1974

Blazing Saddles

Joe Harvey, Newcastle's famous captain of the fifties cup winning side was desperate to take United to Wembley as their manager. But prior to 1974 the club's FA Cup record under Harvey was desperate.

In 11 seasons they had failed at the first attempt on 6 occasions (twice to clubs from the non-leagues) and fallen at the fourth round in the other five years. Despite this catalogue of failure the FA Cup continued to be a big draw on Tyneside and the attendances for the cup matches were generally significantly higher than the average league attendances.

Up until December of the 1973/74 season United had been performing excellently in the League (they were second behind Leeds). A run of four consecutive defeats in December saw them tumble to mid-table, but successive wins over Sheffield United and Arsenal had put them in good heart for the start of the road to Wembley.

United embarked on a 10 game saga which took their followers through every emotion. The pressure mounted as round by round they neared the Holy Grail; but in the end their hopes evaporated into thin air like an over indulgent cowboy's posterior.

Dance with the Devil

In the 3rd round United were drawn at home to Hendon from the Isthmian League (a southern clubs only version of The Conference). With the humiliating defeat at Hereford taking place only two years before it is fair to say there was some trepidation among the 33,840 crowd that turned up at St James Park.

United lined up with the following side: Mcfaul (goal), Craig and Kenneddy (fullbacks), Clark and Howard (centre backs), Gibb, Smith, Mcdermott and Hibbitt (midfield), Macdonald, Tudor (strikers). Barrowclough was sub and replaced Gibb.

Hendon were a strong side defensively (they conceded only 20 goals in 42 League games as they claimed runners up spot in the Isthmian) and they held out until 3 minutes before the interval when Howard gave United a morale boosting lead.

Newcastle should have been able to press home their advantage in the second half, but it was the visitors who took control and scored a deserved equaliser in the 68th minute through skipper Rod Haider (an insurance broker with 62 England amateur caps to his name). It was another hellish result, the fourth time The Toon had failed to beat non-league opposition at home in 20 years.

Hendon decided to play the return leg at Watford's Vicarage Road; 15,385 were there and so were the BBC vultures hoping to see a repeat performance of the Nightmare on Edgar Street. Although the match was played on the following Wednesday it kicked off at noon. This was a time of large scale industrial action in the power industries and consequently a three day working week was in operation and the use of floodlights was banned.

Cassidy for Jim Smith was the only line-up change. This time United ran out comfortable winners. Macdonald scored in the first half with a curler from the edge of the area with his "weaker" right foot. United then took control in the second period scoring three more goals without reply. A Hibbitt piledriver from the edge of the area, a Mcdermott penalty after a Supermac header was handled on the line and an easy goal for Tudor who was unmarked ten yards out.

Living for the City

The fourth round draw gave United another home tie; this time against Scunthorpe who were struggling in the bottom half of the Fourth Division. Scunthorpe's away record in the League was: won 1, drawn 1, lost 10 with 7 goals scored and 29 conceded. It was hard to envisage an easier draw

Hibbitt was suspended, so the midfield lined up as Barrowclough, Cassiddy, Smith and Mcdermott; Gibb was substitute.

38,913 fans packed into St. James and once again United put in a terrible performance. The visitors scored after only 7 minutes and United barely got out of their own half. Then just after the hour mark - and completely out of the blue - a 25 yard blockbuster from McDermott saved their skins.

Bobby Moncur returned for the replay at the Old Shaw ground at the expense of Kenneddy (whose blunder led to the Scunthorpe goal) with Frank Clark reverting to his normal left-back role. It was a much improved performance and a comfortable 3-0 victory with Macdonald grabbing two and one from Barrowclough.

United had struggled through to the 5th round for the first time since 1961. Hibbitt put the achievement into perspective "we all felt ashamed of those two (home) results. They were two of the worst things that could have happened to us on our own ground".

Rebel Rebel

The Magpies were drawn away to WBA who at that time were managed by Don Howe and were challenging for promotion from the Second Division. United went into the game on the back of a 5-1 home victory over Coventry (ably assisted by 2 Coventry own goals). The return of Hibbitt at the expense of Cassiddy was the only change to the side.

