what was the first ever game you attended? (i reckon some will have been going pre floodlights...)

mine was Wolves Villa in the late seventies, i was 6. I think Withe scored for Villa. My first Toon game was Us v Charlton in 82, Keegan was there with the others. If i can recall rightly Mcdermott was the one that impressed me. A true great, sadly still unrecognised as such.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Answers

Sorry Swifty, haven't a clue. Probably need to look at the 56/57 fixture list. And yes, it was just about pre-floodlights. Decent ones at any rate.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

First ever game was for me mates 6th birthday, early seventies. Toon v. QPR, we lost 1-2 supermac missed a penalty (hit the post) Standing in the old west stand, pissin down rain, watching the smoke rise over the leazes end. Hook, line and sinker.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Hat and proud to say it in same breath....March 1949 Wolves v NUFC 0-3 of course. Bobby Mitchell's 2nd game for the club, Wor Jackie was sick....Been a jonah ever since (me not Jackie)

Derek

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Hate and proud to say it in same breath....March 1949 Wolves v NUFC 0-3 of course. Bobby Mitchell's 2nd game for the club, Wor Jackie was sick....Been a jonah ever since (me not Jackie)

Derek

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Swift, as fate would have it, I actually posess 1 mags' program and it is from that very game. Needless to say I did not go to the game, it was given to me by a German (hence neutral) relative. I have resisted the temptation to burn it until now, but it is yours if you want it.

ML3

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Hey ML3, you're not one of soopers alta egos are ya? Nice gesture mind.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Home v Leicester City 1974 during family visit to North-East. 6/7 years of age. SuperMac, Shilton in goal for them. The Paddock. Bags of unsalted , unshelled peanuts, the excitement of the crowd. One of my most happiest childhood memories..... We got beat 1-0.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Sheff Utd at home '73. Stuffed 'em if I remember rightly.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

The first professional game I saw was Preston versus I cant remember. We moved there to live with my grandparents when my father went off to the war. The first time I saw Newcastle was the same season when they played Preston home and away in the semi-final of the war time cup. Preston won 2-0 and drew the return at SJP 0-0. They went on to beat Arsenal in a replay at Ewood Park 2-1. I remember being passed over the crowd down to the front to sit on the wall -- just like we used to do at SJP in the early post war years when we had almost 60,000 in attendance every home game.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

ML3

Good on yer mate. Let's have more of the same.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

My first visit to the ground was in 1976 to welcome home the losers (as usual) from the league cup final - aged 12. Liked the look of it, so made my did take me to a game the following season, against Ipswich I think. Never looked back (!)

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

First one that I can remember was a game against Man U wot we won 5 - 1 . I think it was 70/71 , I was about 12. I'd been to a few other games in that season, but that was the game that cemented me as a geordie till I die.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Sadly, can't recall the game - must bave been early 60's. Vaguely recall players like Alf McMichael, Gordon Hughes, and Len White.
It was more size and intensity of the crowd, the electric atmosphere, and feeling part of the 'man talk' that I can recall.
Magical memories.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Sept 16th 1967: 3 - 2 home victory over Coventry. Fascinated by the mysteries of the Gallowgate...peanuts, five / ten minute flag, grown men going bananas. Whatever happened to S & N's Amber Ale?

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

When supermac missed the penalty (he was taking it in front of the leazes) I remember the silence of the whole ground, the surge of thousands of people moving in anticipation of a goal that never came. It really was a remarkable sight. When he missed he just stood there glaring at the keeper, even though he hit the post. I remember it in black and white not colour. Dunno why.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

First match was against Blackpool, no idea what the score was but Alan Suddick was playing for Blackpool, his first game after his transfer. No idea what the date was. Totally hooked forever.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

First attended...WHam v Toon in March 99. Could only get a ticket in the home end, which was torture as we played crap and WHam put 2 past us. Meeting so many wonderful bbsers definitely made up for the crap game, however!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

1971, beat liverpool 3-2 supermac scored a hat trick on home debut. keegan scored for liverpool. awe struck at 50k crowd.

wanted to know why we didn't get a cup for winning (like on the telly - fa cup final)

