The lead up to World War Two will be remembered as a disastrous period by all associated with Newcastle United Football Club. The Magpies were now in a period of rapid decline after a bright start to the 1930s, which consisted of title challenges and a 2-1 victory in the 1932 FA Cup final against one of the great Arsenal sides.

As the 1933-34 season got worsening economy, the Magpies season in ninth position, despite underway, manager Andy went through their worst season plunging into debt. Furthermore, Cunningham seemed to have in the club’s history in 1937-38, young players such as inside put together a decent side with missing by a whisker the drop into forward Albert Stubbins were respected international players at Division Three North. starting to make their mark on the first team. Stubbins would go onto its heart. Despite this, United went In the last full season before WW2 be one of United’s finest wartime through their worst season since brought regular football to a halt, goalscorers, notching 230 goals in entering the Football League forty The Magpies took decisive action just 187 wartime appearances. Minister Chamberlain declared business throughout the conflict Cup. The regional leagues were years earlier. One win from the last to arrest the decline of recent war on Germany and football was and performed admirably in the thrown together to make one 14 league games saw United slump seasons. United’s directorate invited United was well on course to suspended as a world-wide conflict 1939-40 wartime Football League collective table and a complicated into the relegation zone and finish former player Stan Seymour to the becoming one of the country’s erupted. Less than 24 hours before, North East. United was top of goal-average system was two points below Birmingham top table, which would prove to be top sides once again. However, United recorded their first win the league at the turn of the year introduced. United finished 10th City. After 36 years in the top flight, a master-stroke. the revival was put on hold for six of the season with an 8-1 home but eventually fell away, finishing in the league and once again went United was demoted to Division 2. long years as Hitler brought senior As the clouds of war gathered victory over Swansea Town, with some way off eventual winners close in the War Cup, this time Our first ever relegation. football to an abrupt end. over Europe once more, Seymour’s Ray Bowden grabbing a hat-trick. Huddersfield Town. losing 2-0 on aggregate in a two- Relegation sparked boardroom influence saw an upturn in the Long before the 1939-40 season legged semi-final against one Football’s authorities wiped the United almost went all the way unrest that would last almost team’s performances. Almost began there had been murmurs of of the pre-war elite and league record books clean, disregarding in the War Cup, reaching the until war broke out in 1939. With £40,000 was spent on transfers as discontent regarding the mounting champions, Preston North End. all matches played and scrapping semi-final after negotiating their finances in free fall and all the Seymour stamped his authority problems on the continent. Three all competitive football until peace way through four two-legged On top of the league and cup country’s football clubs hit by the on the club; United finished the games into the new season, Prime was restored. Players also had their rounds. Blackburn Rovers won a campaigns, three friendlies were contracts cancelled. one-off game 1-0. played during the season. Once again two Tyne-Wear derbies were The government wanted the game The Magpies also played a number played, with the spoils shared as to continue in some form despite of friendlies during the season and The Toon beat Sunderland 3-1 at restrictions put on crowd numbers two Tyne-Wear derby games in aid UNITED IN THE WARS - pARt 2 home before losing 4-3 away. A attending sporting events. A season of the war fund. United won both special fixture against an Army ROSS TWEDDELL of development saw a wartime encounters, prevailing 2-0 at St. and RAF XI was staged at St Follow Ross on twitter @TwedzTweets league structure put in place with James’ Park and 3-2 at Roker Park James’ Park with the servicemen 10 regional leagues and a national with Stubbins netting one of his 29 trouncing the Magpies 4-0 in knock-out cup. In the meantime, wartime hat-tricks. front of a crowd of nearly 5000. clubs organised friendly matches to Wartime football was extended for sustain fitness levels. The complications in league the 1940-41 season with a wider structure continued the Clubs were permitted to field guest league format and results acting as players stationed in the area or a qualifying competition for the on home leave. Several celebrated War names pulled on the Black & White shirt, including 1950s icons Sir Tom Finney, Bill Nicholson, and Stanley Mortensen. Unlike World War Fulham v NUFC 1939 One, United stayed in