The team nearly didn't make it as a tyre burst on the team coach when it was travelling at 50mph down the motorway. The United hero was driver Bob Green who managed to retain control and bring the vehicle to a halt. The United party arrived at the hotel two hours late.

Meanwhile, thousands of Geordies made the trip down to the Hawthorns to swell the 42,699 crowd many of them travelling "in style on the LEAGUE LINER" (£3.00 return for "first class travel"). They were rewarded with the best performance for many a season.

The star was the "enigmatic" Jimmy Smith who came off the substitutes bench in the 18th minute to replace the groin strained Hibbitt and proceeded to run the show with a virtuoso performance. If ever there was a player who subbed up Newcastle at the time it was "Jinky"; brilliant one week terrible the next and never courting convention.

The game was played on a quagmire of a pitch, but United ran West Brom ragged. The first goal was scored by Macdonald after a superb Smith cross from the right. Barrowclough got the second after Tudor had missed his kick from 6 yards out and finally Tudor ran on to a Barrowclough cross to head home.

Manager Harvey was ecstatic "Our display was magnificent. This was a team performance and every man deserves a medal now. The team have character and skill. They have never played better. It's hard to believe we are just two matches away from Wembley".

The United fans had also been in great form and the Baggies captain John Wile admitted that "it was like playing away"

So once again United had turned on the style away from home in a manner they simply could not emulate on Tyneside. John Tudor was quite outspoken with his excuses. "The pitch is bad and is a bit boggy now, there always seems to be an erratic wind, and the place is a bit drab all round. Ask any professional and he will tell you he doesn't like playing at Newcastle".

Teenage Rampage

In the Quarter Finals Newcastle were again drawn against lower league opposition; this time the visitors were Nottingham Forest. United warmed up for the game with two tight draws against Liverpool and Leeds. Although Forest were from the second they had some very good players; notably Duncan McKenzie, Ian Bowyer and Martin O'Neill.

United had been struggling to find their form; especially at home. As Jim Smith said "It's a long time since we turned it on at home. We haven't played well since early in the season, so we owe the supporters a good performance". In fact "Jinky" reckoned that the supporters were the "key to open the door to the semi-finals. Our supporters can give us the lift to produce a great performance. They can sway the whole result".

Prophetic words from Jimmy, but Hibbitt was back so Jinky found himself relegated to the subs bench despite his match winning 5th round display. Expectancy on Tyneside was reaching fever pitch and an all ticket crowd of 54,500 turned up. What followed was one of the most amazing matches in the history of the club.

Once again the Magpies started badly. They conceded a goal (Ian Bowyer) after only 82 seconds and despite getting an equaliser through a rare David Craig goal (21 minutes) they went in at the interval 1-2 down following a Liam O'Kane screamer.

Then in the 59th minute referee Gordon Kew awarded Forest a penalty for a foul by David Craig on Duncan Mckenzie. The United players surrounded the referee and Pat Howard pushed the referee in the chest. He failed to heed Kew's warnings, carried on disputing the decision and was sent off.

George Lyall scored from the spot and some of the United supporters decided they'd seen enough and invaded the pitch. The playes were led off and it took eight minutes for the police to regain control

After the teams returned ten man United performed an amazing comeback roared on by the vociferous crowd. Forest keeper Jim Barron inexplicably pushed Macdonald over in the area and Mcdermott put away the penalty. Four minutes later Tudor equalised with a brilliant diving header and then in the last minute Moncur got the winner.

After the game Supermac proclaimed "We've killed that cup bogey. Now we're on our way to Wembley victory". The bookies made Newcastle third favourites at 7-2 behind Liverpool and Leicester.

A more detailed review of this match can be found here: Newcastle v Nottm Forest 1974

The United fans were condemned in the national media and many argued that the club should be kicked out of the cup. An FA inquiry was set up and they ruled that the invasion had altered the course of the match and that the tie must be replayed at a neutral venue. The first replay was at Goodison park on the 18th March. A 40,685 crowd turned up, the majority of them from Tyneside.

