Season 1977/78 - Doontoon Bottom Ranking
No time to be 21
In 1976/77 United had achieved their highest League position for 25 years and in so doing had qualified for Europe; a year later United were relegated after a season so disastrous that the BBC devoted an edition of it's national coverage "Tonight" programme to "the decline and fall of Newcastle United".
Marc Bolan rode his white swan for the last time and Elvis had gone to the Burger Bar in Rockabilly Hell; Newcastle simply went down the swanny.
Newly promoted Nottingham Forest were the runaway winners of the League Title, in contrast United were only ever involved at the other end. They were ditched into a relegation position by the third Saturday of the season and they would never again crawl out of it during the rest of the season. They eventually finished in 21st position after gathering a mere twenty two points from forty two games; eleven points short of safety.
During the League campaign they set a number of unenviable records. Least number of wins in a season (6). Most defeats in a season (26). Least number of points in a season (22) Most consecutive defeats (10). Most games without a win (19). Most number of home games without a win (11).
The domestic cups provided little relief as they were defeated at home by Second Division Millwall in the League Cup Second Round and thrashed 4-1 by Third Division Wrexham in an FA Cup Fourth Round Replay.
The European dream turned into a nightmare as a riot marred the away match with Bohemians before their interest was ended by French side Bastia who went on to lift the UEFA Cup after outclassing the Magpies at SJP.
Very few clubs could have achieved such a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, but of course for United it is second nature. In a season in which we were shot from all sides the directors, managers and players all deserved a share of the blame.
When manager Gordon Lee walked out on the club in January 1977 Lord Westwood and his fellow directors presided over a shambolic attempt to keep The Good Ship United on course. They abdicated their responsibility over the appointment of Dinnis, failed to support Dinnis either morally or financially and failed to negotiate in a professional manner with the players.
The players were themselves guilty of holding the club to ransom over the appointment of a new manager and of failing to put in the required commitment when the going got tough.
Lee walked out, Dinnis was not up to the job, McGarry failed to turn the tide.
Make Up or Break Up
Freedom of Contract
The PFA had been involved in two and a half years of negotiations and submitted a proposal whereby transfer fees would be replaced by "compensation payments" based on the player's salary, age and the division the signing club were in. Although the authorities were sympathetic, enough clubs were against the ideas to block it's introduction.
In the end the only change made was that players were given the right to choose the club they would move to as long as the club involved could agree a transfer fee. If an agreement could not be reached a fee was to be agreed by an independent tribunal.
The PFA under the Chairmanship of Derek Dougan carried on their campaign to introduce "freedom of contract" for players arguing that the transfer system was "ruinous and unsustainable". Before the start of the season there was even talk of a strike.
Don't Dictate
Tyneside had it's own summer of discontent with nearly all the first team in dispute over the contracts they had been offered. The situation was so bad that a week prior to the first game eleven first team players still had not put pen to paper.
Some players (including Nulty, Gowling, Tommy Craig, Nattrass and Kenneddy) wanted an extra £1000 on their basic wage. Others were not happy with the one year contracts they had been offered (including Burns, Barrowclough, Cassiddy and Player of the Year Mick Mahoney).
The directors originally called the players' bluff and refused to accede to their demands; stating that if they didn't sign then they would simply play the reserves.
Then with the new season dawning the board capitulated. Better contracts were offered (giving them a £230 a week basic wage) and accepted; however irreparable damage had been done.
Pre-season preparations had been disrupted, many players were still not 100% happy with what they had received, the relationship between the players and the directors had deteriorated further, new players could not be signed and Dinnis' position had been further undermined.
Soccer Exports
A number of players had begun to try their luck on the continent and Kevin Keegan became the highest profile emigrant when he moved to Hamburg. There was a genuine concern at the time that the English game was in danger of losing its top players.
There were also lucrative opportunities for less gifted players in America. It would provide a useful outlet down which Bill Mcgarry could flush some of the flotsam and jetsam from the sinking ship.
