How lucky we have been to have such stars in our midst
ONE-hundred-and-twenty-five years of rollercoaster history at one of England’s iconic football clubs is indeed worthy of bunting and bugles.
Newcastle United hold a place of pride within the world’s greatest game as its honours board shows – even if their gilt-edged name hasn’t been added to for far too long.
To Geordies St James’ Park is the cathedral on the hill, a place of worship where passions and loyalty run high.
Some of the finest footballers ever to grace the turf have worn the famed black-and-white stripes from the Edwardian dandies who reigned so relentlessly through Hughie Gallacher’s title winners of the twenties, to the FA Cup dominators of the early fifties, the European winners of the late sixties, and the Entertainers who captivated a nation of neutrals.
Top managers have strode the Newcastle dug out – one-time Cup captain Joe Harvey, Premier League runner-up Kevin Keegan, Champions Leaguer Sir Bobby Robson, and now the much-loved and highlydecorated Rafa Benitez.
Supporters, of course, like nought more than venting their opinion in every pub and club down the Tyne corridor. Who is the best? Why? And how can they all be accommodated?
I, like everyone born and bred within shouting distance of St James’ Park, revel in such discussions, passionately defending my choices against that of others who have every right to challenge.
Of course, none of us have lived anywhere near long enough to cover the vast 125 years of history and therefore the early stars will suffer in comparison despite the fact that the greatest glut of medals were won by them.
Think if you will of McCracken, so good the powers that be had to change the offside rule to curb his influence; Jimmy Lawrence, who kept goal between the years of 1904 to 1922, amassing a record 495 appearances; and the versatile Colin Veitch, a man of all parts...schoolteacher, musician, actor, journalist and, above all, footballer Bill par excellence. From the last United side to lift the championship of England in 1927 we have skipper and record goalscorer Hughie Gallacher, the architect of the No 9 legend, and winger Stan Seymour, who later masterminded the three FA Cup victories of 1951, ’52 and ’55.
Who of today’s fans would vote for them because personal memories are what produce the bias of romance? Yet all deserve support for the achievements of a golden era.
Nay, the far-off original superstars would demand automatic inclusion if judged on medals alone yet time is never eventually kind and so they inevitably lose out to those of more recent memory.
Yet to make my point, who could theoretically argue against Jimmy Lawrence, for example, who, despite losing the war years from 1914 to ’18 still amassed three top-flight championships, an FA Cup winner’s medal, and a further four Cup final appearances when nought else was available to claim?
My memory may go back farther than most, one of the very few advantages of age, and in making my choice I go with what my eyes have witnessed from schoolboy to scribe while paying due honour and respect to the big names of far-off history.
That being so, I don’t look back beyond my boyhood heroes of the early fifties but include everyone since. A wide canvas indeed.
First and foremost I’ve already gone on record as declaring that Peter Beardsley is in my opinion the best United player ever so he’s a shoo-in. So is Alan Shearer at the coveted No 9. England hasn’t seen better, never mind Newcastle.
Which leaves us with a nine-man tricky selection problem. Perhaps who to play alongside Shearer is the greatest heartstring puller. My choices, Malcolm Macdonald AND Jackie Milburn.
Two strikers lightning quick with a bullet of a shot and great finishers. Two very close friends of mine, too, as well as legends so it is grand to squeeze in both either side of the main man.
Couldn’t play together as a three? Yes, they could. Wor Jackie was an outside-right before converted to a No 9.
Of course United have a proud history of centre-forwards. Wee Hughie stands supreme, the first of an elite group, short of fuse and explosive in every way, while a strong case will be made by some older fans for Len White, uncapped but another great little ‘un. However, there are only so many seats on the bus.
When picking a Greatest X1 you must consider two aspects – do you select a genuine team that could play together or merely plump for the best two central midfielders on sheer ability?
By that I mean must you go for a sitting midfielder alongside an attacker for defensive protection or throw caution to the wild winds and pick Paul Gascoigne in the same team as Peter Beardsley? Keegan would do it so why not me!
Let’s just say I’m a romantic and this is Fantasy Island. I cannot visualise a Newcastle side which ignores Gazza.
Elsewhere the fun continues... David Ginola or Chris Waddle on the left wing? What a galaxy of flair and vision. I’d go for Ginola...just. Defensively I select Shay Given
a quality shot-stopper, fronted by United’s Fairs Cupwinning full-backs David Craig and Frank Clark with captain Bob Moncur and the elegant Philippe Albert central.
It’s hard on the Rock of Gibraltar Frank Brennan and super cool Jonathan Woodgate, eventually beaten by chronic injuries as was Tony Green. What a joy it has been to search through history, recall the great and the magnificent realising how lucky we have been.
My apologies once again to those outside of my memory bank. Obviously giants in their own right. They will always be significant sign posts along the way. Names we know without the benefit of witnessing their greatness.
And we have seen greatness at Newcastle United down the passing of time. ■■GIBBO’S GREATS: Given; Craig, Moncur, Albert, Clark; Beardsley, Gascoigne, Ginola; Milburn, Shearer, Macdonald.