United's performance was patchy. At times they were brilliant (with Mcdermott especially in outstanding form), but they were also guilty of giving the ball away too cheaply. Still they created enough chances to have won comfortably. They struck wood three times, but even after extra-time the game remained goalless.

Controversially the FA ruled that the second replay should also take place at a neutral ground, so three days later everybody was back to Goodison Park again (although there were 9,000 less people this time. United played a more controlled game and dominated the match. The only goal of the game when a Jim Barron goal kick was headed straight back by JIm Smith; Mac pounced on the loose ball and stormed through to score.

The United fans were brilliant in the two games at Goodison and the players were genuinely taken aback. ."The noise they made was a revelation to me" said Jimmy Smith. "The cup really seems to do something for them. I've never heard them like that before and I don't think many of the lads have".

Tudor offered a similar opinion, but there was a sting in the tail. "They (the supporters) were incredible..they played an important part in the victory and I want to thank them on behalf of all of the lads. But why aren't they like that at home? Fundamentally I think there are around 14,000 of them who are fanatics. The rest are more objective. If I had my way I would seriously think about just letting those 14,000 into SJP and locking out the rest. The club would lose some gate money, but hang the expense- we would win every home game!".

Harvey captured the mood among the players. "I knew we could beat them. We beat them once and then we were forced to go back and do it again, but I knew the lads wouldn't fail. They were sick about the replay but perhaps the whole episode hasn't done any harm. It's shown we've got character as wall as ability. Maybe it's hardened attitudes a bit. That can't be a bad thing".

It as the first time United had reached the semi-final since 1955.

Seasons in the Sun

As a result of the games with Forest, Newcastle had been forced to play five games in two weeks prior to the semi-final. Their semi-final opponents were Burnley who were managed by Jimmy Adamson who was born and bred in Ashington. Burnley had an excellent young side at the time with players such as Martin Dobson, Leighton James and future Toonster Geoff Nulty. They also had some solid, experienced players too such as Keith Newton and Frank Casper.

Three days before the semi-final a "very, very tired" United went down at Maine Road while Burnley's last game was a fantastic 4-1 victory at Elland Road the previous Saturday; a result which lifted them to 7th.

An estimated 25,000 supporters made their way down to Hillsborough. Those hoping for a pre-match drink had to improvise. Only a few of the city centre pubs were open and none were open around the ground. Police were accused of misdirecting supporters in an effort to clear them out of the city centre. One elderly grocery shop owner was delighted to sell a weeks worth of alcohol in less than thirty minutes!

The team that lined up at Sheffield was Mcfaul, Craig, Clark, Howard and Moncur in defence; Mcdermott, Cassiddy, Smith and Hibbitt in midfield, Macdonald and Tudor upfront with Alan Kenneddy on the bench

During the first half Burnley were by far the better team with their neat passing football. But they couldn't find a way past Mcfaul and when future United stalwart Geoff Nulty did, the ball looped onto the bar.

In the second period United were much improved and after 65 minutes Supermac latched on to a long clearance from Paddy Howard and headed for the Burnley goal. Defender Waldron practically had him in a half-nelson but Mac just kept on going and referee Gordon Hill thankfully played the advantage. Stevenson saved the first shot but Supermac slotted in the rebound.

Ten minutes later and one of the most famous goals in Toon history. Moncur headed a loose ball out to the edge of the area, Tudor flicked it out to the left, Hibbitt hit a first time left foot pass just where Mac wanted it. Off went the sideburned juggernaut and through the keeper's legs went the ball. Burnley countered but Mcfaul was unbeatable.

"No other player could have got a goal like that"- beamed Harvey - "Mac was in fifth gear. I knew he was going to explode. Mac had been so confident and relaxed in training I knew he would score".

Burnley manager Adamson was gracious in his praise too "he must have goals imprinted on his heart; he is a tremendous player".

As a "thank you" to the fans the players autographed some footballs and offered them at £8.50 each; all cheques made out to the "player's pool". The Supporters club was also doing good business; membership increased to 4,000 and souvenirs were "going great guns" with "the club tie selling particularly well".

