Newcastle United in the 1960s: From relegation to European trophy glory - in 10 photographs

10 photographs from the Chronicle archive recall Newcastle United’s eventful journey through the years of the Swinging Sixties

The 1960s - a vibrant ‘swinging’ decade that in the UK was variously characterised by the The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Great Train Robbery, the Profumo scandal, Harold Wilson, the ‘white heat of technology’, Carnaby Street, the mini skirt and the Mini car, England’s World Cup triumph, ‘the pill’, the Kray Twins, a new Radio 1 and BBC2, and much more.

Closer to home - as far-reaching social, cultural and political change went on in the background - there was plenty of drama on offer at Newcastle United. After the heady 1950s era of Milburn, Mitchell and co, and three FA Cup triumphs in five years, the Magpies began the 1960s at a low ebb, and about to tumble into football’s second tier. The end of the decade, by way of contrast, saw the club - now restored to the First Division - qualify for Europe and against all the odds go on to win the competition in thrilling style.

Our 10 photographs from the Chronicle archive - one from each year of the decade - recall Newcastle United and their journey through the 1960s. After the calamity of relegation at the end of the 1960-61 season, the process of rebuilding in the Second Division would be gradual but ultimately successful.

A key factor was the 1962 appointment of manager Joe Harvey, the no-nonsense former FA Cup-winning captain and a man who was black and white to his core. Experienced heads were added to the squad - principally Stan Anderson from Sunderland - as well as a raft of talented young players - the likes of Bobby Moncur, David Craig, Frank Clark and Ollie Burton - who would all serve the club well for many years. At the end of the 1964-65 season, United were promoted as champions back to the promised land of the top flight.

Adjusting to the higher standards of the First Division took time and United battled at the wrong end of the table for a couple of seasons before things settled down. When battering-ram centre-forward and record signing Wyn Davies arrived from Bolton in 1966, he was paired with a young local talent Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson to give United a potent little-and-large attacking threat. Newcastle became a workmanlike but effective outfit who could beat anybody on their day - although the opposite applied too.

The end of the 1967-68 season saw the Magpies finish 10th in the league, a position high enough to earn them qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the forerunner of the UEFA Cup and subsequent Europa League. (The Fairs Cup today permanently resides in the club museum of Barcelona). That first European campaign would become the stuff of legend.

During 1968 and ‘69, huge raucous crowds would flock to mid-week games under the floodlights at St James’ Park where United would scare the living daylights out of a succession of top continental clubs. Feyenoord of Holland, Sporting Lisbon of Portugal, Real

Zaragoza of Spain, Vitoria Setubal of Portugal, and Glasgow Rangers of Scotland were all put to the sword at Gallowgate.

Then, over two dramatic legs in the summer of ‘69, Newcastle United defeated Ujpest Dozsaof Hungary 6-2 over two legs in the final to lift the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. An incredibleachievement at the time, although 55 years later the trophy remains, almost infamously now,the club’s last major honour to date.

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