This is a letter to the editor of our local EPL paper.

Dear extra Time,

I read with great interest the letter from Albert Fowler regarding the brilliance of Len Shackleton, the Clown Prince of Football.

It was my privilege to see him on debut for Newcastle United against Newport County at St James' Park on October 5, 1946 when he scored six goals for United in their 13-0 win.

On one occasion he actually sat on the ball with the Newport players watching him.

Vivid memories also remain with me of the great Hughie Gallacher.

I saw him in his last game for Newcastle in August 1930 before his transfer to Chelsea. He incidently played against us the following Wednesday, September 3, at St James' Park. The attendance for this midweek game was a record 68,586, but regrettably my father refused to take me for safety reasons.

I saw Gallacher play many times fro Gateshead, where I think he ended his career, in the old Third Division North, just before WWII.

I was tipped off by a former teammate, who was by then playing left wing for Gateshead, that in the next game at Redheugh Park against Rotherham, a great many scouts were expected to run the rule over the visitors' centre-forward, Wally Ardron.

All I need say is that Gateshead won 5-0, Ardron hardly got a kick of the ball, and yes you've guessed it, Gallacher got a hat-trick, the last from a penalty.

He subsequently became a publican and sadly ended his life on the main railway line in front of the York/Edinburgh express.

My last memories of St James' Park were during the period of 1946-50, subsequent to my demobilisation and before my departure to Nyasaland, in Central Africa - where with two friends we formed a team to play in the local league.

We sported United's traditional colours and won the Royle Cup (knock-out) at our first attempt.

I still have the photos, match programme and press reports, but more precious than anything of this win, was obtaining the signatures on the reverse side of the photos of the entire Newcastle squad, which won the FA Cup in 1951 and 1952.

Think of Jackie Milburn, Frank Brennan and Bobby Mitchell, right down to Norman Smith, the trainer.

In conclusion, I entirely agree with J.Gear on the question of the use of the word United.

Show respect to all the other clubs with United in their name, regardless of their division, and don't just use it as reference to Manchester United.

To me, an 80-year-old Geordie, born and bred, there's only one United.

Hooray the lads.

Bill Richardson.

and he's in QLD as well.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000