NUFC Season Summaries

NUFC Season 1978/79

Mick Mahoney was the only player who started the first match at Millwall who was in the side at the beginning of the previous season such was the drastic reconstruction work taking place at St James'.

McGarry completely overhauled the side bringing in a number of experienced journeymen from the First Division. Arguably though his best signing was that of Alan Shoulder from non-league Blyth Spartans.

Not surprisingly it took the team a while to gel; but the record signing of Peter Withe provided the impetus for United to climb to 6th by mid December. At this stage an instant return did not look out of the question.

However five defeats in a row culminating in the disastrous 1-4 home defeat in the Tyne Wear derby took United off the rails and they never fully got back on track.

The FA Cup saw a fourth round exit to Wolves whilst Third Division Watford knocked us out of the League Cup at the first time of asking.

The average attendance dropped to just above 20,000; the worst figure since the end of World War 2 and the last match against Wrexham attracted only 7,134 spectators; the lowest crowd of the Century.