1987-88 Season - Fans

The regulations introduced under the Safety at Sports Ground Grounds Act had forced United to demolish the old West Stand during the summer. Work had started on a new stand whic would house 6,300 spectators and include 39 executive boxes.The stand was partially opened in January but was not fully completed until the during the summer of 1988.

In the meantime a temporary stand (borrowed from Brands Hatch) was precariously perched atop the Leazes End; not surprisingly the average attendance slumped by 3,000

The fans were not in the best of dispositions as Beardsley followed Waddle out the exit door during the summer and an undercurrent of antagonism and aggression existed throughout the season despite United's relative success.

The arrival of Mirandinha provided a welcome distraction and an unexpected boom in the sale of sombreros, but the little Brazilian would drive them nuts as often as he enthralled them.

As a result he wasn't immune from the crowd's barracking; neither was the prodigal son Gazza and it has been suggested that the abuse he sometimes received from the crowd was one of the reasons he left.

One person who couldn't take the heat was Glyn Hodges who was sold a couple of months after a £300,000 move from Wimbledon and complained that "St James' Park was one big pressure dome...and it's hard to do yourself justice in that atmosphere".

The main wrath of the fans was reserved for the directors and when United struggled early doors - and notably when United were destroyed 4-1 at home by Liverpool - "sack the board" and "Seymour out" could be heard reverberating around the ground

Fans continued to get into bother on their travels and when dozens of fans were prevented from attending Hillsbrough due to their rowdy behaviour a police spokesman said "the one trouble with Geordies is that they like their drink too much

The worst trouble was when United played at Derby towards the end of the season when 33 United followers were arrested for various offences including a drunken rampage through a Nottingham suburb.

Missile throwing had become a bit of an epidemic with United yobs disgracing themselves on a number of occasions. The worst example was when Charlton's Colin Walsh was pelted as he lay injured with a broken leg.

Before the end of the season a single Mars Bar was thrown at Gazza as he prepared to take a throw in (as that was his food of choice) by a fan that I can name as David Yellowley. Gazza with his usual whimsical touch tucked it into his socks before later taking a bite. The next home game saw a few more confectionary items arrive.

After the final home game of the season (against West Ham) around 200 fans clambered over the fences. Most of them were youngsters who made do with running around a bit but some swung on the crossbar and damaged it.

There were chants of "sack the board" and secretary Cushing blamed the Evening Chronicle (who were firmly backing the Hall campaign) for "incitement".