Because they're S***e
The opening day victory over Leeds proved to be the highspot of the season; it was followed by a catastrophic ten game losing run.
United attempted to stick to their close passing style and they often started games brightly. But a lack of pace and the bluntness of the attack meant that chances were missed, confidence dropped and mistakes started to creep in. Sides with a pacier and/or more direct approach simply sliced through them.
A glut of injuries certainly did not help, but the attitude of certain players was also called into question
Once the season had derailed Dinnis had neither the wherewithal nor the financial clout to buy his way out of trouble. Dinnis allegedly attempted unsuccessfully to buy a whole host of players including: Ray Clarke (Sparta Rotterdam), David Narey and Paul Sturrock (Dundee United), Fran O'Brien and Gerry Ryan (Bohemians), Tony Fitzpatrick and Frank McGarvey (ST Mirren), Dave Thomas (Everton), Gerry Daley (Derby), Alan Ball (Southampton), Mick Walsh (Blackpool), Alan Buckley (Walsall), Don Masson (QPR) and a certain Graeme Souness (Middlesbrough).
He did eventually sign two players. Classy twenty-nine year old Scottish International John Blackley and Carlisle reserve midfielder Dennis Martin.
Meanwhile the machinations of the summer had taken their toll and a number of players remained unsettled. Other clubs hovered around like vultures.
Despite being given a two-year contract it was an understatement to say that he did not have the full support of the boardroom. What little support he had evaporated with the club's poor form and an eventual outburst by him in which he accused the club of being "Second Rate".
Dinnis was eventually sacked after the home draw with Bristol City on Guy Fawkes day; it took United to six points for the season. His fall from grace is covered in detail in the article : The Rise and Fall of Richard Dinnis - The Fall
Dinnis was a decent coach, though probably not cut out for management at the highest level, but in reality he had no chance of succeeding.
The departure of Dinnis was the cue for Burns, Mahoney and Tommy Craig to put in transfer requests with Gowling, Nulty and Cassiddy all believed to be considering their futures.
Moving Targets
Coach Willie McFaul was put in temporary charge whilst the directors began the search for someone to take over a club anchored to the bottom of the League and riddled with internal strife.
As a result the early names thrown into the media hat were a pretty mundane bunch. There were a number of "between jobs" managers: Eddie McCreadie, Bob Stokoe, Bill McGarry. And also some up-and-coming gaffers: Alan Durban, Graham Taylor, Bobby Campbell, George Eastham and former coach Dave Smith.
Southampton's genial geordie Lawrie McMenemy was allegedly the board's first choice but as he was being considered for the vacant England post this really was a non-starter. His superlatively successful return to his native North East would have to wait a couple of years.
Therefore when it was revealed that fifty year old former Man Utd manager Frank O'Farrel had been offered the job it came as a major surprise. Embarrassingly for United he turned them down, preferring to stay with his current employers, Fourth Division Torquay.
Former United hero Stokoe was particularly hurt to be overlooked, to not even be offered an interview. "I would have done it for three months - even six months for nothing".
Never Mind the B******s
Forty seven year old McGarry had been sacked by Wolves after they were relegated in 1975-76. He had worked in Saudi Arabia for but was now back in Blighty looking for work.
A Renowned disciplinarian he seemed ready for the challenge. "It seems there is a lot of politics played up there - but I do things my way. If any discipline is needed within the club I'll be happy to oblige".
McGarry attempted to persuade Jackie Milburn to become his right-hand man, but Milburn would only commit himself on a part-time basis (two days a week).
He watched United lose at home to Arsenal and made a quick assessment of what was required. "Unless I get a front man I've no chance of getting the team out of trouble....we have no target man - nobody to play the ball up to. We played so many short balls in our own half of the field and near our own box that we committed suicide".
The United supporters made their opinions clear as they chanted "We want our Mac back" during the match with reference to the sideburned one sitting it out in the stands due to an indiscretion in The Gooners previous match. McGarry enquired about his availability, but was given short shrift. He also failed in later bids for Derek Parlane of Rangers, Liverpool's John Toshack and Micky Walsh of Blackpool.
