After the
First World War, United rebuilt quickly. Players such as Frank
Hudspeth, Neil Harris, Tom McDonald and Stan Seymour came to
the fore, the latter becoming one of the greatest names at the
club. In 1924, Newcastle again lifted the FA Cup, playing in
the only the second final to be held at the new Empire Stadium
at Wembley, and also gaining revenge over Aston Villa, beating
them 2-0.
That year also, United signed another of their greatest players,
Hughie Gallacher from Airdrie, and he proved to be a genius,
being Newcastle's leading scorer for the next five seasons.
He netted 39 when he skippered Newcastle to their final (to
date) league championship in 1927, a total that has only recently
(1994) been beaten.
Regrettably, Newcastle tailed off after this win and followed
up with a succession of disappointing campaigns. By 1930, they
were at the wrong end of the table and but for Gallacher, would
have been relegated. Gallagher departed in the close season,
having been transferred to Chelsea against his will. Former
Scottish international Andy Cunningham took over as the Magpie's
first ever Team Manager.
Cunningham experimented with team selection and when Gallagher
returned with his new club, an all time record for attendance
was set at St. James'. Cunningham's experimentation finally
paid off when Newcastle lifted the FA Cup for the third time,
beating Arsenal in controversial circumstances. Apparently the
ball had just gone out for a goal kick when it was crossed over
for a Newcastle goal. The referee and linesmen didn't think
so, and Newcastle ran out 2-1 winners.
Despite having a potentially fine pool of players, Newcastle
could not find a permanently winning pattern, and in the 1933-34
campaign, after enjoying an excellent festive season, thrashing
Everton 7-3 and Liverpool 9-2 in the space of a few days, Newcastle
trailed off and were eventually relegated, ending 36 years of
top flight football. Cunningham departed and Tom Mather took
his place. Newcastle found it difficult to adjust to the second
division and promotion seemed a remote prospect.
In the 1937-38 season, United only escaped further relegation
to the Third Division North by one- tenth of a goal, after goal
averages were worked out. During the summer of 1938, former
Magpie's outside-left Stan Seymour joined the board, starting
a successful off the field career with united that was to last
for decades. After recording a huge loss of almost 17,000 pounds,
the Second World War drew its shadow over Europe, and Newcastle
spent wartime fruitfully, searching the North East for promising
young players, and coming up with talent like Jackie Milburn,
Tommy Walker and Bobby Cowell.
