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Modern Magpies 1992/93: Just Champion
FOLLOWING United's amazing escape from the brink a few weeks earlier, Sir John Hall quickly moved to consolidate his position in control of affairs at St James Park. Rapidly he made decisive moves behind the scenes to force a total take-over.
The Chairman began planning a vast transformation of St James Park and overhaul of the club's finances. Backed by his son Douglas and Tyneside businessman Freddie Shepherd, as well as the considerable drive of Freddie Fletcher, the new managerial team persuaded Kevin Keegan to take a full-time appointment as boss during the summer of 1992.
The board were always convinced that only one man could lead Newcastle out of the relegation mire in the early '90s. Someone with a Midas touch, an inspiration to the legions of United supporters who longed for someone to lead and motivate them.
Keegan's charisma was never in doubt. He had to lift an indifferent team out of the relegation zone. And that was always going to be a tough task. But he received the backing of the board and the fans. Supporters flocked back to St James Park, just as they had done in 1982 when Keegan first arrived. Gallowgate - and the whole of Tyneside - buzzed with football fever.
Keegan began to build for the coming 1992-93 season. Cash was released, despite the growing debts - now effectively underwritten by the Cameron-Hall multi-million pound empire.
Keegan, supported ably by his assistant, former United and Liverpool star Terry McDermott, made three key signings in the summer months bringing versatile defender Barry Venison from Liverpool, John Beresford north from Portsmouth and luring Sunderland's skipper Paul Bracewell from Wear to Tyne.
He was to splash out another £700,000 early into the season on Charlton Athletic's highly rated striker and midfield player Robert Lee. And the ambition was there for all to see when a huge £3m bid - alas an unsuccessful one - was made to land Southampton's goalpoacher Alan Shearer.
Newcastle opened the new season in stunning fashion. They roared to a victorious start and simply could not stop winning! United registered ten wins out of ten games played, a maximum of 30 points, and galloped clear of the First Division field.
The country took notice as the Tynesiders began to capture the nation's imagination. Displaying a brand of football full of attacking ideas, tremendous workrate, great spirit as well as a solid back four, Newcastle reached 11 victories in succession with a splendid performance against Sunderland at Roker Park.
That notable success took United in sight of the record books, but then unfashionable Grimsby Town arrived at Gallowgate and spoiled the party, winning with a last minute goal. Yet Newcastle's run had been quite sensational, especially when compared to the previous season's efforts. It was the springboard that Keegan needed. United were clear at the top of the table.
A buzz of anticipation covered Tyneside. Both players and supporters were on the crest of a wave. The sleeping giant had awoken.
Before the final run-in to the season, Keegan splashed out in the transfer market. Scott Sellars came from Leeds United and during March the manager broke the club's record transfer by paying £1.75m for Bristol City's exciting young striker Andy Cole.
Although the big fee United paid was classed by many as a gamble for a player with limited experience, Keegan's judgement was proved ever so right. Cole rapidly developed into a natural goalscorer with devastating pace and expert placement of his shot. Within a few short months he was the new Number 9 hero to the Toon Army.
Newcastle clinched promotion into the Premier League with a fixture at Grimsby Town during May. A Geordie invasion engulfed Cleethorpes and Blundell Park and they witnessed a 2-0 scoreline and with it joyous scenes on the final whistle. Partying lasted all week with the final home fixture of the season against Leicester City proving a fitting finale to a marvellous season.
Newcastle were crowned Football League Champions with all the pomp and celebration of a club that had yearned for success for so long. And then the black'n'whites turned on a performance that astounded everyone, including millions on television. At half-time they ran off to rapturous acclaim 6-0 ahead! They tore Leicester apart - a good side already in the play-offs - with brilliant team play. With Newcastle going onto win 7-1, both David Kelly and Andy Cole registered hat-tricks.
Attendances, which had dwindled to an average of 17,267 the previous season, jumped dramatically to almost 30,000.
