Forget 5-0, all Sir John wants now is a draw
IT is 50 years since Newcastle last won a major trophy and Sir John Hall believes they are further away than ever from ending that barren run. “I’ve often tried to get my head around why it’s been so long. In my day, maybe we tried too hard.
“Had we won the league under Kevin, I am convinced Newcastle’s history would be very different.
“The harsh reality is that today, more than at any time since 1969, we are probably further away than ever from winning something. And there is no chance of doing so until there is change at the club.” Which brings us to Mike Ashley, the controversial owner who bought the club off Sir John, his son Douglas and Freddy Shepherd for £134million in May 2007. Many fans still blame Sir John for selling to the retail magnate. Eleven years on, he will not apologise for doing so but is as desperate as them for Ashley to go.
“Mike came with the best intentions. I firmly believe that,” says Sir John. “He wanted to globalise Newcastle and to use the club to market his brand of goods in the Far East. But he fell out with supporters pretty quickly and for too many years now it’s been a holding operation. “The club is in limbo. Mike’s had enough and, for everyone’s sake, the sooner he moves on the better. That’s my fervent wish for 2019.
“But it’s imperative whoever he sells to has the finance to take this magnificent club forward.
“It’s not just about coughing up £300m – and from what I hear, there’s nothing yet on the table – but having the resources to change the whole club and buy players who can take us to where we should be.”
A pre-cursor to the UEFA Cup, Newcastle won the Fairs Cup trophy in 1969 when they beat Hungarians Ujpest Dozsa 6-2 on aggregate in the final, having triumphed 3-0 at home in the first leg. Captain Moncur scored twice in that match and their first goal in the away leg.
They did win the old first division on four occasions but the last time was in the 1926-1927 season. Many of Newcastle’s finest moments came in the FA Cup – they are six-times winners with their last triumph in 1955.
Another cup victory of any sort seems a long way off with Ashley placing no importance on the competition and manager Rafa Benitez likely to play a weakened side against Blackburn on Saturday as he makes Premier League survival his priority. With a rejuvenated Manchester United at St James’ Park tonight, Sir John still smiles at memories of the time Newcastle went toe-to-toe with the Old Trafford giants, with a team featuring Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardsley and David Ginola inflicting a humiliating defeat.
“A lot has changed,” he says. “It’s been quite a fall from grace. Fortunately, in Rafa Benitez, we have got a world-class manager and the fans are as passionate as ever.
“But another 5-0 victory this time? No chance!”