the St James' Terrace side. They also applied for permission to construct a car park and a training ground within the land adjacent to Leazes park.

The biggest controversy of the season was over allocation of tickets for the semi-final. Both clubs were given 16,000 despite the massive difference in the support for the two teams.

United could have sold their tickets twice over the club faced heavy criticism over their distribution methods with fans being urged to apply via local travel firms then finding that the firms did not have enough tickets to go around. The fact that Charlton did not sell all their tickets simply rubbed salt in the wounds.

As a result many fans had to pay way over the odds on the black market.

Buzz Me

After initial denials the club advertised for a manager and Lord Westwood described the sort of man they were after. He needed to be someone who could develop an "outstanding club spirit", "make a triumph in black and white of the greatest talent in the Tyneside nurseries" and "inculcate a sense of loyalty and club pride".

There were "over fifty" applicants for the job, ten where short listed and in May they were all interviewed on the same day. If you thought we were scraping the barrel with Souness take a look at the chosen ten!

Warney Cresswell - ex Sunderland player who had previously managed Port Vale and Northampton.

Alex Hastings- another ex Makem player who was a shopkeeper in Sunderland at the time and had no managerial experience.

Bob Hewison- Highly experienced manager of Bristol City where he'd been since 1932. Previously manager of QPR and Northampton.

George Martin- Manager of Luton Town.

George Stephenson- Assistant Manager of Charlton.

Don Welsh- Captain of Charlton who would become Liverpool manager during the fifties where he was sacked after he got them relegated.

Jack Wiltshire- Dorset school-teacher and referee.

Bill Butler- Former Reading and Torquay (2 games) manager.

Frank Womack- Former Torquay, Grimsby, Leicester, Notts County and Oldham manager.

Ray Goodall- Manager of Mansfield.

Despite a late attempt by Ted Hall - United's Assistant Secretary - to suggest an alternative plan whereby the appointment would be made from within it was George Martin who was given the job.

There were rumours that he had been given a very lucrative three year contract, but The Journal stated that it was "at a salary which cannot be classed as soccer 'plum'" and claimed that figures of £2000pa were "wildly exaggerated"."

Luton were decent enough to give him an immediate release from his contract thus allowing him to start his work before the end of the season.

Aint Nobody Here but us chickens

Twenty eight players roosted for United during the 1946/47 season; of these only three - Benny Craig, Tommy Pearson and Duggie Wright had played during the last full season of 1938/39.

The new and expensive signings tended to grab the headlines but they were ably assisted by the local youngsters who made up the rest of the team.

There is no doubt there was significant talent with the United squad; way beyond the levels of other sides in the Second. The problem was trying to find the right blend especially in the forward line where many different combinations were tried. On their day they were a class act but there were probably over laden with "individuals". If these players were off form the team tended to struggle

The Journal summed up the situation . "There is a good deal of temperamental variability on the Newcastle side and when this is out of gear, to the detriment of the team plan assiduously impressed by manager and trainer and practised when circumstances permit, it throws a real strain on the more orthodox players in the side".

Appearances and goals listed below refer to League, FA Cup and League Cup matches only.

Goalkeepers

Goalkeeping duties were shared between three different keepers, none of whom either impressed sufficiently or stayed fit long enough to make the position their own

Eric Garbutt [26] made his debut in the first game but ended up playing in less than half the games due to injury problems.

Tom Swinburne [31] played in slightly more games but he too suffered recurrent injury problems; especially dislocated pinkies.

Part-time miner/footballer Ron Anderson [19] had been picked up from Throckley Colliery of the North Eastern League. He made his one and only appearance for the club in the home match with Leicester.

Right Backs

Nobody really established themselves at right full-back . The experienced Benny Craig [31] started the season as first choice, but an injury ruled him out and he failed to re-establish himself. He was transfer listed on his own request.

Bobby Cowell [24] was a debutant in that record home win over Newport. He impressed with his fast and aggressive style when he came in for Craig but lost his place when Burke arrived. He regained the shirt towards the end of the season.

Blackpool reserve Burke [26] was signed in December and made his debut in the 3-2 home win over Plymouth. He was unfortunate in playing most of his games when Brennan and Harvey were missing and he lost his place to Cowell later in the season. He would be sold on before the next campaign.

Left Backs

The Number 3 shirt was held by Douglas Graham (25) for most of the season. Classy on and off the pitch "The Duke" was spotted playing for Barrington United in the early stages of the War.

Throckley born Bobby Corbett [24] was another wartime capture and made his debut at Coventry in September. He got a few more games at the turn of the year.

Half-backs

Captain Harvey along with Brennan and Duggie Wright formed a formidable half-back line; but when both Brennan and Harvey were injured they struggled to replace them.

Joe Harvey [28] was a vital figure in the side. When he got injured in December United lost the three subsequent games.

Frank Brennan [22] started the season in great form but lost some of his edge after sustaining an injury.

Duggie Wright [29] was one of the pre-war survivors, a stylish player who had a tendency to overdo it sometimes he held the number 6 shirt for most of the season and was in many eyes the player of the year.

Local lad Charlie Crowe [22] provided non-stop effort when he was drafted in

"Tot" Smith [23] stepped down on Brennan's arrival but got a few games when Big Frank was injured or on international duty. A part-time (miner) ball playing half-back he struggled on the heavy grounds and the side conceded eighteen goals in the seven games he played. He rarely featured again

At six foot and twelve and a half stone, utility man Robert Fraser [29] cut an imposing figure. He was signed at Christmas in a bid to fill the gap caused by the injuries to Harvey and Brennan. He impressed on his debut in a 3-0 victory over Forest but only made a couple of appearances before stepping down on Brennan's return.

