http://www.citystat.net/memmatches/newcastle_1976.html

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

Answers

I was there LR and I still didn't have a clue what you were talking about 'til I followed the link.

Thanks for the reminder - Not!

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

That's ok Joe... :-)

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

and for those who still don't know what LR is on (about)

Man City's winning goal, Wembley, Feb 28th 1976

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

Excuse me Mr Closet toon fan,You have a very unhealthy knowledge of NUFC.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

Nowt to do with NUFC Rik...more to do with the Jubilee and the 25 banners that were hung around Manchester in the early hours of the morning :-)

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

Rothmans Football Yearbook for 1976 .....

"Mere facts and figures can be a poor subsitute for the truth. In 100 years time all records will reveal of the 1976 League Cup final at Wembley was that Manchester City scored more goals and thus took the trophy and the spin of prize of a UEFA Cup place in 1976-77. But what of the real starts of this outstandingly entertaining February afternoon - the 'black and white army' of Newctasle fans ? They do not deserve to be forgotten by history.

Throughout the competition the contribution of the Geordie hordes had been significant: so marked was the effect of thie unrelenting support that fewer and fewer sides began to fancy any fixture that involved a trip to St James. The Newcastle side ........ was formiddable, if not among the highest ranked ....but with that crowd at their backs they were to look invincible at times. As the week of the final began, with four and then six of the team afflicted by flu it became ovvious Newcatsle were going to need all the help they could muster if they were to withstand the assault of the better balanced and clearly more skilled Man City side.

That support was instantly forthcoming. Long before the kick off the noise of the 'black and white' brigade filled the stadium with sound and emotion. City's own 'chors' was made to look miserable by comparison and it was hard to believe each club had equal ticket allocation.

Newcastle players seemed almost visibly thrown into the macth by the volume of noise .....

(match report) ....

Tueart (a Geordie himself) was not made to wait long for revenge. Seconds only after the interval he scored a goal of indelible novelty...... scoring with a bicycle kick.

The applause for that glorious goal came dinning down from all parts of the ground.....

Newcastle tiring by the minute could neither match the City command of the game, nor overcome it. And so the game might have drifted to anti-climax .... but for the Magpie army.

Gradually their voices swelled. Gradually the players responded. There was still no majesty in their play, but the morale was undeniable. ..... If this was vain effort, then it was, too , valiant enterprise. Merit, finally and properly gave the cup to City. And it was now the Newcastle fans had their finest moment.

Unusually trooped up first for their medals and, with some unable to restrain their tears they did a slow lap of honour along the front of their forgiving fans. Now City's turn, and the warmth and generosity of the 'black and white army' to the side that had defeated them will long be remembered. It wasn;t the mass of the Geordie crowd at Wembley that was so memorable; but their mood.

(then a review of earlier rounds but in conclusion) ...

In the final reckoning, though, perhaps the men who had most cause to be grateful to Newcastle supporters were those who struggle to keep Southport alive. Drawn at home to Newcastle in the second round, Southport elected to forego ground advantage to play at St James. They were smashed 6-0 for their temerity, but the gate was over 23000 - and that was almost precisely as many of the total Southport crowd for their first 18 matches in the League. From start to finish of the 1975-76 League Cup then, Newcastle supporters contributed generously - to be hideously ill-rewarded at the end.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I cried at Wembley that. The first time, not the last !! And this article starts it all over again. The pride I had in my team, was swamped by the pride I had in being a Geordie. The sight of Dennis Tueart proudly dragging Mike Doyle across to us and pointing and applauding is a great memory. We are class as far as supporters go, just class.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

Dennis Tuert was a school mate of mine - but I hated him that day.
My recollections are pretty much as described, a flu-weakened team driven on a real Geordie crowd - like the away support now but multiplied by X - and being rather unlucky to lose to a decent City team.

I recall a wonderful boozy, singing train ride down to London, the crowd being fantastic before, during and particuarly after the game, and indeed recall Tuert on his victory lap - the Toon Army marvellously magmanimous in defeat - sporting a B&W scarf by this point, dancing around in front of where me and me Dad were sitting, applauding the Toon fans - bastard!

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

Been down this route before Clarky.....Manor Park/Fairways......I hated him that day as well......same as Howard Kendal whenever he played well against us as well.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

Aye we're back to the Heaton thread, Ken. Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be!

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

Nowt to do with NUFC, LR ?, awa with ya , its all to do with the Toon, read Macbeth and if you can be arsed read Buff`s piece , one of the best week-ends of my life, you see playing Man City was always a big attraction for me , usually very open games and one match in that springs to mind is Len White giving big Dave Ewing the run a round and banging in three great individual goals. After the good lady had laid on a very substantial dinner on for me , guessing correctley it could be the last food that passed my lips until return I meandered down to the Holmside Club,Dunston , bedecked in my finest black n white of the day. The bus left at midnight on the great adventure so 5 hours of booze plus carry out on the charaban ensured that I would rest for at least part of the journey. Arriving in Landahn early doors , s s and s were order of the day , problem was my voice had gone with all the bawling and singing , crisis before the main attraction. For some obscure reason a lot of the guys were under the impression that I knew my way around, did I hell, knew KIngs Cross to Waterloo, (Forces Favourite), to Wembley of course (well LR it was home from home to us aulder Geordies) and Commercial Road in cor blimey, Stepney (don`t ask). Ten in the morning, parched , lets hit Soho , stayed in one bar , got upset when they did not have doms and moved on. You see LR there was another game on , at the Green Man on Wembley Way, KO 1.30 pm, unbiased observers put it down to nigh on 200 a side -v- City , managed to get two kicks in , (football that is). Game itself is well documented, thanx Mac reminding me about Tuart and Doyle , back on the booze , bus leaving at midnight, had to back for the kirk service you see!!!. On the Sunday I placed myself in the recovery position to ensure that I would be fully fit to welcome home the Bonnie Lads on the Monday evening. Monday dawned, finished work early , bus into Toon with the three bairns, festooned with black and white and stood outside the Durham Ox to watch my hero`s return , daughter Sarah on my shoulders. Grannies were cheering, Grandas had a lump in their throats, my hair was standing on end, the kids were blubbering , the bus went past, the expressions of the players said it all , hail hail the best fans in the world. Did not go to the ground,(sold out), back on the bus , back to to Dunston , the end of the adventure partially shared with the bairns, or was it. I dropped off at the Club about 7.30 pm into the bar for the last debrief and the concert chairman (no names as Wendy@parliment and SBA might know him) who had incidentally been flogging hard to get tickets on the black market said to me "Been somewhere nice Bill", as I stood there, black n white bowler,rosette and scarf it all welled up in me , I leapt on him and threw him out of the club, him a all powerful committee man , funny thing was no-one said a dicky, got my pint , stood at the bar and held court retelling stories of the week-end and the homecoming of my/our team of hero`s. Thanx LR again and as the song say`s "You can`t take that away from me, oh no, repeat 100 times

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

A pal of mine from the time, and later my best man (lived in Elsdon Gardens spitting distance from the Holmeside Buff) was in the ground, in the Gallowgate, me I was getting moved somewhere around the Leazes End in the sea of happy people. John stills talks of the whole (his opinion) of the Leazes all bursting into "Gordon Lee's black and white army" simultaneously. He reckons its the only time in his life he has been physically knocked back by noise.

A memory of that evening was the players all coming on to the pitch in their flared suits, all looking the part, all except my hero, Cass. He came on in a roll neck jumper and jeans, what an individual that man was.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001

The last time we actually played at Wembley.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001