Season 1965/66

Satisfaction

The 1965/66 season saw United return to the top flight after a four year absence and the start of the season was eagerly awaited. But it was to be a tough fight to maintain their status; from the very start to the very end the threat of an instant return hung over their heads and they only got in the top half of the table for one week in September.

The main weakness was up front where they did not have sufficient goalscoring power. The club kept stating they were trying everything possible to make a transfer breakthrough and that funds were available; but in reality they lacked the cash required to get the quality of player they required.

Survival was based on grinding out results and Harvey's team were not afraid to dish out the rough stuff; bringing them criticism from opposing managers. They eventually finished in 15th; four points above the drop zone.

An embarassing exit in the Second Round of the League Cup and a Fourth Round home defeat in the FA Cup rounded off a disappointing season.

The Carnival is Over

Liverpool ran away with the League finishing six points above their nearest rivals Leeds and using only 14 players all season.

Newcastle's sights were set rather lower. It was up front where United lacked real quality. They failed to score in 15 games and only registered 50 goals in 42 League games; the lowest total in the Division. It was also the least number of goals the team had scored since the offside law was changed in the twenties.

Defensively they were generally sound and a total of 63 goals conceded was only bettered by 7 teams and this was despite conceding 16 goals in four games in a disastrous period just before Xmas.

Click here for full Match Statistics

At the beginning of the season results were mixed, but after 12 games they were in a respectable 14th place with a record of won 4, drawn 9 and lost 5 (scored 13, conceded 15). But then United hit a disastrous 11 game run run during which they lost 8 times, drew twice and won only once (scored 13 and conceded 26). The Magpies slumped to 19th and were a single point better off than bottom team Fulham.

The last game in the run was a 0-2 defeat at Roker Park and after this Harvey made two decisions that were to save the season.

He bought Keith Kettleborough from Sheffield United and recalled the enigmatic Alan Suddick who had been dropped earlier in the season following a disastrous loss of form.

Five wins and one draw in the next seven matches with Kettleborough an inspiration and Suddick netting 9 goals lifted United up into 15th.

There were still some hiccups along the way, but safety was finally reached on April 30th despite a 0-3 defeat at Elland Road.

Northampton joined the already relegated Blackburn after losing at Blackpool and started their rapid descent back into obscurity.

The final game of the season was at home to League runners up Leeds; although on the face of it a nothing tie it was a match that United were determined to win as it would enable them to finish above Sunderland. A 2-0 victory ended the season on a positive note.

See the Final Table.

Keep on Runnin'

The FA Cup was won by Everton who overturned a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 against the side that knocked United out of the cup, Sheffield Wednesday.

In the Third Round Newcastle faced the possibility of another upset when they were drawn away against Fourth Division Chester. Thankfully two second half goals from McGarry and David Craig saw United through 3-1.

United's chances of progress looked good. They were in the middle of their "purple patch" and Wednesday arrived at SJP on February 12th a week after they had been beaten 2-0 at the same venue in the League. A result which had moved The Magpies within a point of their opponents.

Unfortunately the 39,945 fans were to be let down as The Owls snatched a 2-1 victory.

Tears

League Cup

The League Cup - as usual - gave United the opportunity to embarass themselves. Their 2nd round opponents were Third Division Peterborough who had caused a sensation on their last visit to SJP when they knocked us out of the FA Cup in 1962.

A crowd of only 16,132 witnessed another disaster as United - 1-3 down at half-time - slumped to a 3-4 defeat.

The In Crowd

Goalkeepers

Gordon Marshall was still the number one choice and played in the majority of games. Dave Hollins had a short run in the team conceding only 5 goals in his first six games. Unfortunately he then conceded 9 in the next 2.

Full Backs

David Craig and Frank Clark had established themselves as the first choice full backs during the promotion season and both retained their places on the return to Division 1. The versatile Ollie Burton filled in on both flanks whilst also appearing at full-back and centre-forward.

Centre and Half Backs

John McGrath continued to hold the number 5 shirt with Bobby Moncur deputising when he was unavailable. At the start of the season Stan Anderson and Jim Iley formed an experienced half-back line. Captain Anderson moved to Middlesbrough as player-coach in November with Moncur replacing him. Iley took over the captaincy again.

Forwards

In a desperate search for the right mix Harvey tried a whole host of players in different combinations up front including no less than 9 players who were tried out in the Number 9 shirt.

Centre-forward Ron Mcgarry was the top scorer in the previous season, but he struggled to make an impression at a higher level netting only 5 times in total.

Bobby Cummings was another star of the promotion season who struggled and was allowed to move to Darlington in October.

United's only summer signing - Albert Bennett was in and out of the side but managed to finish as second top scorer with 9 goals.

Pop Robson was used regularly on either flank and was also tried once at centre-forward.

Centre-forward Kit Napier was bought from Workington in November for 17,500 and was handed the No 9 shirt for a couple of games after which he was shoved out onto the flanks.

Bill Thompson was a centre-half and the fact that he led the attack 5 times was indicative of Harvey's desperation.