Mcgarry stated he wanted to assess the staff he had before allowing any players to leave and claimed that he'd "wiped the slate clean". He was impressed by the youngsters at the club and stated that they would get more chances to impress.
A much tougher training regime was introduced and a code of conduct imposed. One player found himself thrown out of the training ground when he lit-up after a particularly gruelling session.
Three wins in a row and three clean sheets in McGarry's ("the best Xmas Box I have ever had") first games in charge raised hopes that a miracle was indeed on the way; but it was to prove a false dawn. Only one of the last twenty three games was won (fourteen defeats and eight draws).
He tried to arrest the slide by bringing in two young Scottish strikers: Mike Larnach and Mark McGhee, but despite them both showing promise it was too little too late
At the end of January Stoke were after a new manager after they had sacked George Eastham and McGarry was believed to be on their shortlist. A native of the Potteries, he still lived in the area and significantly his three year contract was as yet still unsigned.
It was rumoured in the press that he might make a quick getaway, but "thankfully" he ended up staying.
Quite Disappointing
League Cup
In the midst of the disastrous start to the season United were dumped out of the League Cup at SJP by Second Division Millwall.
Following the 2-0 defeat Dinnis held a three hour inquest with the players blasting them for a shocking performance and suggesting that they would have to learn to live without captain Nulty.
UEFA Cup
United were drawn against Irish part-timers Bohemians in the First Round and managed to come away with a goalless draw from the first leg at Dalymount Park (their first clean sheet in twelve games). But it was the crowd trouble that grabbed the headlines.
They won relatively comfortably in the second leg 4-0, though it took a while for them to make the game safe. Dinnis did a jig of delight.
French club Bastia were their next opponents and Dinnis admitted he had "never heard of them". But he was aware of Dutch star Johnny Rep. Again they played the first leg away and got off to a great start when Cannel put them ahead early on. But the Frenchmen first pulled level and then scored again through Papi with what was literally the last kick of the match..
Harking back to previous sorties into Europe and lifted by some better results in the League there was a real feeling that United could overturn the deficit and progress. In the end they were outclassed with Rep (who had failed to make an impact in France) in superb form.
Dinnis was gracious in defeat: "Bastia gave us a soccer lesson tonight. We tried to play the way they play but in the last resort we had to go back to the old English style of up and under".
FA Cup
Bobby Robson's Ipswich beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley with a goal by Roger Osborne.
United needed a replay to dispose of Third Division Peterborough in the Third round. The first match at London Road was a bruising encounter in which The Posh had United under the cosh for the majority of the match and only a superb performance from Nattrass saved the day.
In the replay at SJ gale force winds made for farcical conditions at times and Newcastle edged through 2-0. Old favourite Tommy Robson starred for the Londoners and United had to wait until the 86th minute to make the game safe.
Another Third Division side -Wrexham - were next. Their were Dixie McNeill and a certain Bobby Shinton.
The first game at SJ ended 2-2 after the Welshmen deservedly equalised just before the end. It was an exciting game on a muddy, greasy pitch.
In the replay United were humbled 4-1. Wrexham took the lead in the first minute and dominated the first half. Newcastle go a surprise equaliser through a Roberts og (39), but a delicate chip from Shinton (42) restored their lead.
The Welshmen continued to control the match and two goals in the last five minutes simply rubbed it in.
Watching the Defectives
Pretty Vacant
As the season unfolded the attitude of the fans changed.
Initially they tried to lift the team. Dinnis was full of praise after the 0-3 home defeat against West Ham. "The Leazes End in particular were marvellous in the second half trying to keep us going".
But when the scoreline was repeated a week later in the home game against WBA the fans turned. They barracked the players throughout the match, chanted "we want football" and jeered them off the pitch (allegedly) reducing some players to tears.
