The Chronicle

Magpies might have flown nest in ‘68

PLANS TO MOVE TO NEW STADIUM 50 YEARS AGO

- By CHRIS KNIGHT christophe­r.knight@trinitymir­ror.com @C_M_Knight Reporter

THIS was St James’ Park in February, 1968. With a near-60,000 capacity, on its day it could be one of the most intimidati­ng, raucous and atmospheri­c stadiums in British football.

Fifty years ago, little did Newcastle United supporters know that some of the most stirring games in the club’s history were just around the corner.

Over the next two or three seasons, against the odds, the Magpies would dispose of some of the biggest names in European football, roared on by huge, feverish crowds as the light from the four giant floodlight pylons beamed down.

When United humbled Feyenoord, Sporting Lisbon, Glasgow Rangers and others en route to the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969, this is how St James’ Park looked.

A little later, when Inter Milan including half the Italian national team - were sent packing in 1970 by Wyn Davies and co, nearly 60,000 fans packed these very terraces. But there was a problem. Dramatic and imposing as it looked, St James’ Park was in urgent need of improvemen­t.

As 1970 approached, the ground accommodat­ed only 4,700 sitting supporters in an antiquated main stand dating back to 1905.

Everyone else stood on terraces open to the Tyneside elements, apart from the Leazes End where a metal roof had been in place since 1929. And there was another problem. Newcastle United and the city council, from whom the club leased the ground, were at loggerhead­s.

From the early 1960s, the council and its powerful leader T Dan Smith had envisaged a forward-thinking rebuilt St James’ Park sporting complex with swimming pools, five-aside pitches, badminton courts and

MEET Janet Morrison – the quickthink­ing Metro driver whose actions helped save a life.

The former drama teacher from Sunniside, Gateshead, was driving the Nexus service from St James’ to South Shields on the afternoon of June 19 last year.

Leaving Walkergate station just before 3.30pm, the mum-of-two was making the approach to Wallsend when she spotted a middle-aged woman standing on the near side of the platform away from the crowd.

Janet, 53, said: “I was not immediatel­y alarmed - she was standing quite normally with a handbag over her shoulder.

“I was doing about 45kmh when the lady fell on to the track in front of me, about 50 metres away at most.

“My instant reaction was to pull on our emergency track brake. I did it without thinking, it was instinct. The seconds it took to stop felt like forever.

“Drivers are advised in training to look away if you fear you’re going to hit something, but it’s so hard to not look to see if you’ll stop in time.”

With just seconds to act, Janet slammed the emergency brake and her lightning-quick reactions meant the 80-tonne train ground to a halt just three metres shy of the woman.

The hero driver then made her passengers aware of the situation and informed Nexus’ control centre, before bravely heading out on to the tracks herself.

But despite avoiding an impact, the actions of other well-intentione­d passengers meant the danger was far from over.

Janet said: “It was at that point two or three other passengers from the other platform jumped down to offer their assistance.

“I could see the headlights of the train on the opposite track at Hadrian Road.

“I couldn’t tell if it was moving, so I put on my bossy teacher’s voice to tell them to get back on the platform.”

Emergency services were quickly called to the scene, and the woman was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Janet was then able to move the train forward to the platform to allow her passengers to disembark, before she was relieved of her duty by a replacemen­t driver to recover from the ordeal.

The latest act of heroism comes almost four years after Janet was praised for her actions in response to a traumatic train fire.

Leaving South Gosforth, the train’s brakes caught fire and smoke began to fill the carriage, prompting passengers to jump out of the emergency exits.

Staying calm, Janet’s composure ensured all of the passengers were returned to safety and avoided an accident on the tracks.

Janet’s response to the two emergencie­s meant she was highly commended at the recent North of England Transport Awards in the frontline employee of the year category.

Judges also praised her allround profession­alism and dedication – including her work helping set up Metro’s new social media team in 2016.

Tobyn Hughes, managing director of Nexus, said: “We are proud to showcase Metro at awards which recognise the best of public transport in the North of England, and I am delighted that Janet has been recognised in this way.

Chris Carson, Metro services director, added: “I’m really pleased that Janet has been recognised for all of her efforts.

“She is a credit to her profession and to the Tyne and Wear Metro.”

Janet said: “It is nice to be recognised, but I think there’s a lot of other drivers whose actions have gone under the radar.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything special really.”

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 ??  ?? The Olympic Stadium in Rome
The Olympic Stadium in Rome
 ??  ?? Metro driver Janet Morrison
Metro driver Janet Morrison

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