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Was the home game versus Chelsea in the 1980-81 season. Can remember that we won 1-0, that Chelsea played in yellow and that the away supporters were a tad ebullient (i.e. they tried to trash the Leazes end). Can't remember much else.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

A 0-0 against Norwich reserves! First league game, 1-1 v Bristol City, 78-79 I think. Might have been Mickey Burns who scored.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Is that you, Maier? If it is, you might have been there too at the aforementioned Chelsea game. It was someone's birthday bash, or just plain bash in the case of the Chelsea fans.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

My first ever match was the first game of the 65/66 season, and at last, the return of Newcastle to the top division. We stood in the crush of the 'popular' side, but I left after a few minutes. I was asked to leave by the coppers AND the supporters around me. My dad had thought I would appreciate the momentous occasion, but the coppers and the rest of crowd thought he was daft, and told him to take the frightened crying baby home - I wasn't even 1 years old.

Needless to say I've always been immensely proud of the fact that I attended St James before I was one, and though they say you can't remember anything from before you were two, I can honestly still recall a very faint image of the event.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

15/04/89. My dad took me to Arsenal away for my ninth birthday. Was great until half-time, then news came through that six people had died at Hillsbrough. The match was unsurprisingly subdued after that. We ended up losing 1-0 to a Brian Marwood goal and as we drove back up the A1 afterwards listening to the radio the deaths kept increasing and my dad has never been to a game since.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

I remember the game Stu, we got in just before kick off. Plenty of Mags outside when the turnstyle gadgy announced he was full but let us all jump over. Didn't here of the trouble until after the game when the rumours went around the tube. Sadly I remember myself thinking "bliddy scoucers again" remembering Heysel a few years earlier.

My first match was at home vs Arsenal. I think it must have been 1976 so I was 6 or 7 as Supermac was playing. I got back to my Grandad's who took great delight in telling me 'Mac was going to Arsenal.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

That was my last game before coming over to the USA, the game was forgetable, unfortunatly the journey home was horrible.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Come on now,truth time! If all of you are long term as you claim where did all the keegan man come from? Surely a lot of you should have said... Bristol City 3-0 1992.About feb if i recall.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

v Derby early 60s - can't remember score. Got left at front of Leazes and picked up at the end by my Dad & Grandad.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

First full game I remember was late 1950s v Wolves. 1-0 to us. Len White crashing in an unstoppable shot from the corner of the penalty area - I think this scuppered Wolves championship? Before that I went with me Dad or older brother and all I can remember is Jackie Milburn, black hair flopping and one very strong memory of George Eastham in an early game for N'cle forcing in a goal from short range.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

May 11th 1968 and Still one of the best matches I've seen. NUFC 3-4 Man City. Man City won the title..i was at the front of the gallowgate and still go ower all funny when i think about it!!!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Can't remember the first game, but have a few memories of some of my earliest "big ground" matches. I remember going being taken to Joker Park and seeing Cloughie bang in a goal or two. I know I felt strange, tho I had yet to put in an appearance at SJP, it somehow didn't seem right to be at JP.

My first game at SJP was probably a schoolboy international (England vs Wales I think). Either that or a Northumberland Senior Cup Final supporting the Spartans. My first NUFC at SJP would have been the first game of the promotion season (64/65??), so unlike Whitley Babe, I was not a glory hunter but one who could spot a great team before they became great ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2001

Very generous ML i'll take you up on that, in exchange for a wadge of cash?

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

I was 5 and my dad assures me that the opposition was Crystal Palace. My biggest memory was me mam and dad having a huge domestic about his taking me in the first place as it was unfeminine and I'd grow up a hooligan. As a compromise thereafter, mam would accompany us to Newcastle and I'd be dragged around Marks for a good hour to learn about appropriately girlie things like shopping before the football.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2001

49 - Newcastle 2 - Sunderland 1, do I need to repeat 2-1 , 2-1 , 2-1 ! nah, just a result in them days,

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Nice to be reminded of Buff's (the 49'er) first game. You gave us an excellent account of that once Buff. I wouldn't mind reading it again if you can be bothered to write it up. We recently had a celebration of Buff's 50th anniversary at the Everton cup tie 2 seasons back.