The arrival of McGarry and a couple of better performances got the fans back on the team's side, but when relegation became a mathematical certainty they voted with their feet. The last home game against Norwich attracted only 7,986. It was the lowest attendance for a League match since World War 1; although it was to be slightly beaten in the following season.
Not surprisingly the average attendance slumped by more than a quarter to 25,037.
Blyth
It was apt that the biggest crowd of the season at SJP was for a match in which Newcastle did not play. A crowd of over 42,000 turned up (with many more locked out) to see Blyth Spartans unluckily beaten by Wrexham.
Even this match brought controversy as the Chronicle reported. "Turnstiles had closed even though there were huge gaps in some parts and many fans - especially in areas of the new stand and the Leazes End - could watch the match without even being pushed."
The club responded by explaining that certain section had to be closed because they had reached their capacity and that announcements were made to guide supporters to open turnstiles. Some supporters decided to gain entry by forcing their way through locked doors and the decision was taken to close all turnstiles.
Leazes
The home game on March 29th against Manchester City was poignant as it marked the end of an era for the ground as The Leazes End was closed to allow it to be demolished as the first stage of the Phase II ground development plan.
For safety reasons the capacity had already been reduced by 5000 and the decision was taken to start with the covered Leazes instead of the uncovered Gallowgate because the Popular End was in a worse state.
The plan was to replace it with a new stand similar to the East Stand with paddocks to the front and seating behind. The new paddocks were to be ready for the start of the new season; the 5000 capacity seating areas would "not be completed next season" but would instead "be built in sections as and when possible.
Blank Generation
With hooliganism rife at the time it was no surprise that the dire performances of the team were also reflected on the terraces. Fighting regularly broke out at the Leazes End during games, notably during the home defeat against WBA where there was a "pitched battle on the terraces".
The UEFA Cup Tie with Bohemians at Dalymount Park had to be stopped for ten minutes as fans fought with each other. Bottles, blocks of wood and cans were used as missiles and the trouble eventually spilled onto the pitch. United keeper Mahoney had to receive treatment after being hit and the windows in the United dressing room were shattered during the break.
Director James Rush was the centre of controversy when it was alleged that he had sent a letter to the Irish club apologising for the behaviour of the Newcastle fans and suggesting it was they who had started the trouble.
The return leg at SJ was relatively quiet, but a small smoke bomb was launched from the Leazes.
Elsewhere UEFA imposed a two-year ban on Manchester United after crowd trouble before their Cup Winners Cup match at St Ettiene. The Red Devils launched a successful appeal arguing that the home side had failed to provide adequate segregation. They were re-instated, though they were ordered to play all matches at least 300km from Old Trafford.
Man Utd and Chelsea fans were often causing trouble and as a result the games at SJP against them were made all ticket. Some clubs went further and banned their supporters from the grounds.
Meanwhile Millwall fans were involved in a number of incidents, the worst of which was during the Sixth Round FA Cup Tie against Ipswich at the Den. Ipswich won 6-1, but the game was held up for eighteen minutes after hooligans fought a running battle with the police.
Sir Bobby was not impressed and adopted the language of another recently knighted Robert. "Get out the flame throwers and burn the bastards" was his aftermatch response
Something Better Change
Some supporters decided that a more civilised form of protest was required and The Newcastle United Supporters Association was born with Alex Gibson as Chairman and Malcolm Dix Vice Chairman.
Businessman Dix had attempted to get on the Board on a number of occasions believing that there was a need for a younger more business orientated board. He suggested that "freemasonary" was being used to block him and accused the board of "making Newcastle a laughing stock".
Dix stressed that NUSA were not looking for direct confrontation "Our aims are simply to make United a successful club. It isn't that now and shows no signs of it becoming successful. They simply wanted "the name of Newcastle United spoken with pride once more".
They wanted the club to issue new voting share capital to bring in cash and new blood into the board. Their campaign started with them issuing leaflets to supporters before the home match with Wolves. "The directors have sole authority regarding the transfer of shares and this would seem to have been kept to movement between a select group".