Jimmy Woodburn [29] arrived at the club before the war started. During the season he asked for a transfer although he still made a number of appearances at both inside-forward and half-back

Forwards

Jackie Milburn [22] was on the right-wing at the time and struggled against a loss of form and confidence. Working in the mines was certainly not helping and he rarely played in the second half of the season.

Inside right Roy Bentley [23] made his debut in the opening day victory at Millwall where he scored two goals and made another. He remained a regular fixture in the side and scored a respectable 22 goals in 42 games

Wartime goalscoring sensation Albert Stubbins [27] had asked for a transfer before the season started. He seemed to settle again but he was keen to play First Division football and only played in three games before being transferred to Liverpool

Middlesbrough reserve centre-forward George Stobbart [25] arrived in September and promptly scored two goals on his debut in a 3-1 win over Coventry. Sometimes played up the middle and sometimes out on the right wing he scored 8 in 21. Strong, stocky and hard working

Right-winger Tommy Walker [23] had not yet been demobbed; as a result he only made a handful of appearances.

Len Shackleton [24] arrived from Bradford for a British transfer record of £13,000. Debuting with six goals he went on to entertain the faithful while notching sixteen more. At times he was a "show in himself", but on other occasions he was guilty of over gilding to the detriment of the team.

Charlie Wayman [25] was regarded rather unfairly as a player who was physically (5'6") and skillfully challenged, but also deservedly as a great team man. His place regularly seemed to be under threat as new signings arrived. But he just kept on scoring goals and made himself undroppable, that is until the FA Cup semi-final.

Tommy Pearson [32] was a near ever-present in the side although he was dropped towards the end of the season.

United beat off competition from a number of clubs to secure the signing of "thrustful" outside right Albert Sibley [27] from Southend but he only got two run-outs in the side.

Reserve centre-forward Andy Donaldson [21] made his debut in the home draw with Leicester, his only senior match. Earlier on in the season the club had reported that he had asked to be excused from playing in home games due to constant barracking from sections of the Gallowgate. He was made available for transfer at the end of the season.

Short-sighted outside left George Hair [21] was given three games at the end of the season

George King [23] joined United from the RAF in August. At six foot and thirteen stones he was something of a heavyweight. Replaced the injured Stobbart at centre-forward in the away matches at Spurs and Coventry, his only games for the first-team.

It's a Wonderful Life

When we consider the pampered life of today's football stars it is hard to imagine how different things were in the Forties. Players nationally were having to fight for a decent wage, many were also part-timers and most had to rely on club accommodation.

Living with Demobbed

In the aftermath of the war some players were still not demobbed. United were often deprived of the services of Tommy Walker because he was required for services games.

Dark Passage

The tiring nature of work down the mines and their lack of training made it very difficult and it was noticeable that the part-timers - Milburn in particular - seemed to be struggling.

Top scorer Charlie Wayman put down his improved form to full-time training made possible by his escape from the mines in July 1946. A Wansbeck miner enlisted the help of a Socialist MP in an attempt to extricate himself from the mines using Wayman release as his justification. It didn't work.

Win bonuses

The players received special bonuses for any victories in the FA Cup. £165 was available for sharing after they reached the semi-final.

Homes Not Fit for Hero's

Before the season started the club admitted that they were still seeking suitable accommodation for a number of players including captain Joe Harvey.

Come April 1st the situation had still not been resolved satisfactorily for either Harvey or Len Shackleton and both failed to turn up for training.

Director McKeag was adamant that the club had done their best "No club can have been at greater pains than have Newcastle to help their players in any way possible".

Harvey did not concur. "If they cannot find me a house in which my wife and family can be happy they cannot expect me to remain at St James'. I have been at Newcastle for two years and they have had plenty of time to find me a house"

Shackleton was equally adamant claiming that the club had "not fulfilled it's promises" of a "satisfactory house". He claimed that Jesmond flat offered to him was "not suitable. It makes my wife ill. The place is damp. My wife and I could manage for a while, but my baby has had a cold and we cannot risk his health." However he was at pains to say he was not on strike and that he was not "holding a pistol to the head of the directors"

Both players were dropped for the following game and were ordered to appear in front of the directors where they faced a "severe reprimand". A statement was issued advising that both had proffered their sincere apologies. Just in case there was any doubt where the blame lay it went on to say that Harvey "assured the directors he is perfectly happy with Newcastle United and wished to remain on Tyneside" and Shackleton "denied having stated that his house in Jesmond was not fit to live in".

Seahouses

Bonding sessions are nothing new, but in the forties it was the Dunes Hotel in Seahouses rather than Dubai. In the week before the Third Round FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace the United party moved up to Northumberland for some "bracing air, golf, billiards and various other entertainments " .

They returned again prior to the fourth round tie when they had the added attractions of a "local whist drive and social evening", a darts match against a pub team and rabbit hunting. Brennan wasn't allowed near the bunnies as one director put it "he was a mightily big target if any shot was flying around loose".

Travel Sick

Fuel shortages, a transport workers strike and a hard winter all made travelling to away games a nightmare for the team and the supporters alike.

When Newcastle returned home from Birmingham on Boxing Day after losing at West Brom they were six hours late back after missing their connection at Sheffield. Stobbart relieved the boredom by dressing up in a railwayman's uniform and "taking over" night duty.