I don't often think about Kenny although he is one of my all-time United heroes (talk about bleeding black and white) and I had a fearful crush on him as a bairn if I'm being honest. Anyway, whenever you mention Kenny, people always groan and then say "Remember the sitting on the ball incident". I have only the vaguest memory of this - I think it was against Luton at around Christmas time but I'm not really sure. Anyway, can anyone talk me through the incident?

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Answers

Answers page...

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

I have memories of maybe Bristol or Brighton and Gazza at his best. Taking the piss out of some team we had a bit of a grudge against. Kenny sat on the ball as if to say " Come and get it "

Then again it Fri night and I,ve just come from the pub

Grey mist settles.....................

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Yep Dougal, it was defo against Luton Town. The reason Kenny did it was because we got tonked in the away fixture with them that same season and some of the Luton players were taking the piss. So Kenny Wharton thought he would get some payback. Michael O'Neill got a hatrick that day aswell.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Remember sitting in the benches (New stand) forget who it was against but kenny got this challenge in that ended up with the opposing player ending up over the track and balancing on the advertising boards. Kenny never even looked at him to see if he was alreet, loved that man. I'd see him in toon with his Le Breves on and his pods.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Syme.....Pods ........Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

funny shoes with little holes in.

Bought from that shoe shop across from the Eldon

Classic!!

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Ah, thanks lads. Not our best ever player but what a Toon hero. I remember him (maybe against QPR??) almost throttling someone. I wish the bairns would do a bit better in the bairns' league for him. Talking of geet hard players, does anyone here remember John MacNamee rubbing snow into his legs and genitals (ahem) when we were playing a foreign (sp??) in the Fairs Cup at SJP and it was freezing? He apparently had a mad grin on his face at the time. I wasn't born then so apologies for only knowing the legend.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Setubal. The foreign players hadn't seen snow before. A brilliant night. Bah it didn't half snow.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

That's not a legend Dougal, that's a fact. I was there. Also FYI I grew up with the Whartons, They lived at 5 Roundhill Ave in Blakelaw and we lived at 10. His brothers John and Davy were my best mates. I remeber Kenny when he was a bairn, running rings round us in kickabouts on the school fields. Skinny little runt he was, but bliddy good for a 10 year old. Never could catch him to kick his arse for making us look stupid on the field. Never did get to see him play "live" though, and that's a shame.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Ah - nostalgia isn't what it used to be!

John McNamee was a true hard-man legend. In the days when keepers didn't get the protection they do now, I remember Big John - who was ca. 6'2", in character a bit like DF, and built like a concrete netty - really 'nailing' Leeds keeper, Gary Sprake, as he came out for a corner. Thereafter Sprake was terrified to face Big John and was often declared 'unfit' when we played Leeds.

Kenny Wharton committed one of my all-time favourite fouls against Chelsea at SJP. Pat Nevin - who was a small, wiry, irritating kind of winger - was giving Kenny a rough time. On this occasion Nevin went most of way past KW at full speed, when Kenny clattered him around knee height, and almost cut him in two.
KW couldn't have been more than 5'7" and 10 stone dripping wet, with skinny legs, but he was a tough little bugger.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Big John McNamee. Fed him raw meet before they let him out of his cage and onto the pitch. Best memory...The Battle of St. James' as it was dubbed in the press. Everton. I recall the best longest toughest hardest slide tackle I have ever seen. McNamee hit this guy (can't remember who), seemed like he started the slide in the Centre Circle and ended on the old cinder track on the popular side. Mac gets up, dusts off, the other fella was dead, or near death at the very least. That's how I remember it anyway. We won with a twice taken penalty by Jim Iley after their goalie Gordon West I think, was sent off for smacking Albert Bennett. Them were the days!!

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Sha-la-la-la McNamee!

A true star from the days when it was "a man's game". Rubbing snow in his genitals? It was what he did to the opposition genitals that would bring tears to your eyes. I saw that game, Setubal, but not McNamee's antics with the snow. Must have had the desired effect because we absolutely slaughtered them that night.

I also recall Gordon West smacking Albert Bennet, but not that specific tackle. I'm a bit squeamish and tended to look away when Big John launched himself into one of his tackles. :-)

I think he'd have to alter his game slightly if he were playing nowadays...

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Just looked JMcN up in my 'All Time United Greats' book and I'm horrified to see that he's not there! In this book, we have Prince Philippe, Tino, Warren Barton, David Batty, Pedro, Bez, Bracewell, Frank Clark, Lee Clark, Andy Cole, Wyn Davies, Robbie Elliott, Sir Les, Hughie Gallacher, Gazza, Keith Gillespie, Daveeed, Tony Green, Neil Harris, Howey, Keegan, Alan Kennedy, Rob Lee, SuperMac, Terry Mac, Willie McFaul, Jackie Milburn, Mirandinha, Bobby Moncor, Darren Peacock, Micky Quinn, Pop Robson, Roeder, Stan Seymour, Shearer, Jimmy Smith, Pav, Joh Tudor, Venison, Waddle and Watto. Is it just me or this a right crock? Micky Quinn but no David Kelly, no Bill McCracken, no Hibbett, no John MacNamee, no Robledo. Sorry, but Keith Gillespie - an all-time Mag great? 'Aving a larf!