Season 1992-93
(Old) Division One
Pos Pld W D L F A Pts
1st 46 29 9 8 92 38 96
FA Cup: R5
League Cup: R3
Top scorer: Kelly 27
Avg Attn: 28,424
The Chairman began planning a vast transformation of St James Park and overhaul of the club's finances. Backed by his son Douglas and Tyneside businessman Freddie Shepherd, as well as the considerable drive of Freddie Fletcher, the new managerial team persuaded Kevin Keegan to take a full-time appointment as boss during the summer of 1992.
The board were always convinced that only one man could lead Newcastle out of the relegation mire in the early '90s. Someone with a Midas touch, an inspiration to the legions of United supporters who longed for someone to lead and motivate them.
Keegan's charisma was never in doubt. He had to lift an indifferent team out of the relegation zone. And that was always going to be a tough task. But he received the backing of the board and the fans. Supporters flocked back to St James Park, just as they had done in 1982 when Keegan first arrived. Gallowgate - and the whole of Tyneside - buzzed with football fever.
Keegan began to build for the coming 1992-93 season. Cash was released, despite the growing debts - now effectively underwritten by the Cameron-Hall multi-million pound empire.
Keegan, supported ably by his assistant, former United and Liverpool star Terry McDermott, made three key signings in the summer months bringing versatile defender Barry Venison from Liverpool, John Beresford north from Portsmouth and luring Sunderland's skipper Paul Bracewell from Wear to Tyne.
He was to splash out another £700,000 early into the season on Charlton Athletic's highly rated striker and midfield player Robert Lee. And the ambition was there for all to see when a huge £3m bid - alas an unsuccessful one - was made to land Southampton's goalpoacher Alan Shearer.
Newcastle opened the new season in stunning fashion. They roared to a victorious start and simply could not stop winning! United registered ten wins out of ten games played, a maximum of 30 points, and galloped clear of the First Division field.
The country took notice as the Tynesiders began to capture the nation's imagination. Displaying a brand of football full of attacking ideas, tremendous workrate, great spirit as well as a solid back four, Newcastle reached 11 victories in succession with a splendid performance against Sunderland at Roker Park.
That notable success took United in sight of the record books, but then unfashionable Grimsby Town arrived at Gallowgate and spoiled the party, winning with a last minute goal. Yet Newcastle's run had been quite sensational, especially when compared to the previous season's efforts. It was the springboard that Keegan needed. United were clear at the top of the table.
A buzz of anticipation covered Tyneside. Both players and supporters were on the crest of a wave. The sleeping giant had awoken.
Before the final run-in to the season, Keegan splashed out in the transfer market. Scott Sellars came from Leeds United and during March the manager broke the club's record transfer by paying £1.75m for Bristol City's exciting young striker Andy Cole.
Although the big fee United paid was classed by many as a gamble for a player with limited experience, Keegan's judgement was proved ever so right. Cole rapidly developed into a natural goalscorer with devastating pace and expert placement of his shot. Within a few short months he was the new Number 9 hero to the Toon Army.
Newcastle clinched promotion into the Premier League with a fixture at Grimsby Town during May. A Geordie invasion engulfed Cleethorpes and Blundell Park and they witnessed a 2-0 scoreline and with it joyous scenes on the final whistle. Partying lasted all week with the final home fixture of the season against Leicester City proving a fitting finale to a marvellous season.
Newcastle were crowned Football League Champions with all the pomp and celebration of a club that had yearned for success for so long. And then the black'n'whites turned on a performance that astounded everyone, including millions on television. At half-time they ran off to rapturous acclaim 6-0 ahead! They tore Leicester apart - a good side already in the play-offs - with brilliant team play. With Newcastle going onto win 7-1, both David Kelly and Andy Cole registered hat-tricks.
Attendances, which had dwindled to an average of 17,267 the previous season, jumped dramatically to almost 30,000.
Season 1992-93
(Old) Division One
Pos Pld W D L F A Pts
1st 46 29 9 8 92 38 96
FA Cup: R5
League Cup: R3
Top scorer: Kelly 27
Avg Attn: 28,424
© Paul Joannou, Club Historian to Newcastle United FC