Their premises were officially opened by Fifties stalwart Frank Brennan in January (McGarry having turned down the job as being politically sensitive). Brennan was highly critical of the club and urged the fans to boycott games to bring about change.
Another former player who publicly criticised the club was Macdonald, but his speech at a Sports Council dinner was not well received.
Plastic Letters
With their usual impeccable timing the club introduced a letters page to the programme to give the fans an "opportunity to air your views". Not surprisingly the state of the club was not reflected in the suspiciously positive tone of the majority of letters that got printed. Only one from Mr. RP Myers really criticised the club and the reply from the editor showed that this was only published to try and turn public opinion against the doubters.
But to be fair Anthony Kaye's complaint about the pre-match and half-time entertainment; "Every match is the same military music" was published.
Complete Control
1977 had seen the Board under attack from many quarters, but the eight bad men were in no mood to relinquish their position. On the contrary, they further entrenched their position by dismissing Dinnis and ridding themselves of the "troublemakers" at the centre of the "player power".
The board members at the time were Chairman Lord Westwood, James Rush, Harry Dickson, Gordon McKeag, Stan Seymour, RT Rutherford, DV Salkeld and F Braithwaite. They had a lot to answer for.
Chairman Westwood put the blame on ex-manager Gordon Lee; claiming that the club's problems dated back to his sales of Hibbitt and Macdonald.
Lee was quick to respond: "This could be a great club. The supporters are magnificent, superb. It should be the happiest club in the world now. Richard Dinnis and the players rightly took the credit for getting Newcastle into Europe. So why blame me now? What's it got to do with me?
Their amateurish bungling of the : Dinnis appointment during the previous season had left them with a manager that many of them didn't want and were quite happy to undermine.
The contractural wrangles with the players resulted in a disaffected squad and no new signings.
Their inability to generate sufficient funds to finance new signings and attractive wage deals prevented the club from buying their way out of trouble.
Chairman Westwood had been willing to publicly back Dinnis, but as the losses mounted up he made it clear that the board's patience "was not inexhaustible" and that he expected the players who "got the improved contracts they wanted" to start to "produce the goods".
Dinnis' outburst loaded the guns for the trigger-happy directors and after Burns and Craig responded by demanding transfers they attempted to regain control by gagging all players from talking to the press.
Westwood had become a figure of hate and he was forced to go ex-directory because of constant obscene phone calls and even a bomb hoax.
As a result it was no surprise when One-Eyed Westwood attempted to move himself out of the firing line by becoming President with Bob Rutherford taking over as Chairman.
The NUSA were less than impressed with the boardroom changes. "We were expecting that when Lord Westwood announced his intention to resign, that Newcastle united would be entering a new era".
"What has happened is just a game of musical chairs. Lord Westwood is very firmly still there...This type of kidology is typical of the way the board insult the intelligence of loyal supporters".
No More Heroes
No less than thirty five players were used by managers Dinnis, McFaul and McGarry; the most ever used in one season and almost twice as many as had been used in the previous season.
Although the squad was quite large it lacked quality outside the first eleven and could not withstand a bad run of injuries and/or suspensions and/or loss of form. Therefore when the injury crisis inevitably came too many untried youngsters had to be thrown in.
The squad was not adequately strengthened due to the board's lack of faith in Dinnis, the contractural wrangling during the summer, Dinnis' lack of experience in the cut-throat world of the soccer trade and the lack of available funds.
Despite the fact that the players eventually signed their contracts many of them remained unsettled; this was further exacerbated when Dinnis was sacked.
But the players cannot be absolved of all blame. They had been completely out of order during the previous season over the appointment of Dinnis. And certainly there were a number of occasions during 1977/78 when some players did not appear to be putting in 100% effort.
The Dinnis outburst made it clear that he thought some players had outstayed their welcome and although McGarry was willing to adopt a wait and see approach he had soon changed his mind.
