NUFC Fans - 1976/77

Stab Your Back

There were mixed feelings about Macdonald's departure. Some fans blamed the board, most blamed Lee, but there were others who saw Macdonald as the instigator of the move either wishing him well or offering good riddance.

There was talk of a possible fans boycott but secretary Alan Robinson said "not one solitary member has threatened to chuck it. I'm sorry Mac has gone because he's a good player, but that's the end of it".

Other supporters were less forgiving and a brick was thrown through the window of his shop.

More turned against him after his press "gloatings" after his hat-trick helped his new employees to a 5-3 victory over United in December.

Gordon Lee also divided the fans. Some were impressed by the fact that he had the club hovering around the top of the table whilst others couldn't forgive him for selling Mac and didn't appreciate the new style of play.

It will come as no surprise that during Lee's last game in charge - when it was known he was on his way - there were choruses of "sack the board". But it may well surprise that another song sung was "We love you Gordon"!

Hanging Around

Despite United's much relative success in the League campaign the average attendance actually dipped slightly to 33,934. The top crowd was 49,664 for the Tyne Wear derby. It was a reflection of the sale of Macdonald, the mixed feelings towards United's more cautious style and the resignation of Lee.

A number of games were made all ticket in an attempt to try and curb the trouble makers. The Man United match at SJP was quite remarkable in that only 39,037 fans turned up despite the fact that tickets had been sold. The reason? Poor weather conditions.

White Riot

Trouble was endemic at the time with a whole host of serious incidents including the death of an eighteen year old fan culminating in the Scottish invasion of Wembley during the Home Internationals. .

Manchester United and (Second Division) Chelsea supporters were amongst the worst behaved. United fans were banned from attending the match at Bristol City and Minister of Sport Denis Howell talked about banning them from all away games.

Chelsea fans caused trouble throughout the season and in the worst incident rioted during a game against Charlton in an attempt to get the match abandoned. Chairman Brian Mears was so perturbed that he ordered the erection of iron

FA Chairman Sir Harold Thompson proposed a three point plan for defeating the hooligans: harsher penalties, a re-imposition of the ban on "football special" trains and the erection of fencing. Meanwhile secretary Ted Croker took a longer term view and called for the introduction of all seater stadia.

The "magnanimity" of the United supporters was praised in the Rothmans Football Yearbook who stated that they had been the real stars of the 1976 League Cup Final; but 1976/77 again saw many examples of the violent side of the supporters.

Norwich - away

United fans fuelled themselves up and went on the rampage in Norwich causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage and leaving one establishment "half wrecked".

It led to the club issuing a message in the programme reminding the fans that they were ambassadors for the club and the city.

Hibernian - home

There were less than 10,000 fans at the friendly against Hibernian - approximately 1,000 from Scotland - but the police were anticipating trouble and had a 150 officers on duty.

They were proved right as there was continuous fighting on the terraces during the match. Nine fans were arrested and another fifteen thrown out. A Scotsman staged a one man pitch invasion with sixteen officers in hot pursuit, one of which ended his progress with a fine rugby tackle..

After the game the Scots fans had to be escorted back to their coaches and trains as thousands of United supporters milled around town.

On the same day a friendly between Aston Villa and Rangers had to be abandoned after rioting.

Manchester City - away

Fighting also broke out when we visited Maine Road; 50 fans were thrown out and a policeman was assaulted.

Ipswich - home

When the match against Ipswich was abandoned at half-time hundred of fans rampaged through the city centre. They streamed out of the ground - some chanting "Eldon Square here we come" and shop windows were smashed, cars were damaged and Christmas shoppers fled in terror.

Officers had to be drafted in from the outskirts of town to help out the 150 assigned to the match and they made 11 arrests in all.

Hundreds more stayed round the ground not so politely requesting the return of their ticket money and it wasn't until an hour later than police and their friendly dogs managed to disperse the crowd.

Secretary Russell Cushing explained that under FA rules the club could not refund them as the match did start whilst chairman Westwood later stated that it was because of the "impracticalities" of paying back so many people through the gate. Bobby Robson was even less sensitive claiming he "didn't ask the fans to pay"

Manchester City - home (FAC)

108 fans were ejected and 10 more arrested when fighting broke out between rials supporters in the Cup game against Manchester City. The trouble started when supporters at the front of the Gallowgate were getting crushed as the crowd surged forward. Panic set in and children were hoisted onto the cinder track. In the chaos the previously segregated fans became intermingled.

As the trouble escalated fighting fans spilled onto the pitch and the referee was forced to halt the game for twelve minutes.

Bristol City - away

Thirty were ejected at Bristol during the game was City and one of the United' coaches was vandalised by the home supporters.

Sick of being Sick

Shareholder Malcolm Dix wanted more positive action. He called an extraordinary with the aim of passing a vote of "no confidence" in the board and forcing the resignation of certain directors. He also wanted Westwood moved upstairs and Gordon McKeag installed as the new chairman.

The meeting was called for May 12th; just a couple of days before the last match of the season. Delaying it was clearly an attempt by the directors to diffuse the situation.

"They are playing for time but they needn't bother" said Dix. "All the problems will never evaporate at this club as long as the present eight directors at this club remain in power en bloc".

The resolution was beaten with Dix having to suffer “personal attacks” from the board and its supporters. The board made it clear that they would run the club their way and were openly critical of the pressure exerted by the players over recent events

Neat Neat Neat.

The Supporter's Club opened its new salubrious premises in 7 Prudhoe Place although The Bridge continued to be the venue for the weekly meetings.