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I was born in 1960 and have lived in Newcastle all my life and naturally many of my earliest memories resonate around football; England winning the world cup in 1966, when I was actually on holiday in Scotland visiting my sister who lived in Edinburgh, and early cup finals like 1967 Spurs v Chelsea when some of the players on the field that day were the then legends of the game. Players for example like Jimmy Greaves, Alan Mullery, Terry Venables, Bobby Tambling and Charlie Cooke. I also remember the 1968 cup final WBA v Everton with the famous Jeff Astle goal. But Newcastle was always my team and my older brother Ian always reminded me that they were “our team” and that they would be so for life.
My first game was actually away at Hibs in a friendly on August 3rd 1968 when Fairs Cup Winner Jim Scott lined up against his old Club, while the Hibernian team included a player being lauded north of the border as the Scottish George Best, Peter Marinello. We won 2-1, courtesy of an own goal and one from Wyn Davies; a fantastic old fashioned centre forward and another player who became one of my heroes. My first league game was against Arsenal on November 9th 1968 when we played out a 0-0 draw. By then, I was hooked.
There have been some fantastic players over the years at Newcastle, as there have been at all clubs. George Best was a brilliant player and I still class him as the best footballer ever to put on a pair of boots. So you may be surprised by my choice of favourite Newcastle player, David McCreery.
Small in stature but with a massive heart and love for the game; McCreery played every game as if it was his last, working hard for the team, never stopping and never moaning. That is my type of player, and even in the modern game you need players like him to take the pressure off your flamboyant players and make it easier for them to perform. He was a great passer of the ball and never missed or pulled out of a tackle.
He signed for Newcastle in 1982 and played until 1989 playing 262 games, which is some record. He gained 67 International caps for his Country Northern Ireland and represented them in two World Cups (1982 and 1986); something which some players only dream of. When I played football I tried to play like David McCreery; to follow his passion and commitment. He was and remains my big footballing hero and I will never forget him and would to meet the man some day.
Thanks DAVID top player, top man.
