Newcastle 1971/72 Players

Hey Ref Don't Book Me - The Clampdown

1971/72 was the season of the so called "Referees Revolution". The FA and the Football League were becoming increasingly concerned about the increasing levels of foul play, dissent and violence on the football field. They wanted to clean-up the game and better protect the skilful players to improve the quality of the football. They instructed referees to enforce the laws of the game to the letter and clubs were issued with notices of what constituted foul play before the start of the season.

It was made clear that players were to be cautioned for such things as technical offences, tactical fouls, deliberate handling, persistent dissent and tackling from behind, but crucially they decided not to inform them that a "crackdown" was to be imposed.

The early games saw bookings being handed out at an unprecedented rate. On the first night of the "revolution", 17th August, 32 players were cautioned in 15 matches (unexceptional now, but a massive increase then). In United's match at White Hart Lane the following evening seven players were booked. One of the bookings awarded was to Spurs player Kinnear who picked the ball up for a throw-in just before it had left the pitch.

Bobby Moncur's reaction after the Spurs game was typical "we will be going out there with handbags soon; the referees are turning it into a game for cissies".

Players who were cautioned or sent-off had to appear in front of disciplinary committees. They could be fined and/or banned for a number of weeks. Clubs complained about losing players for lengthy periods; the Crystal Palace chairman going as far as demanding the resignation of the League management committee. The PFA were equally incensed and chairman Derek Dougan accused the soccer bosses of jeopardising the livelihood of their members.

The authorities began to lose their nerve and hundreds of players successfully had their sentences quashed or suspended on appeal. Meanwhile the League and the FA were at loggerheads over who should control the disciplinary process. It was in the hands of the FA, but the League thought they should be in charge.

The chaotic situation gradually sorted itself out as the referees were allowed to show more discretion and the League took over control. A new totting-up system was also introduced with players receiving automatic two match bans if they reached 12 points.

Continental Chaos

It was bad enough at home but European competitions took the problem to new levels

Greek side Panionios were thrown out of the UEFA Cup because of their players behaviour in a game against Ferencvaros.

Italian captain Facchetti is quoted as saying the European Cup will die within 3 years if UEFA do not stamp out the violence.

Spurs manager Bill Nicholson said after a violent match in Rumania "If this is European football, we are better off out of it. I haven't seen a dirtier game in 30years".

Cap Trap

Macdonald was capped by Sir Alf during the Home Championships, becoming the first United player to play for England since the fifties.

He controversially pulled out of the England U23 summer with accusations flying that it was because he wanted to concentrate on his business interests (his Supermac boutique). Macdonald was adamant that it was a groin strain that prevented him from joining the party.

Get it On - Toon Style

The early seventies was the period when footballers started to mix with film stars, musicians and models.

But whereas Chelsea players mixed with the likes of Raquel Welch and Dickie Attenborough, United's players had to make do with less glamorous "friends".

Supermac knew he had to make an immediate impact on Tyneside and although the chauffeur driven Rolls Royce was a start he wanted an "image".

It is thought that he toyed with the idea of a Shaft style Afro, but changed his mind when he saw an advert that could transform his looks overnight.

The supermac look was born, and all for only £11.00. The look would later be supplemented by the addition of the moustache.

Viv Busby arrived on loan from Fulham. The loan system had been introduced four years earlier to help out smaller clubs who could - following the abolition of the maximum wage - no longer afford to retain large squads. But many within the game wanted the system scrapped as they believed it was open to abuse as the option to loan players was open to all clubs whatever their financial standing.