Swansea (h) 1-2
Sat Oct 18th, 1980
16,278

In the matchday programme club Secretary, Russell Cushing writes a stunning piece of invective entitled "Snatch of the Day". Funnily enough there's actually no mention of Cramlington, instead he launches forth on an analysis of the role of television in football. United's declining attendances are apparently not due to "hooliganism, unemployment levels or high admission costs". No, it's all down to the fact that ITV are showing highlights on a Saturday night instead of Sunday. "People cannot be blamed for not turning up at a match in these circumstances when, free of charge and in the comfort of their own homes, they can see their local club performing that same night on T.V."

Talk about incisive. Newcastle's attendances fell to their lowest ever levels this season wholly due to the amount of crap served up on the pitch and the lack of vision of people like Russell Cushing. Thank goodness people like him were dispensed with some years ago. Oh, hang on a minute, wasn't he recently promoted to Chief Operations Officer...?

Current Reserve Coach, Tommy Craig was with the visiting Swansea side but it was Alan Waddle, relative of Chris (going great guns in the reserves), who got the winner. Billy Rafferty got a late goal that couldn't prevent the 2-1 defeat.  

Rafferty joined Koenen, Hibbitt and Shinton as joint top league goalscorers - they had all scored twice - but Rafferty's two goals in the league cup meant he had scored twice as many goals as anyone else....

Diary entry

"Went to match. Then got programme. This was a bloody hopeless game. Then after about 35 minutes they scored. Then after about 70 minutes they scored again and with 88 mins gone Rafferty managed to score."

Journal Merit Marks: Carr 6, Kelly 6, Davies 5, Martin 6, Boam 6, Mitchell 7, Shoulder 6, Wharton 6, Shinton 6, Rafferty 6, Hibbitt 6.

Kenny Mitchell stands out like a...like a... big ginger-headed mackem but his seven and Davies' five are amid a sea of sixes:

Next time - Chelsea, Match of the Day, white shorts and Bruce Halliday. The stuff of real nightmares.

Niall MacKenzie

Halcyon Days