My first was January 1962. Peterbro at home - FA cup 3rd round. The Posh's first season in the league. Result 0-1 Terry Bly the Posh scorer. Well it was my own fault for going back after that but I'm still here ... :-)

I'll supply a fuller write up on my memories of the day (oh no - not again Jonno - Ed) as my 40th anniversary approaches. Unlike Buff I'm a bit of a Johnny-come-lately. (Which is better than coming too early I suppose.)

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

I would like to point out that Floridean beats me easy by the length of a Anderson Shelter, two things we have in common tho is , we have both experienced the Gallowgate Slalom Run, (hand o hand) and we both by sitting on that dammed wall served our apprenticeship in the Duke of Argyll`s or to be cool the Nobby Stiles dept, see Pit Bill for further information or even Dr Bill.

Thanks for Clarky and Dave who mentioned Len White (respect) and a little adder to that Man City 3-4 , was there ever a bad game agin them , my favourite fixture of the any season.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Sorry not Rodney or Dave , it was True , Len White

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Didn't Sunderland win 2-0 at OT the day City won 4-3 at SJP - to deny Manure the league ?

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Was Len White ever capped Buff? If not, he must be one of the best players never to have represented his country. I have a feeling I read somewhere that he played for the Football League or something similar, but never for England.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

I wonder if there is anyone out there that remembers ( and is prepared to admit it) going but has abosulutely no recollection of who was playing or what the result was. All I know is that me Dad and his pal took me, I must have been around 4 or 5 I reckon. I was horrified by the beery smell and the noise which pretty much scared me stupid. It was a night match aswell and that was impressing aswell as the fact that I'd never seen so many people. The fact that their was a game of footy on passed me by completely as I was at pitch level in the auld tin stand which was black and forboding......ooooohhh. After that it was donkey's at home to WHam I reckon '90 - 91.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

Clarky, Len White played for the Football League scoring 3 goals I think prompting Johhny Haynes to say "He is the best forward I have ever played alongside".

Tynedale , taking a pointer from your post , can anyone on here remember watching their first live game on the tele ? I have these senile thoughts of 15 of us schoolkids , sitting on our hunkers in front of a 12" grey and white set watching Falkirk and I think Third Lanark from Brockville , or was that the first under lights!! , I guess it was about 52/53 , I know this was the only tele in Lintz Colliery, my mate had a proper football too, Geez he was very popular , could afford it too, his father was a deputy doon pit , mekkin mair sillar than Wor Jackie at the time, **Back to Johhny Haynes first £100 per week footballer if I recall, hell clay pipe and snuff`s coming oot.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

11 March 1961 - Toon 1 Manure 1. Got taken up to Newcastle by me Dad who said he was going to see a woman about a decorating job he was going to do. Met one of his mates from work in the Haymarket "by accident". Ended up in the Leazes End. Me Dad had no interest in football at all but his mate went every week so took us along.

Another early memory I have is a midweek game against Plymouth in the early 60s. I went with a mate from school and her Dad. We stood on the Gallowgate end and it p*ssed down all game. I had one of those wooden rattles which me Dad had made for me. It got so wet the wood swelled and it just siezed up completely!

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

That Football League Rep game was a smasher wasn't it Buff ? One of my all time favourites, Len White.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

Can you just imagine what Len White, George Eastham, and Ivor Allchurch would be worth in todays transfer market??

I can just about recall my first live game on telly, Buff. My grandfather had bought a b&w (naturally) telly especially for the Cup Final and the etire family rolled up in his front room to watch it - standing room only!

It was the game where Jackie scored with a header from a corner - I think it was the '55 Final. For an 8 yr-old this was a very special occasion watching his entire family bedecked from head to foot in black & white - including the women - going totally and utterly bonkers over a footy game on telly!

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

My first game was sometime in the seventies against Wolves. I was probably only about six at the time and can't remember anything except the atmosphere. Only started going regularly from about 1985, when I was "allowed" to go without my Dad and stand behind the Gallowgate goal.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001