Remember Your a Magpie

In the early part of the season United had been playing very well (at one stage during November reaching second place). They received praise from many quarters and put on some excellent performances. At Anfield on October United lost 1-2 to a late penalty, but many believed Newcastle were the better team and manager Shankly stated at the time that they put up the best performance by a visiting team for seasons. In the return game at SJP the two teams played out a dour 1-1 draw with Liverpool defending in numbers.

But they lost their way and only recorded four wins in the League between the 24th of November and the end of the season.. After their win at Hillsborough they recorded a solitary victory whilst they lost four and drew four. As a result United ended up in a disappointing 15th place.

Liverpool meanwhile were attempting to win the championship for the second year running. However their form was also poor in the run up to Wembley (2 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats) and they were pipped to the post by Leeds.

The team was based at the Selsdon Park Hotel in Surrey. Harvey had planned to take the team to Brighton as this is where the club had prepared before the famous victories of the fifties, but he was persuaded otherwise by Bob Stokoe who had been based there the previous year with The Great Unclean.

The supporters club offered two different excursions for £2.20 you could leave Newcastle at 12.00 midnight on the Friday and return 24 hours later or for an extra £6.80 a stay at "the impressive Royal Scot Hotel on the Saturday night" was included.

One of the cup final traditions at the time was an "It's a Knockout" special between the two supporters clubs. This was filmed at Southport on the Sunday before; unfortunately we have no recollection of who won.

You are Everything

The two teams had widely differing styles. United mixed very direct long-ball football with intricate midfield passing movements. When their midfield playmakers and Supermac were on song they could match the best in the country, but too often they failed to reach the standards they were capable of.

Liverpool's strengths were their teamwork, and their strong running. They were often accused of being dull and predictable, but they were very hard to beat and there were no real weaknesses. They also maintained a level of consistency that was streets ahead of the Magpies

Some believed Newcastle would win because had more potential match winners; but in Kevin Keegan Liverpool had their own potential hero. Here are some of the views expressed before the big match.

Joe Harvey

"My life's ambition is being fulfilled. From the moment I got the manager's job twelve years ago I wanted to lead out a Newcastle team at Wembley. We are not going to let down our wonderful Geordie supporters" he boasted. "If the Geordies win the vocal battle on the terraces, Newcastle will do the stuff on the field".

Kevin Keegan

"Nothing is ever certain in football, especially when you're playing an outfit as unpredictable as Newcastle. One week they'll murder a top class side, the next week they'll crash to a bunch of also-rans".

Bobby Moncur

Liverpool have greater all round strength than us and have shown far more consistency. But our big advantage is that we have just a little more flair."

John Tudor

"If we can get somebody prepared to take them on and hit crosses for us, we will be in business"

Supermac

"I've scored in every round so far and I'm going to get one when we win at Wembley. Say your prayers, Reds. We Geordies are out for glory and we'll get it too. Just wait and see!"

Alan Ball

"Newcastle's strength is Liverpool's weakness .... Macdonald and Hibbitt will, I'm sure, cause havoc down the left. I've a strong hunch that the Cup will be back on Tyneside"

Keith Burkinshaw

"I believe we will do it if our attitude is right. I can't stress too much how important this is....After all if they can't be right for this or they're never going to be right".

"Of course we've got a few tactical problems to sort out this week, maybe some minor adjustments to the way we play"

Frank McGhee - Daily Mirror

"Newcastle are basing their belief in victory on too many intangibles - their history, their tradition, their luck their superstition" whereas Liverpool "are basing their conviction on a sounder, more solid foundation - their football"

Waterloo

For the final Harvey retained faith with the side that won at Hillsborough although Clark was switched to right back to replace the unlucky Craig who had dislocated an elbow), 19 year old Kenneddy coming in at left back Gibb was named as substitute leaving Barrowclough as the only player (apart from the injured Craig) not involved who had played in the cup run.