By March McGarry had seen enough: "We are ridiculously overstaffed. The wage bill is astronomical." (There were 54 professionals at the club when McGarry joined). "I need to get rid of about 20 players.. there are youngsters here I've hardly seen play. I need to give them a chance".
He also blasted a number of players for being "riddled with fear". "I can't understand it" he continued "there is no way that a player with Newcastle is going to get the bird if he tries".
In a case of bad timing Jimmy Smith's testimonial took place at the end of the season. A crowd of 17,428 saw a Jim Smith's IX beat the current side 6-3.
What Do We Get?
Out of Toon
| T. Craig | January | Aston Villa | £270,000 |
| P Cannell | February | Washington Dips. | £40,000 |
| G Oates | March | Detroit Express | £40,000 |
| R Hudson | March | Fort Lauderdale | £40,000 |
| D Martin | March | Mansfield | £25,000 |
| A Gowling | March | Bolton | £120,000 |
| S Barrowclough | April | Birmingham | Exchange |
| D Maclean | May | Carlisle | Free |
Into Toon
| D. Martin | October | Carlisle | £40,000 |
| J. Blackley | October | Hibernians | £100,000 |
| M. McGhee | December | Morton | £150,000 |
| M. Larnach | December | Clydebank | £100,000 |
| A. Parkinson | March | Dynamos Utd | Free |
| J Connolly | April | Birmingham | Exchange |
| T Hibbitt | April | Birmingham | Exchange |
Transfer balance -£62,000
Appearances
Goals
The Squad
Appearances and goals listed below refer to League, FA Cup and League Cup matches only
Goalkeepers
The previous season's player of the year Mahoney suffered from injuries and loss of form whilst also being felled by a missile in the UEFA Cup match with Bohemians.
Steve Hardwick made his debut at Anfield and received rave reports for his confident and composed displays before he too was injured. He returned but lost his place when McGarry arrived.
Eighteen year old Kevin Carr kept a clean sheet on his debut at Loftus Road in December and retained his place for a number of games before McGarry restored Mahoney to the side.
When injury ruled out both Mahoney and Carr at the beginning of the season United coach McFaul was forced to don his gloves again for a reserve match against Wolves at SJP. He let in seven, six of them in the second half.
Right Backs
Irving Nattrass started the season at right back but would also be used as a centre-back, sweeper and left back. He did not always maintain his previous high standards although he was often forced to try and marshall a very inexperienced defence.
Experienced full-back David Craig was struggling against injury and rarely featured. The home defeat against Arsenal was his last ever game.
Ray "Bomber" Blackhall filled in on a number of occasions in his last season at the club, scoring a creditable four goals.
Peter Kelly was one of the unluckiest players to don a black and white shirt. This was another season in which injury prevented him from an extended run in the side. In the few games he did play he received rave reviews.
Left Backs
Alan Kenneddy was one of the few players to escape the fan's vitriol, although he admitted his failings "my mind tends to wander during a game". He missed three months of the season through a knee ligament injury.
Micky Barker was on the transfer listed, but Kenneddy's absence gave him an extended run in the side.
Martin Gorry made his debut came on as a substitute in the 4-0 reverse at Maine Road. He was then troubled by a cyst and never played another game for the club.
Centre-backs
The absence of captain Nulty for almost all the season was a major factor in the club's decline. Dinnis regarded him as irreplacable; he only managed eleven games all season.
Nulty's absence gave John Bird a chance to establish himself in the side.
Aiden McCaffrey found himself dropped early on in the season; Dinnis stating "he has missed Geoff Nulty and is unable to blend with John Bird". He returned but lost his place after the disastrous 2-4 home defeat against Middlesbrough.
Lanky teenager David Barton made his debut in the surprise 2-0 win at Elland Road in January 1978 and established himself in the side towards the end of the season.
John Blackley provided a touch of class and a guiding influence when signed from Hibs, but a catalogue of injuries prevented him from having an extended run in the side.
