1918 Joe Harvey born, Edlington, Yorkshire. (pl 1945-55) (Mgr/Coach/Employee 1962-89)

An inspiration as both Captain and Manager and an honorary Geordie, Joe led United to promotion in 1948, FA Cup success in 1951 and 1952, was trainer in the 1955 victory and returned as the Second Division title was collected in 1965 and the Fairs Cup four years later under his stewardship.

Beginning his playing career with home town side Edlington Rangers, Harvey joined Bradford Park Avenue in May 1936 and after stints at both Wolves and Bournemouth signed for Bradford City two years later.

Serving as Company Sergeant Major in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps during WWII, Joe guested for Bradford PA, Watford, Aldershot, York City, Hartlepools, Aberdeen and Dundee United.

Brought to SJP by Stan Seymour at a cost of £4,250 in October 1945, Harvey was to become a rock of United's defence and a regular in the number 4 shirt until 1953.

Leaving United in 1955, Joe had a brief spell as Consett trainer before taking charge of Barrow and later Workington.

Persuaded by Seymour to return to SJP as manager in June 1962 in succession to Norman Smith and remained at the helm until the tail end of the 1974/75 season.

By then, the disappointment of losing in the 1974 FA Cup Final had been followed by demoralising cup exits at the hands of Walsall and Chester City, plus a second successive fifteenth place finish in Division One that had fans calling for his head. 

Uncle Joe celebrated his 51st birthday in some style (see below) and made a belated return to management at the age of 62, taking caretaker charge at SJP following the jettisoning of Bill McGarry.

Harvey passed away in February 1989 and although his funeral was less high profile than Jackie Milburn (both players making their competitive United debut on the same day in an FA Cup tie against Barnsley in 1946) his contribution was no less vital.

1931 Raymond Ernest Wood born, Hebburn (1948-49)

Goalkeeper who was an amateur with Newcastle, but didn't feature for the first team before moving to Darlington in 1949.

Just three months later though, Ray joined Manchester United, making his first team debut  against Newcastle in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in December 1949.

Making over 200 appearances for the Busby Babes, Wood won a full cap for England and also played in the 1957 FA Cup Final.

That ended in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, with Wood fracturing a cheekbone in the opening minutes and being led off the field.  

However he recovered enough to return as an outfield player, before belatedly going back in goal in those pre-substitute days.

Wood was travelling as a reserve on the ill -fated flight from Munich in 1958, but although surviving the crash, failed to regain his place from first-choice Harry Gregg. 

Moving on to Huddersfield Town, he later appeared for Bradford City and Barnsley.

After completing his coaching badges Wood held various posts with clubs and national sides in Canada, Zambia, USA, Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, Kuwait, Kenya and the United Arab Emirates.

Settling in the Sussex town of Bexhill, his death was recorded in July 2002.
 
1941 John McNamee born, Coatbridge, Scotland. (1966-71)

A no-nonsense centre half who had the nerve to rebuff an approach from Matt Busby to move to Manchester United in 1958, John began his playing career with Bellshill Athletic in Glasgow while serving his apprenticeship in the Clyde shipyards.

Joining Celtic for £50 in August 1959, John was in the Hoops side beaten by Rangers in the 1963 Scottish Cup Final replay and capped at "B" level by his country.

Tempted away to Hibernian by Jock Stein in 1963, United paid £26,000 for McNamee in December 1966 after four dismissals had made him something of a marked man in Scotland.

Debuting in a 0-4 loss at Spurs on the last day of 1966, McNamee and fellow new arrivals Tommy Robson and Dave Elliott would help United pull clear of relegation. 

The following season saw John etch his name in Magpie folklore, scoring a late equaliser at Roker Park in a 3-3 draw and swinging on the net in celebration (not the crossbar as some sources report).  

John spent his 28th birthday on the bench in Budapest - an unused substitute as United claimed the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. 

He had played against Feyenoord and Rangers in earlier rounds, facing the latter at Ibrox despite a hamstring pull.

Moving on to Blackburn Rovers at a cost of £15,000 in November 1971, later spells at Hartlepool United, Greenock Morton and Lancaster City followed.

John also took charge of Workington and had a brief stint on the coaching staff at Carlisle United.

Post-football he lived in Cockermouth and worked for the Royal Mail raising his four children single-handedly following the death of his wife in 1983.

2009 saw McNamee back in the news when his home in Cockermouth was one of many that fell victim to the floods.

Revealed to be suffering with Alzheimer's in 2017, a diagnosis of Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) followed - repeated head trauma now tragically associated with many footballers of his era.

Spending his final days in a care home, John died in November 2024. 

1957 Death of Hughie Gallacher.
(1925-30)
 
The former Magpie striker sadly threw himself in front of a northbound express train at Low Fell, shortly before a court appearance in Gateshead to answer charges of mistreating his son. He was 54.