JOHNGIBSON Fair to say it’s going to be very big celebration

GLORIES OF PAST BRING OUT STARS FOR ANNUAL DINNER BASH

NEWCASTLE United will spearhead two big footballing anniversaries in the city which are about to be celebrated.

It’s 49 years since United’s kids won a highly prestigious international youth tournament at Rotterdam in Holland – the 1969 success was, of course, greatly overshadowed by the Magpie first-team stars lifting the European Fairs Cup in Budapest 10 days later.

However, with the 50th anniversary of that momentous occasion about to be well celebrated next year, a group of United fans who formed the Toon Legends club are to pay homage to the lesser-known kids who claimed their own international success.

It is being deliberately targeted for a year early so as not to clash with Fairs Cup mania and will take place at the Toon Legends annual dinner at the Village Hotel on Saturday, May 12.

Less than three weeks beforehand, another anniversary will be toasted – the 40th since Newcastle club Blue Star became the trailblazer for regular North East successes in the FA Vase.

Their shindig will be held at the Tyneside Irish Club on April 24 at 4pm when, as with United, the players who created history will be in attendance, led by ace striker Ian Crumplin.

The young Magpies gathering at the Village Hotel will be headed by their coach, Keith Burkinshaw, who went on to claim undying fame as the successful manager of Spurs who brought World Cup winners Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa to this country.

United were undefeated throughout the tournament held on the ground of Feyenoord, Newcastle’s first ever opponents in top-flight The Newcastle United junior team after returning from Holland following their Feyenoord international youth tournament triumph. Back row (left to right) Benny Craig (trainer), Ken Heslop, Bobby Agar, Derek Craig, David Embleton, Keith Dyson, Terry Harrison, Chris Guthrie, David Tolson, Eric Tunstall, Gordon Hindson. Front row (left to right) Keith Kennedy, Martin Burleigh, Alan Duffy, John Longstaff, Jim Sutton European football and in the final beat an Arsenal side boasting such future luminaries as Ray Kennedy, Sammy Nelson, Charlie George, Eddie Kelly and Pat Rice.

Newcastle first defeated Go Ahead 2-0 then drew 1-1 with a Spurs team including a very young Graeme Souness and Steve Perryman before winning 2-0 against Beerscot and 2-0 in the final against Arsenal when Terry Harrison scored both the goals. The players, who had completed the Northern Intermediate League and Cup double in 1968, received a travel clock and a pennant for winning the tournament!

Several of the Mags who will be in attendance at the grand reunion went on to enjoy good Football League careers elsewhere – Keith Dyson, who played 97 times for United, totted up another 104 with Blackpool, for example.

Chris Guthrie starred for Sheffield United and Fulham, Keith Kennedy topped 400 matches at Bury, and Gordon Hindson racked up almost 100 appearances with Luton.

They will be supported on the night by senior players including Fairs Cupwinning skipper and hat-trick hero Bob Moncur Tommy Craig, Pat Howard, Jinky Smith, Tommy Cassidy, Frank Clark, Ron Guthrie, Duncan Neale, Gordon Hughes, Stewart Mitchell and Dave Lawson who later starred for Everton and Huddersfield. Such a galaxy of old footballers will be topped off by United’s England international from the Entertainers,’ Rob Lee, who will be guest speaker.