Midfield
Deputy Captain Tommy Craig was the club's best performer in the first half of the season and attracted interest from Spurs and Celtic. He expressed his desire to leave as soon as Dinnis was sacked and became targeted by the crowd for a perceived lack of commitment. McGarry transfer listed and relieved him of his captaincy in January believing that it was in the interests of both parties that he moved on. Moved to Aston Villa.
Tommy Cassiddy was dropped by Dinnis and accused in the press of not giving 100% after the home defeat against West Ham. Dinnis claimed it was in an attempt to motivate him, but the Big Irishman responding angrily. "I'm no cheat ...I was shocked by the way the manager talked about me publically. The words hurt me as an individual, not as a professional. As a pro I know they were rubbish". He returned to the side but missed the last three months due to a severe groin strain.
Stewart Barrowclough struggled to recapture past glories and was carted off to Birmingham at the end of the season in exchange for John Connolly and (the returning) Terry Hibbitt .
David Maclean's was one of many whose career at Gallowgate sunk in this Titanic season. He played 7(1) times and was on the losing side every time. Sold to Carlisle.
Ralph Callaghan the unfortunate pariah of the previous season got a few games when initially as an emergency striker and then as a replacement for Cassiddy. However despite being compared with Jinky he soon fell out of favour.
If there was one player who summed up what the crowd hated about Gordon Lee it was Graham Oates. He got a few games, but cemented his popularity by responding to the fans' "encouragement" by doing a "Harvey Smith" during the home defeat against Derby for which he was transfer listed. McGarry unthinkably allowed him to wear the hallowed number nine shirt in his first game in charge; though - to his credit - he never picked him again and shipped him out to America.
Ray Hudson had spent the summer playing in the States for Fort Lauderdale and he was keen to return with New York Cosmos also showing an interest. McGarry seemed keen to keep him praising his "vision and flair" and hoping to give him an "extended run in our first team". In the end he returned to the States.
In his desperate search for a combative midfielder Dinnis eventually went for a thirty-year-old who couldn't get in the Carlisle side. Signed in October, Dennis Martin scored on his debut at Old Trafford. Six months later he was out the door.
Eighteen year old Nigel Walker played his first game in Dinnis' last hurrah at Bristol City. A classy midfielder who was given an extended run in the side towards the end of the season.
Makem youngster Tony Smith was handed his debut by caretaker manager Mcfaul in the defeat at Molineux but would never establish himself.
Teenager Jamie Scott was one of a number of youngsters tried out by McGarry. He played a number of games towards the end of the season.
Forwards
Gowling's season was wrecked by injuries. He was one of the leading rebels but he worked tirelessly during the matches he appeared in often turning out when not fully fit. Seen as one of the main trouble makers and sold to Bolton.
Both before and after Dinnis' departure Micky Burns made it clear that he wanted to leave the club which earned him the wrath of his supporters; but he continued to put in committed performances. Sixteen goals made him the to scorer.
Paul Cannell failed to recapture his form of the previous season scoring only once in 9(1) appearances; another allowed to go Stateside.
Twenty year old Kenny Mitchell played a handful of games although his scoring prowess would soon lead to him to be converted into a defender.
Mike Larnach arrived from Clydebank in December and made a good initial impact, however he never really adjusted to the pace of the English game.
Twenty year old Mark McGhee arrived for his first period at the club; but despite showing flashes of his brilliance a relegation struggle was not the best place for a striker just learning his trade.
Six foot teenager Andrew Parkinson arrived at the club from South Africa in March 1978 and came on as substitute on two occasions but never had a chance to stake his claim. He went back home in March. .
Eighteen year old Stuart Robinson received a surprise call-up and starred in his debut; McGarry's first game in charge; the home win over Leicester. He helped the club record three consecutive victories (scoring the winner at Loftus Road) but lost his place when this was followed by three successive defeats.
Alan Guy played in the last match at Filbert Street.