Before the game Brendan Foster (much to the delight of the Tyneside fans) won a race around Wembley involving a number of famous athletes. Unfortunately that was to be the high point of the afternoon

United kicked off playing towards their own supporters. The match started off at a hectic pace with both sides guilty of misplaced passes and hurried clearances during the first 15 minutes. Liverpool were pushing up from the back and catching Newcastle offside on a number of occasions. In the early aerial battles Hughes and Big Nose Thompson were coping well with the threat of Macdonald and Tudor

Newcastle lacked width in midfield as both Jimmy Smith and Terry Hibbitt drifted in from the flanks, meanwhile the scousers started to put increasing pressure on the Toon defence. With no defensive midfielder in the side, Heighway and Hall were able to make unchallenged runs from midfield whilst Keegan was coming off his man to open up gaps in the United defence. Liverpool were getting into good positions on the flanks and whipping over some dangerous crosses which were cleared by a mixture of desperate defending and safe handling from Mcfaul.

As the game approached the half hour mark Newcastle prompted by the strong running of Mcdermott and the passing ability of Hibbitt started to put some decent moves together. For a ten minute period they were actually the better side. Unfortunately they were let down by some woeful crossing and a lack of patience around the box. All they had to show for their period of ascendancy was a Cassiddy mis-kick within the six yard box and a pathetically weak shot from Frank Clark which gave Clemence less trouble than a back pass. This was to be Newcastle's only shot on target during the entire match!

Gradually Liverpool regained control again; Toshack spurned a passable opportunity and Howard had to clear away a cross from just under the crossbar. Five minutes before half time Hibbitt (who was Newcastle's best hope of providing the killer pass to get Macdonald free) injured himself while trying to clear the ball

Half time arrived with no clear cut chances being created. There had been some scares in the Newcastle goalmouth caused mainly by Keegan's movement, but United had created nothing. With no real wide men to create space Macdonald and Tudor found themselves well shackled. Macdonald's only shot being blocked outside the area. Also without anybody to trouble them the Liverpool full backs Lindsay and Smith were getting ample space to venture forward. In fact the loudest cheer from the United fans came when Alan Kenneddy blasted the ball into Brian Hall's face at point blank range.

Into the second half and Liverpool moved up a gear. Within the first minute Keegan found himself in space and shot just wide. A couple of minutes later and Liverpool's increasingly adventurous left-back Lindsay got in a shot. After six minutes Lindsay thought he had opened the scoring as he blasted the ball past Mcfaul only for the goal to be controversially disallowed for offside. Despite strong vocal encouragement from the fans Newcastle just could not get into the game

Liverpool now had United penned in their own half as they applied incessant pressure and the inevitable goal came in the 58th minute when the unmarked Keegan lashed the ball in from the edge of the area. The defence was getting no assistance from the fast disappearing United midfield and was being pulled all over creating huge gaps. Hughes smashed a free-kick just over the bar and Keegan had a shot blocked.

Newcastle then had a chance to hit back. Smith wasted a free-kick when he blasted it into the Liverpool wall which must have been only 5 yards away and then when Mcdermott became the first United player to get round the back of the 'Pool defence his dangerous low cross was met by ... nobody. After 72 minutes Newcastle won their only corner; once again the cross was easily collected by Clemence.

Liverpool were content to suck United in and hit them on the break. The United midfield was virtually invisible now. Mcdermott (who was probably the best player on the pitch in the first half) had replaced Smith on the right and he was now having much less influence on the game. Hibbitt, struggling and clearly not totally fit had moved inside. Smith had moved out to the left and might as well not have been on the pitch. Still Tommy Gibb was going through an extensive warming up routine which seemed to involve him bending down to touch his toes; that's all

On 74 minutes Clemence clears, Toshack peels off his man and nods on and Heighway thumps it into the net: 2-0. Harvey replaces Smith with Gibb. Once again United spurn the chance to hit back. For the first time in the game Supermac finds space on the left of the box but he slices his shot horribly wide.

Liverpool are now coasting and Toshack spurns another decent chance. Meanwhile the supporters try and raise spirits with a rousing chorus of the Blaydon Races. With six minutes left Mac has the chance to restore some pride as he again finds space in the area. This time he blasts his shot high and wide. A lone supporter encroaches on the pitch and some of the United fans plaintively sing "we want a replay".