Another defender, Ollie Burton was asked to lead the line in the Tyne Wear derby.

Youngster Peter Noble made his debut in the away game at Chelsea and was tried at inside forward, half back and centre-forward.

Trevor Hockey started out as the right-winger, then moved to the left, then was sold to Birmingham.

Alan Suddick started as the first choice at Number 11 but was dropped after a loss of form. He returned in the New Year with a burst of goals that made him the club's top scorer.

Willie Penman played at inside-left for the first 2 games, but was out of the picture until he returned as a centre-forward towards the end of the season.

Inside forward Dave Hilley was the only ever present.

Tommy Knox was given a number of outings on the left flank.

The folically challenged Keith Kettleborough arrived from Sheffield in January and proved to be the catalyst for survival.

Substitutes

With substitutions introduced for the first time the twelth man was born: however, they were only allowed to replace injured players. A number of players warmed the bench of which only John Craggs and Melling did not actually get on the pitch during the season.

Somebody Help me

The only major signing during the summer was Albert Bennett and there was concern among fans and media alike that the squad was not sufficiently strong - especially in attack - to survive in the Top Division.

The Board, wary of the criticism, assured the fans that - if required - money would be found to strengthen the team.

From the earliest games it was apparent that United needed more firepower and despite the directors assurances that cash was available United failed to make the required breakthrough for a top quality striker.

In October United agreed an £80,000 fee with Bolton for Welsh centre-forward Wyn Davies. This was almost double the current highest payout United had made (£45,000 for Barrie Thomas in January 1962)., But the deal collapsed as the club were not prepared to accept the players' signing-on fee demands.

After failing to get the Mighty Wyn Harvey signed up Workington striker Kit Napier who was thrust straight into the side as centre-forward for the match at home to Blackpool. Unfortunately he was to make little impact and after two games in the number 9 shirt and half a dozen games on the flanks he was banished to the reserves.

Meanwhile in a bid to raise desperately needed funds Harvey had to sell players. The most surprising departure was that of club captain Stan Anderson; whose move from Sunderland a couple of seasons earlier had been such a shock. Stan was sold to Middlesborough (for £11,000) thus becoming one of the few footballers to have represented all three of the "leading" North East.

Other players moving out were as follows. Reserve full backs Bill McKinney (Bournmouth - £2,750) and Joe Butler (Swindon - £5,500). Winger Trevor Hockey was sold to Sheffield Wednesday (£22,500) and centre-forward Bobby Cummins went to Darlington (£9,500).

The only other arrival was 17 year old right winger Stuart Alderson who was bought from Evenwood Town for £50.

In the programme notes for the last game of the season the club spoke of an "all out effort by Manager Harvey with the backing of the Board of Directors to add strength to the team for the next campaign. The acknowledged need is for more power in the attack and the search will go on for a first-class goal getter and for added power on the wings".

But did the club have the necessary resources to buy the quality of players required? Ken Mckenzie (The Journal sports editor) expressed his doubts in the supporter's handbook as he talked of the board as "good sportsmen and able businessmen, but, so far as I can factually report, lacking the cash to do what we know is needed".

From July 1965 to June 1966 expenditure on transfers was £67,550 with £45,250 coming in from sales.

Paint it Black (and White)

The programme notes implied that the club had been expecting crowds of around 50,000, but they had misjudged badly and the crowd for the opening game was "below expectations" at only 37,230.

The average for the season was 33,273 which was actually lower than the promotion season.

In reality it was an unrealistic expectation, crowds had been falling around the country and United's average made them the 7th best supported club in the country despite their poor season.

It was a difficult season and the fans could not always be relied upon to lift the team. Implied criticism was recorded in the Man Utd programme: "In the successful promotion bid, the SJP crowd gave the players first class encouragement and that is what is wanted again".

Wooly Bully

Substitute (for another guy)

After years of prevarication substitues were allowed for the first time and Keith Peacock of Charlton (father of Gavin) was the first one used. Albert Bennet was on the bench for the first game but was unused; the first sub called into action was Ollie Burton who replaced Trevor Hockey in the home win over Northampton.

European Entanglements

The Magpies were a couple of years away from their first venture into European competition but they did play a friendly against Moscow Dynamo on Monday November 22nd. Newcastle had conceded five goals at home to Leicester two days earlier and the Russians had no problem coasting to a 4-1 victory in front of 11,101 spectators.

Chelsea players were stoned (hard debris rather than hard drugs as is more likely these days) during and after the Fairs Cup match in Roma for which the Italians received a 3 match European ban and a £500 fine.

In another Fairs Cup match between Leeds and Valencia a policemen had to restrain Jackie Charlton from attacking one of the Spaniards. A 10 minute stoppage was required to cool down both sets of players.

Pickles the Wonder Dog

Prearations for the World Cup were thrown into disarray when the Jules Rimet trophy was stolen; to the FA's great releif it was found in some bushes by a black and white mongrel. The clever canine was rewarded with an invite to the celebration banquet held for Ramsey's World Cup winners.