NUFC History - 1890s

Seasons in the Seventies A decade that started with great optimism and occasionally took us to the NUtopia we all dream of ended up with us as far away from the promised land as could be imagined. Harvey's dream died at Wembley in '74 and he was hounded out and replaced by the unearthlee Gordon and that's when things really got hellish.

Get Carter - 1970-71 - The Brazilians have lifted our lives with their Samba Soccer during the Mexico World Cup. Harry Palmer is on his way to a grim and violent Tyneside to exact his bloody revenge. Which of these would the Toon's season mirror?

And now Tudor's gone down .... Words of John Motson that trigger painful memories in all those United supporters who've heard them and lets face it who hasn't. Toonarama takes you to 1971/72 when pants were hot, heels were high and the Nightmare on Edgar Street was just beginning.

Cum on Feel the Noize Get out your chopper, put on Wolverhampton's finest and ride on down to 1972. Soccer is in crisis and the authorities haven't got a clue what to do. Thinks are generally looking up at SJP, but it's a Black September for Tony Green.

Teenage Lament '74 United and their fans make the front and back page headlines. Praise turns to pillory as the United players become involved in the Battle of Birmingham and the United fans invade SJP to overthrow the sheriffs of Nottingham.

You Aint seen Nothing Yet - 1974/75 Clockwork Orange fans at Roker Park, Micky Burns his bridges, Malcolm pulls his socks up, Joe is jettisoned, Gordon arrives and the players are put to the sword. The question is could Frank Clark's new image save him from the chop. All is revealed in our review of the 1974/75 season.

Anarchy in SJP - 1976/77 Supermac was booted up the Arsenal to the glee of the boss. United stunned the critics by riding high but the morose midlander was soon stuck to The Toffees and United were left seeking another leader. The players threatened to strike if Dickie was overlooked and the board succumbed to the pressure.

Doontoon Bottom Ranking As Peter and The Test Tube Babies later informed us: in 1977 Elvis met his fate, but he could not get into heaven cos he couldn't fit through the gate. A club on Toonside was also suffering a terrible demise

Road to Ruin - Season 1978/79 Despite the catastrophic fall from grace in the previous season hopes were high on Tyneside that United could bounce straight back. However McGarry's revamped side failed to gel and the supporters turned away in droves as attendance hit record lows.

Is Gordon a Moron? Gordon Lee; a man ahead of his time or a man whose time had passed. Toonarama reveals the amazing secrets behind the reign of the man that they loved to hate.

The Rise and Fall of Richard Dinnis - The Rise - Witness the dramatic rise of Richard (Dickie) Dinnis the manager/teacher who went from ball-boy to manager in a matter of months

The Rise and Fall of Richard Dinnis - The Fall Witness the calamitous fall of Richard (Dickie) Dinnis the manager/teacher who ultimately lost control of his class

70's keepers - Iam McFaul held the number 1 shirt for the first half of the decade before he retired. In the second half of the 1970s a succession of 'keepers were tried between the sticks without any lasting success

70's fullbacks - For the first part of the decade saw the "C" boys continue to rule the roost but when Clark was freed and Craig was injury stricken two more quality players were ready to step in: Nattrass and Kenneddy. When they both left replacements were harder to find.

70's centre-backs - A veritable hopgepodge of central defenders with tough nuts like Howard and Carnage, mixed with the more fruity Moncur and Blackley and a fair sprinkling of Keeley Birds.

70's midfielders [part 1] - The first half of the seventies saw Joe Harvey bring some fantastic talent to Tyneside in the shape of Terry Hibbitt, Terry McDermott, Tony Green and Tommy Craig to play alongside fans favourite Jimmy Smith. As a result internally reared players barely got a look in

Irving Nattrass - Joe Harvey described Nattrass as his "Paul Madeley" the so called Rolls Royce of footballers. He was a player of pace, poise and perception and was very unlucky not to receive greater international recognition. It's fair to say that no Uniterd defender since has matched the Fishburn flier.

Terry Hibbit and his Talking Left Foot - Malcolm Macdonald once described Terry Hibbitt's left foot as a magic wand; others believed it could even talk. One of Joe Harvey's best ever bargain basement buys the Yorkshire terrier was the player who made the team tick before his controversial departure at the hands of Gordon Lee.

The Sheer Green Class of Tone - Tony Green played his first match for United at the end of October 1971 and played his 35th and last game only ten months later; yet he made such an impression during his short stay that he is rightly regarded as one of the best players to pull on a black and white shirt. Toonarama pays tribute to the wee bundle of dynamite Joe Harvey called "irreplaceable"

Hell's Bells Do you remember what you were doing on 7th December 1974? Probably not. Nicole Appleton does (she was being born), Toonarama does and so does former United 'keeper Tony Bell. Find out why it is such a significant date for the tousled haired stopper.

Suit You Supermac - Today's footballers get paid far too much, but it hasn't always been that way. Players once used public transport and lived with landladies. Even superstars of the 70's such as Malcolm Macdonald needed alternative methods of income.

The Wierd and Wacky World of Tudor John Many players and fans have - throughout the history of this beautiful game - slavishly followed pre-match rituals believing that they will either bring good luck or ward off bad luck. For some one particular act must be carried out, whilst others follow a number of different rules. Then there is John Tudor.

Stars of the Seventies - In the early years Harvey performed miracles in the transfer market and signed some of the true greats: Macdonald, Green and Hibbitt. In the later years lack of money, poor judgement on behalf of his successors and a Division 2 status meant incomings measured far more in quantity than quality. Here's our team of the 70s