Rutherford was man in the shadows for so long

declare: “We’re in heaven, we’ve got Kevin.”

It was a bit cheesy, more than a little contrived, and Cushing looked slightly uncomfortable being cast in the Barnum role of the greatest showman but the excitement was palpable.

Little kids, their faces pressed against the panes of glass at the windows, could be heard chanting: “Kee-gan, Kee-gan.” Cox solemnly instructed staff to draw back the curtains. Stan Seymour declared it “an occasion that will stand out in this club’s history” and ventured that his dad would have been proud of it. Indeed he would.

Stan Jnr served on the board from 1976 to 1991 and in the chair from 1981 to ’88. Though born in Scotland when dad was playing for Greenock Morton, Stan Junior was every inch a Geordie who called a spade a blinkin’ shovel and served North East football well becoming an administrator of the Northern Alliance league and the Northumberland FA.

By the time Stan was NFA president he had reached United’s boardroom as successor to his famous father in April 1976.

With his background Seymour Jnr fought hard and long for the development of local youngsters at SJP and, apart from the glamorous signing of Keegan, his years of power included the Mags winning the FA Youth Cup for only the second time in their history. That 1985 side included the likes of Geordie lads Paul Gascoigne, Kevin Scott, Paul Stephenson, Joe Allon, Brian Tinnion, and Ian Bogie who all went on to have significant careers.

The trouble was that as so often is the case things turned sour and it was on Seymour’s watch that United cashed in on three Geordies who enjoyed distinguished England service – Chris Waddle, Peter Beardsley and Gazza (below).

All three bailed out despite being locals because they believed United didn’t have the ambition to match theirs and as a consequence of them going Newcastle were deservedly relegated. Waddle started the exodus in ’85, Beardsley followed in ’87, and Gazza completed the transfers of shame in ’88. United went down in ’89. It was as certain as night following day. Seymour’s love of Newcastle remained strong throughout a lifetime, however. As club president he was still involved in November 1992 when after watching Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers win 3-2 at Birmingham en route to gaining promotion Stan was found dead in bed. He was linked with KK until the very end. BOB RUTHERFORD was different to Lord Westwood.

Whereas the Second Baron courted the spotlight of centre stage always armed with a ready quip, his successor shunned such attention seeking. He was the man in the shadows.

Rutherford was elected to United’s inner sanctum in April of 1950 and spent 31 years on the club’s executive but only served as chairman from 1978 to 1981.

While he was present during Wor Jackie’s three FA Cup winning seasons of the early 50s when Stan Seymour

Snr held sway, by the time Rutherford was elevated to the chair in January 1978, the club was in rapid decline encapsulating the Bill McGarry era and he felt the wrath of angry supporters.

Of course this was another family affair, a father-to-son hand down.

Dr Robert Rutherford had joined his brother George on United’s board way back in 1930.

Like his father, Robert James entered the medical profession after education at the Royal Grammar School and Durham University and became an eminent surgeon. He did the operations on most injured players.

Bob was Westwood’s deputy for over a decade and just as Lord Bill was accused over his sudden departure when asked to guarantee money by United’s bank Rutherford suffered similar public criticism after deciding to go the same way.

Under pressure and now without an ally, he resigned both as chairman and director over the £16,000 demand.

An outstanding golfer, Bob Rutherford resided in Gosforth until his death in August 1995.

JOHN GIBSON

Cox instructed staff to draw back the curtains. Stan Seymour declared it ‘an occasion that will stand out in this club’s history’