Then in the 96th minute Keegan scores again after another flowing Liverpool move. As BBC commentator put it "Newcastle were undressed; absolutely stripped naked" . Keegan then thankfully missed an opportunity to claim a hat-trick

This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us

After the Wembley humiliation Moncur summed up the mood of the players: "there are no excuses, Liverpool outclassed us, there's no doubt about that". This was Moncur's last game for the club and he was so ashamed he threw his losers medal in the Tyne as they returned home on the train. Supermac felt the failure more personally "it's an experience I never want again. My pride is really hurt.

Harvey who spent the game chain-smoking while Shankly signalled orders to his team tried to look to the future "I need players to strengthen the first team squad so that we can make a realistic challenge for the championship next season. These players I have now have been magnificent, but they need help. And we must find the cash to do it".

Jackie Milburn later stated "I was so embarrassed I tried to hide. It's not often I've been ashamed of the Magpies, but I was saddened and shocked by the performance. Only the goalkeeper and the full-backs played. The rest were rubbish"

Milburn was also rightly upset that the stars of the fifties cup winning teams were not invited to either the final or the banquet afterwards

But in typical Geordie fashion 250,000 fans turned out to welcome the team back to Tyneside much to the embarrassment of the players who knew how badly they had let them down."They're too good for us" said Supermac.

Rock and Roll Suicide

On the day Newcastle simply did not play and justified the claims of their critics that they were too unpredictable and too reliant on a few key individuals. Whilst this was true it is an over simplification. In hindsight there were many things that could have been done better

Loss of form and concentration

Newcastle were way out of form come May 4th and had coasted through the final League games much to Harvey's annoyance. Liverpool were not playing particularly well either, but at least they had retained their competitive edge.

Liverpool were too busy concentrating on retaining the championship to get too caught up in the build up to the final whereas the build-up on Tyneside was intense.

Poor preparation

On one day they cut training short by thirty minutes so that they could get to the recording studio to make their cup final record.

They arrived at the team hotel on the Monday and spent the week mixing training with rounds of golf and singalongs with Frank Clark on guitar. Although they had a good time the change of routine was building the tension up. Liverpool did not travel down until the Friday.

Pressmen were also staying in the hotel and took advantage of the naivety of some of the United players to create stories. Alan Kenneddy for instance was quoted as saying Tommy Smith was finished. This added to the fact that certain United players needed no encouragement to shout their mouth off in public provided the Scousers with all the motivation they needed.

The ticket allocation for the players friends and families was a shambles; on the Friday many did not have their tickets

The tracksuits did not arrive until the Friday afternoon. They were an all white with black trimming towelling affair and sensibly the players refused to wear them. Eventually they had to turn out in disgusting purple and yellow romper suits which was a huge embarrassment to the players.

The year before Sunderland had allowed TV cameras on the bus as they made their way to the ground; Newcastle decided to follow suit. But for some players such as Kenneddy this just added to the stress and tension of the occasion.

The official FA Cup record was crap as revealed in "Out of Toon 1"

Tactical mistakes

Malcolm Macdonald relates how Harvey and Burkinshaw decided to change the tactics on the Thursday and adopt a 4-4-2 formation instead of their more usual 4-3-3. It only gave two days to sort it out.

By not playing a winger and not even having a winger on the bench United failed to exploit the recognised weaknesses in the Liverpool side. Liverpool played a flat back four and had slow full-backs in Smith and Lindsay. Their centre-backs Hughes and Thompson were supposedly weak in the air; although on the day they handled United's attack comfortably. By playing four in midfield Burkinshaw handed the initiative to Liverpool; this was made worse in the second period when Hibbitt was injured and Mcdermott (who had matched the Liverpool players in central midfield) was banished to the right flank.

Mac and Tudor were used to opening up the play by pushing the ball out to the flanks and then sprinting through for the return. Instead they found themselves playing with their back to goal and no space in which to turn

Harvey was the motivator while coach Burkinshaw was in charge of tactics. Usually Harvey would talk to the players just before they went out; but prior to the final Harvey did his bit early to allow Burkinshaw time to ensure the players understood the team tactics. In hindsight this was a bad decision, reflecting the last minute nature of the tactical plan