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Keith Gillespie? That was the name I noticed straight away before I read the whole piece. And no McNamee? McNamee would eat six Gillespies for breakfast!

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

Who hell was Neil Harris? Gillespie an All Time Great? Who's kidding who - he wasn't even as good as Stewart Barrowclough.

I'd also have to question the following:

Warren Barton - not in the same class as David Craig, or Irvin Nattrass come to think about it.
John Beresford
Robbie Elliott
Steve Howey, Barry Venison & Glenn Roeder - what about Frank Brennan, Joe Harvey, Jimmy Scoular, and even John McGrath?
Micky Quinn - oh perlease! I trust Len White is in there or Buff will have somebody.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2001

No Colin Veitch either...

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

The annoying thing Dougal is that youthful Toon Fans will pick up THAT book in some car book sale and believe what they say, "Heroes my hint end ", statistics show that Len White was the strongest link, no Bobby Mitchell!!, still class Tony Green as a great , I just do not believe it , Question, J.E.T ran in the Powderhall Championships against the pros ,( Albert Spence of Blyth )(plug Screach), okay 100yards, who on Newcastle`s books at the time could turn Wor Jackie over from scratch at the distance?????? Fancy McBeth will get this one.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

The ante-post betting to get the 100 yard sprint question above is-: Macbeth.....7/4.....6/4.....13/8

Jonno.......6/1.....9/2..... 7/2

Clarky......14/1....10/1.... 9/2

Screacher...25/1....20/1.... 14/1

Fifties Fan.50/1....50/1.... 50/1

True....... 200/1..200/1.... 100/1

Heavy going is expected on this classic, Clarky will be wearing

blinkers (not for the first time) and this may help on a straight

track. Jonno has his followers and one of them, the inscrutable LR

is rumoured to have placed a monkey on him , obviously Jonno is not at

all happy as he is allergic to monkees. Screacher has just moved to

new stables and this may effect his performance, his handlers reckon

he is a steady one minute man, tends to be excitable at the start!!!!

Late withdrawals have been Pit Bull, he has according to those

ITK has been looking miserable of late and Dr Bill who is down with

stable flu. Young McBeth is the favourite ,his keen mind and plucked

ears (sp pricked) should ensure victory. Off and Running

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

17.05 pm, Live from the Town Moor, start delayed Screacher has just mounted John Mccrilick at the start, back to F F F FA Fakenham, another running question punters, where is Fakenham?

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Buff, Clerky of the Course would like to point out that any of the aforementioned who is found on a routine test to have contacted any person with the surname Charlton or Milburn or any person older than themselves will be subject to a enquiry by the Club Stewards(Rock Steady)

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

are they under starters orders then buff? this is better than a matchday thread and nee game. my money's on jonno.....

'Aaa went to Fakenham races on the 4th February 2001, cos the match in Toon against the Saints was cancelled due to snow...'

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Methinks starter is having problems getting em oot of the Strawbeery

The question is now open, Who was faster than "Wor Jackie" over 100yds

They were on Newcastle`s books together.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Starters orders min - gotta feeling its going to be more like last orders, cancelled match , booze , they will be gannin aal wistful shortly, Screach might have his camera for the photo finish!!

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Definitely Jack Fairbrother!

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Sounder makes a mistake at first fence and pulls up ----goodbye

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

The correct answer will be posted Monday evening , one go each,please do not discount Sounder`s nomination, expecting an objection from him

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Having trouble typing with these blinkers on - not for the first time (cheeky bugga!)!

Bit before my time buff - the only one I can think of of that genre who had pace and might have Wor Jackie a run for his money was Gordon Hughes. However, I suspect it's a bit of trick question and could be someone like Bob Stokoe?

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Pete I do believe it was Ernie Hunt that got clattered by Macnamee - they both crossed the half way line at the time - John at the Centre spot and Hunt at the touchline. He caught up so quickly.

I reckon that run and tackle were what prompted somebody to design the Exocet missile. Awesome to see somebody move horizontally through the air and land on cinders.

I was on the Popular side that night (I think it was an evening kickoff).

Can anybody shed any light on why Gordon West chinned Albert Bennett as he threw the ball out ?

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Objection lodged! Disqualification at this stage is not an option! I'm sticking with Jack.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

Even before my time this one Buff but I'll go for Len White.

-- Anonymous, February 04, 2001

To Sounder, Clarky , Jonno , sorry for the delay chaps, snowed in , power off, the usual, here is the answer and this is gen , looks suspect I know, we are talking 100 yards here , on the pitch this guy was a lumbering giant, the type we need now in fact >>>>>>>>>>

FRANK BRENNAN

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Wouldn't have guessed Brennan, I saw him play once in a pub game down on the parks in Dunston, it was old (and fat) ex Newcatsle players kicking lumps out of old and fat Sunderland players. Frank seemed enormous.

I recall Geoof Capes beatign Brendan Foster over 100m at Gateshead once in a cebrity race

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Clarky

You've misremembered the Kenny Wharton foul against Pat Nevin. It was the first tackle of the match. Nevin and Kerry Dixon were the Chelsea worries and Nevin was the great provider. Clearly Cox had told Kenny to make his presence known early on. Chelsea kicked off, swept the ball out to Nevin and Kenny cut him in two. Booked in the first minute and struggling to control him the rest of the game. Drew 1-1.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

You might be right macbeth - it was a corker though wasn't it?

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001