1988–89 Newcastle United F.C. season
During the 1988-89 season, Newcastle United participated in the Football League First Division. During the summer the club invested heavily in their squad, attempting to offset the loss of rising star Paul Gascoigne to Spurs for a then club record fee. F.A. Cup winners Dave Beasant and Andy Thorn were signed for £850,000 each, Scotsmen John Robertson and John Hendrie joined for similar fees as the club spent the £2.2 million it received for Gascoigne. The loss of Gascoigne proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back so soon after selling star players Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle, and promising youngster Michael O'Neill, struggling with loss of form and injuries along with enigmatic Brazilian Mirandinha were in and out of the team all season.
| 1988-89 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Gordon McKeag | ||
| Manager | Willie McFaul (until 9 October) Colin Suggett (caretaker until 14 December) Jim Smith (from 14 December) | ||
| Stadium | St James' Park | ||
| First Division | 20th | ||
| FA Cup | Third round | ||
| League Cup | Second round | ||
| Full Members Cup | Third round | ||
| Mercantile Credit Centenary Trophy | Semi-Final | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Mirandinha (9) All: Mirandinha (11) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 33,508 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 14,445 (vs. West Ham United) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 22,815 | ||
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This season saw Newcastle United relegated to the Football League Second Division, finishing bottom of the division after a horrible season in which the team changed manager 2 months into the season. Manager Willie McFaul was sacked after a 3-0 home defeat which came exactly a week after the team had beaten current League Champions Liverpool at Anfield. New manager Jim Smith, who struggled to change the team's fortunes, set about 'Wheeling and dealing' that saw many changes to the squad. Out went big money new signings Beasant and Robertson to be replaced by unknown Northern Irishman keeper Tommy Wright and ex-patriate striker Rob MacDonald. Other signings included ex-England international Kenny Sansom, experienced right back Ray Ranson and Danish pair Bjørn Kristensen and Frank Pingel.
Appearances, goals and cards
- (Substitute appearances in brackets)
| Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Simod Cup | MCC Trophy | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Dave Beasant |
20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| GK |  Gary Kelly |
9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| GK |  Tommy Wright |
9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| DF | John Anderson |
21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| DF | Steve Howey |
0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| DF | Peter Jackson |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF |  Bjørn Kristensen |
4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 |
| DF | Ray Ranson |
13 (1) | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 (1) | 1 |
| DF | Glenn Roeder |
18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| DF | Kenny Sansom |
20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| DF | Kevin Scott |
29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 (1) | 0 |
| DF | Andy Thorn |
26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| DF | Kenny Wharton |
14 (4) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 (4) | 0 |
| MF | Ian Bogie |
3 (3) | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 (6) | 0 |
| MF | Kevin Brock |
21 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 |
| MF | John Cornwell |
8 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 (2) | 0 |
| MF |  Albert Craig |
0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| MF | Archie Gourlay |
0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| MF | David McCreery |
36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| MF | Liam O'Brien |
17 (3) | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 (3) | 3 |
| MF | Michael O'Neill |
17 (10) | 4 | 1 (1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21 (11) | 5 |
| MF | Lee Payne |
6 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (1) | 0 |
| MF | David Roche |
0 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 |
| MF | Paul Stephenson |
7 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 (1) | 0 |
| MF | Paul Sweeney |
6 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (2) | 0 |
| MF | Brian Tinnion |
12 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 | 15 (2) | 1 |
| FW | Gary Brazil |
3 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (4) | 0 |
| FW | John Hendrie |
34 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 5 |
| FW | Darren Jackson |
13 (2) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 (2) | 2 |
| FW | Anth Lormor |
3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| FW | Rob McDonald |
6 (4) | 1 | 1 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 (7) | 2 |
| FW |  Mirandinha |
22 (6) | 9 | 2 (1) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 27 (8) | 11 |
| FW | Frank Pingel |
13 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 (1) | 1 |
| FW | John Robertson |
7 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 (7) | 0 |
| FW | David Robinson |
0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
Coaching staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager | Jim Smith |
| Assistant Manager | Bobby Saxton |
Results
| Everton | 4–0 | Newcastle United | Everton | |
| Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 41,560 |
| Newcastle United | 2–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 33,508 |
| Derby County | 2–0 | Newcastle United | Derby | |
| Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 16,014 |
| Newcastle United | 0–2 | Norwich City | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 22,809 |
| Charlton Athletic | 2–2 | Newcastle United | Charlton | |
| Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 6,088 |
| Liverpool | 1–2 | Newcastle United | Liverpool | |
| Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,139 |
| Newcastle United | 0–3 | Coventry City | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 22,890 |
| West Ham United | 2–0 | Newcastle United | London | |
| Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 17,765 |
| Newcastle United | 3–0 | Middlesbrough | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 23,845 |
| Newcastle United | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 24,642 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 3–0 | Newcastle United | Shepherd's Bush | |
| Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 11,013 |
| Newcastle United | 0–1 | Arsenal | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 23,807 |
| Millwall | 4–0 | Newcastle United | Bermondsey | |
| Stadium: The Den Attendance: 15,767 |
| Newcastle United | 0–0 | Manchester United | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 20,234 |
| Luton Town | 0–0 | Newcastle United | Luton | |
| Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 8,338 |
| Newcastle United | 2–1 | Wimbledon | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 20,292 |
| Newcastle United | 3–3 | Southampton | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 20,103 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 1–2 | Newcastle United | Owlerton | |
| Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 25,573 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Newcastle United | London | |
| Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 27,739 |
| Newcastle United | 0–1 | Derby County | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 31,079 |
| Aston Villa | 3–1 | Newcastle United | Aston | |
| Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 21,010 |
| Newcastle United | 0–2 | Charlton Athletic | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 19,076 |
| Newcastle United | 2–2 | Liverpool | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 30,983 |
| Coventry City | 1–2 | Newcastle United | Coventry | |
| Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 16,577 |
| Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Newcastle United | Middlesbrough | |
| Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 24,385 |
| Newcastle United | 1–2 | Queens Park Rangers | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 21,665 |
| Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Newcastle United | Nottingham | |
| Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 20,800 |
| Newcastle United | 2–0 | Everton | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 21,012 |
| Norwich City | 0–2 | Newcastle United | Norwich | |
| Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 22,440 |
| Newcastle United | 1–3 | Sheffield Wednesday | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 31,010 |
| Southampton | 1–0 | Newcastle United | Southampton | |
| Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 16,175 |
| Newcastle United | 1–2 | Aston Villa | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 20,464 |
| Arsenal | 1–0 | Newcastle United | London | |
| Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,023 |
| Newcastle United | 0–0 | Luton Town | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 18,636 |
| Wimbledon | 4–0 | Newcastle United | London | |
| Stadium: Plough Lane Attendance: 5,206 |
| Newcastle United | 1–2 | West Ham United | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 14,445 |
| Newcastle United | 1–1 | Millwall | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
| Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 14,731 |
| Manchester United | 2–0 | Newcastle United | Manchester | |
| Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 30,379 |