Ray Xuereb was regarded as Malta's top player and had impressed United on the club's end of season tour. He had been expected to sign following the birth of his second child but didn't turn up for his trial until after Dinnis had been sacked. He was sent back home without playing a first team game.
News Of The World
WBA H [lost 0-3] 3/9/77 - Dave Alexander
"The players are to blame....too many started to look for holes to hide in rather than causes to fight".
Birmingham A [lost 0-3] 17/9/77 - Ivor Broadis
"The second-half performance was reminiscent of Sinatra with laryngitis - the tune was well remembered but the notes came out all wrong".
Coventry H [lost 0-3] 24/9/77 - Ivor Broadis
"United were weighed down by a mountain of tension early on....I doubt if the players could have given any more in terms of effort...for anybody".
Bastia H [lost 1-3] 2/11/77 - Colin Diball
"The gap in style between the sides left a sad taste in the mouths of 34,000 fans who had hoped to mop up a sample of European glamour after seven years of waiting".
Following Dinnis' "outburst" - Dave Alexander
"the latest chapter in a collective book that might be entitled How to Fail in Football without really Buying".
Wolves A [lost 0-1] 12/11/77 - David Potts
"Newcastle... were without motivation, inspiration and, for long periods, even common interest."
Following Dinnis sacking - Sunday Sun Opinion
"Newcastle United FC are at the crossroads. Whether they sink completely into the mire of second-raters depends on the eight-man board of directors".
"They can carry on as they have done in recent years and the result will be inevitable. Or they can perform one final great service for the club and hand over control to professionals".
John Gibson - The Pink
"United fans are pointing to the attitude of certain players this season for the club's downfall and frankly I think they are right. The enthusiasm of some hasn't exactly been bounding."
Mboro H [lost 2-4] 14/1/78 - Dave Alexander
"the question mark must be put against the commitment of one or two players, near the end Tommy Craig, who has enjoyed better performances than this, knew exactly what the crowd thought of his contribution".
WHU A [lost 0-1] 21/1/78 - David Miller
"Without ever looking incisive, West Ham played Newcastle out of sight - which for the time being is the best place for them".
"The sooner Newcastle can retire quite quietly to the Second Division and rebuild under less pressure and publicity, the better for this once-famous but now sadly inert club".
Arsenal A [lost 1-2] 15/4/78 - Radford Barrett
"The club, whose politics seem only slightly less complex than the Borgias, must find a way to stop wounding itself.".
Sex and Drugs and a little Football
Kevin Keegan's Rise
With English stars such as Keegan, Duncan McKenzie and (ahem) Roger Davies going for bigger bucks abroad there was speculation that the English football authorities might consider removing their ban on foreign players; particularly those living within the Common Market Countries.
However there was no movement with the Little Englanders following the example of the Italians who had placed an embargo on foreigners in the Sixties.
Don Readies
England Manager Don Revie became Public Enemy Number 1 when he deserted his country for a lucrative contract in the Middle East. Ron Greenwood took over.
The Daily Mirror also printed allegations that Leeds had tried to fix managers whilst he was manager there.
Tommy Gone
Another gaffer in for some grief was Man United's Tommy Docherty who was sacked because he was giving the club's physio's wife some treatment of his own. "The Doc" would bounce back at the Baseball Ground.
White Punks on Dope
Scotland were on their way to the World Cup in Argentina, unlike England who failed to qualify for the second time in succession. It all ended sourly with winger Willie Johnstone being sent home in disgrace (alleged druggie) and the rest of the team following soon after disastrous results against Peru and Iran. Despite beating Holland in their last game with Graeme Souness brought in and running the show, Scotland's manager Ally Macleod was savaged by the press.
The Final itself was a controversial affair. The hosts beat Holland 3-1 in a match ruined by Holland's cynical play, the gamesmanship and theatricals of Kempes' Crew and the "homing instincts" of Italian referee Sergio Gonella.
Never Mind the B******s
Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough did his bit to clean up the game by fining his players for rough play and threatening to resign if the fans did not moderate their language.