12 tf www.true-faith.co.uk www.true-faith.co.uk tf 13 United finished 15th in the First Finney and Mortensen played Championship before Christmas their part too. and fared little better in the After the split in the Second Championship. Such championships The Magpies form saw them fail to qualify qualified for the War Cup and for the knockout stages of the went into a preliminary regional 22-team War Cup. league, another test to see which 1941-42 friendly fixtures: clubs could get to the knock-out stages of the competition. The Newcastle United 2-0 Heart of Magpies finished 12th and just Midlothian made it to the knock-out stages, Newcastle United 6-2 losing 4-3 on aggregate to York at Gateshead the first serious hurdle. NUFC 11 - 0 Boro, V.E. Day Celebration match Newcastle United 1-1 Aberdeen 1942-43 friendlies: of “over extra time” Wor Jackie back-to-back 7-0 and 6-3 hidings. dispatched 9-1 and Blackburn United improved in the 1942-43 Newcastle United 2-4 Sunderland netted the winner. Rovers 8-1 as Newcastle scored season, netting 113 goals during Football was getting back to following season with all of Newcastle United 0-2 four or more times on 12 the campaign and Stubbins once 1943-44 friendlies: England’s clubs being rolled Northumberland Army normal as the crowd restrictions again leading the line with 42. He occasions. together and the league Newcastle United 2-2 Preston were lifted proper and 43,000 was joined by a number of guest Aberdeen 0-0 Newcastle United Barnsley knocked the Magpies championship split into “First” North End descended upon St James’ to see players such as pre-war stars and “Second” competitions The men from Gallowgate United overturn a 3-0 first leg out the FA Cup in an enthralling Alex Herd and Ray Westwood Newcastle United 3-3 North East before and after Christmas. finished in 11th position in the deficit and triumph 4-2 against 5-4 encounter. Chilean George and North East-raised guests Select XI (In aid of the Widow of 1943-44 season with Albert Bolton Wanderers in the War Cup. Robledo made such an impression With Newcastle United’s Eddie Carr and John Short, while Wilf Gallow) Stubbins leading the line with that Stan Seymour soon signed peacetime squad almost As the midpoint of the season 43 goals. Stubbins was often 1944 saw a U.S. Navy side him up. Seymour had seemingly completely decimated as was reached and the end of the accompanied by a fresh-faced take on a U.S. Army team in a taken up the reigns from Tom players entered active service war in sight, pre-war players youngster by the name of John wartime baseball exhibition on Mather, who had long since or returned home to complete returned to St James’ Park and Edward Thompson Milburn from the St James’ Park pitch. Also, returned to Stoke. essential wartime work, the made themselves available for Ashington, who found solace recognised AAA (Amateur club relied heavily upon local selection. Thankfully, there are The Barrack Road club also played from pit work by turning out for Athletic Association) track, field, talent from around Tyneside. The no records of any of Newcastle in a series of friendlies in the the Magpies of a weekend. and cycling events took place high-scoring matches continued, players dying during the Counties Cup and in a number of at the ground before and after conflicts. The crowds flocked overseas fixtures, the highlight of with Middlesbrough suffering United reached the knockout conflict ceased. two seven-goal defeats on stages of the War Cup yet back along with the players as which came in a 7-0 demolition consecutive weekends at the again, losing out to Sheffield Immediately after the war, the an average gate of 40,000 was of SK Brann. hands of the Magpies, with United 5-3 on aggregate in board attempted to erect a stand recorded. Newcastle United Football Club Stubbins scoring five in each front of 53,000 at St James’. on the Leazes Terrace side of 1944-45 no friendlies were staged spent the Second World War game. the ground which would have The inaugural Tyne-Wear- years wisely. Stan Seymour led a increased the capacity to 80,000, With the war all but over, the Wartime football saw Tees Cup then took place. This revolution that culminated in the but an agreement could not be national game returned to normal competitive football was a second rate competition assembly of a squad brimming reached. in the 1945-46 season. Regional contested between Newcastle that ran along with the league with young, local talent in leagues continued but with only United and their closest programme to see who was the As the Second World War drew readiness for peace-time football. two divisions – North and South neighbours Gateshead for the top dog in the North East. United to a close Newcastle United United was almost rebuilt from – and a familiar 42-game home first time. The Heed were a won the competition in novel was one of the finest sides in scratch, with the determination and away programme. The FA Cup Football League side at the time circumstances. After a two- the country in front of goal. The to get back to the top just as also returned as the country as and met the Black & Whites legged final against Darlington Geordie public was treated to 122 they had after World War a whole was focussed on getting on 24 occasions during conflict, the sides were tied at 3-3 after goals in the 1944-45 season with One. Newcastle United had back to normal. a local Tyneside derby extra time of the second leg. The that man Stubbins netting 40+ created a side that would triumph which has not been two teams decided to settle the goals and guest star Eddie Carr Stubbins notched another 40 of with attacking flair, compromising notching 29. repeated since, competition by playing until the United’s 106 goals in the league a mixture of home-grown talent except from the odd first team scored – a golden goal Bradford City was handed an 11-0 as a number of notable results and shrewd – yet expensive in friendly game. of sorts – and after 32 minutes drubbing and Hull were given were recorded. Stoke City were some cases – talent.

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