NUFC Season Summaries

NUFC Season 1988/89

This was a disastrous season for the club, but our downfall was put into perspective by the horrific scenes at Hillsborough and the emotional farewell for Jackie Milburn. It was a season when tangible hope turned to real despair.

There were hopes and fears before the start of the new season. McFaul had - on paper - signed a quartet of decent looking players: Dave Beasant, Andy Thorn, John Hendrie and John Robertson. However we had not only sold Gazza but, arguably more importantly, we had also lost Paul Goddard.

It only took a matter of seconds at Goodison Park for us to find out which emotion would dominate. Thousands had travelled to Goodison Park in celebratory mood and The Toffeemen's fans were confused, but it was United who were to become badly unstuck unstuck.

Four defeats in the first seven games was not sufficient time for the new players to be assimilated but it was deemed enough for McFaul to be - harshly - sacked. Worse still United did not have a succession plan. They floundered around for six weeks trying to find a successor by which time we'd lost five more games and plunged to 20th.

The United heirarchy's embarrasment was finally ended when they persuaded the experienced Jim Smith to take charge. There were two thirds of the season left and on paper a reasonable if mediocre side; we had every reason to believe that the situation could be rectified.

Two wins and two draws in his first four games suggested it could be done but when this was followed by four defeats over Xmas the alarm bells started ringing again.

Smith decided to embark on a major mid season rebuilding programme. Rob McDonald and Liam O'Brien had arrived whilst United were still under caretaker control and they were joined by Kevin Brock, Ray Ranson, Kenny Sansom, Frank Pingel, Gary Brazil, Paul Sweeney and Bjorn Kristenson. As a result a grand total of 35 players were used during the campaign

His tactics failed and United's League record during 1989 was 3 wins, 5 draws and 11 defeats resulted in relegation. During the whole campaign the highest position attained had been 17th

The average crowd actually rose but the disenchantment with the Board was getting into full swing with "Sack the Board" becoming the most popular chant and sit down protests becoming a regular occurrence. The supporters gained a new mouthpiece as "The Mag" appeared on the streets for the first time.

However there was a different aspect to the protests this time as a group of high powered and influential business men led by John Hall formed the Magpie Group with the publicised aim of democratising the club. It was to be the start of a massive battle of power with new Chairman Gordon McKeag.