NUFC Season Summaries

NUFC Season 1968/69

The best season since the glory days of the fifties saw United confound their critics by winning the Fairs Cup in their first venture into European football. Little did everyone know that be would still be waiting for another cup success thirty seven years later.

United with their direct attacking style blazed a trail past Feyenoord, Sporting Lisbon, Real Zaragoza, Victoria Setubal and Glasgow Rangers to meet Hungarians Upjest Dozsa in the Final.

A home leg victory 3-0 seemed to give United an unassailable lead, but it nearly went for a burton in Budapest. The Magyars destroyed United in the first period and scored twice. A famous Harvey team talk rallied the troops and United scored three without reply in the second half.

There was one blackspot in the campaign as the home tie against Rangers saw the worst ever football related violence witnessed on Tyneside.

In the League, we recoverd from a terrible start in which we won only one of our first twelve games to steadily climb up the table.

As usual in the sixties we made little progresson the Cups; at least our victors were both First Division clubs this time: Manchester City (FA) and Southampton (LC.)

Harvey was also strengthening the squad and Gibb, Arentoft, Horsefield and Hope all arrived whilst youngsters like Dyson, Alan Foggon and Dave Elliot were all given opportunities.

Leaving the club were Marshall, Iley, Bennet, Horsfield and Tommy Robson