Football Nostalgia

An old programme from a game at St James' Park in 1987. Travelled down from Edinburgh with a friend from work at S&N. The Toon won 2-1, with a team that was getting its act together to lift itself clear of relegation danger. Featured a young Paul Gascoigne, sadly in the news this week as he battles with alcohol addiction and mental illness. The manager of Man Utd back them had only been appointed in the November of the previous year, and the programme notes say that he hadn't really had a chance to stamp his mark on the team. He had improved their performances, taking them from 21st when he arrived and would reach mid-table respectability by the end of that first season. Back then Man Utd hadn't won the league since 1967 and were stuck on seven titles. Gordon Strachan, who scored a great goal that day, would leave to join Leeds and win a championship medal there before Man U won the league again. Since then, they have gone on to win title after title, and seemingly clinched what will be there twentieth by winning today.
And (Sir) Alex Ferguson is still there. Pretty amazing longevity for a football manager anywhere, let alone at a leading club. Interesting seeing him interviewed on Football Focus yesterday - watching it I thought, 'there's a face for a photographic portrait!'