Magpie Memories: Bhoys In Toon

By Craig Hope

NEWCASTLE United legend Bobby Moncur has fond memories of Celtic's visit to St.James' Park during his time as a player.

Then European Champions, Jock Stein brought the Bhoys to Tyneside for a friendly match in February, 1968, a game billed as the 'Battle of Britain'.

Jimmy Scott headed a late winner for the Geordies as 38, 836 supporters turned out on what was FA Cup Fourth Round afternoon.

United skipper Bobby Moncur looks back to that game with nufc.co.uk.

"They were top dogs at the time and it was a great atmosphere," said the last captain to lift a trophy for the black and whites.

"There has always been something special between the two clubs and I think that came from the fact that Joe Harvey and Jock Stein were such good friends.

"We got a late winner through a Jimmy Scott header and it meant a lot to beat them, there was a lot of pride at stake.

"It was part of a double-header friendly we'd organised because we were both out of our domestic competitions, and we won 3-2 up at Celtic as well."

And Bobby has particularly fond memories of the travelling Scottish support who had made their way down from Glasgow for a day out in Toon.

He added: "I remember the Celtic fans who came with all their drinks and cans and they weren't allowed to take it into the ground.

"A pal of mine who was a Newcastle fan was told the same thing, so he thought he'd be clever and leave the ground 20 minutes early to get all the beer, the only problem was the Celtic boys had the same idea and by the time he got there there was nothing left!"

Celtic will provide the opposition for Sam Allardyce's first game at St.James' Park on Thursday night and Captain Bob is expecting a competitive encounter given the history between the clubs.

"I don't read too much into pre-season friendlies but I think this game will be competitive because of the fans - they are two great sets of supporters and it's always a cracking occasion."

Here, nufc.co.uk takes a look back at all of the previous meetings between the Magpies and the Hoops ...

Newcastle United XI 3 Celtic 2, May 11, 2006

Alan Shearer bid an emotional farewell to Tyneside as 52,000 scarf-waving Geordies turned out to honour the club's greatest ever goalscorer.

And, in quite fitting fashion, it was Big Al who hobbled on in the closing stages to slot home a penalty which sealed a 3-2 win for a United side which included former favourites Les Ferdinand, Rob Lee, Gary Speed and Steve Watson.

Spanish forward Albert Luque (70) gave the Magpies the lead, before a Shaun Maloney (79) penalty and John Hartson (83) put the visitors ahead.

But, after Les Ferdinand forced an equaliser one minute into injury time, Shearer stepped up to nestle his spot-kick into the Gallowgate End net amid unforgettable scenes inside St.James' Park, the Toon Army turning the club's famous stadium into a sea of black and white.

Celtic 2 Newcastle United 0, July 27, 1999

Ruud Gullit took United north of the border to Celtic Park for a pre-season friendly against former Magpie John Barnes' side.

And it was the hosts who ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from new signing Oliver Tebily (50) and Mark Viduka (62).

It was a Newcastle team which included new signings Franck Dumas, Marcelino and Alain Goma, with on loan Belgian Marc Ziegler keeping goal for the Geordies.

Peter Beardsley Select XI 1 Celtic 3, January 27, 1999

The Bhoys again provided the opposition as Tyneside paid tribute to one of their most famous sons.

Peter Beardsley included Kevin Keegan, Andy Cole and Paul Gascoigne in his United side as a sell-out 36, 733 Geordies turned out to salute a player who scored 119 times over two spells at Gallowgate.

The visitors were two goals to the good by the break, Darren Peacock (3) inadvertently netting past Shaka Hislop before Lubomir Moravcik (23) made it two with a curling effort.

Keegan made his eagerly-anticipated entrance in the second period on what was his first return to St.James' since qutting as manager two years previous.

Mark Burchill made it three in the closing stages, before Pedro got his goal from the penalty spot after Alan Shearer was clattered in the area.

Celtic 1 Newcastle United 1, August 5, 1995

David Ginola was the star of the show as Celtic marked their return to Parkhead with a 1-1 draw against Kevin Keegan's free-flowing Geordies.

The Frenchman had chosen to join the Magpies rather than the Celts just weeks earlier, and he silenced the boo boys with a sublime display which in the end won applause from the home crowd.

But it was Celtic who took the lead, Darren Peacock bringing down new signing Andreas Thom inside the area, John Collins (29) tucking away the resulting spot-kick.

And it was Les Ferdinand, another Toon new boy, who brought the scores level eight minutes after the break.

Ginola was the architect, his clever throughball releasing Scott Sellars, the winger pulling back from the touchline for Sir Les to head home from 10 yards out.

Celtic 2 Newcastle United 3, March 8, 1968

With both United and Celtic eliminated from their domestic cup competitions, the two clubs agreed to a double-header friendly midway through the 1967-68 season.

The second of these fiercely contested affairs saw the Magpies run out 3-2 winners thanks to goals from Wyn Davies, Jimmy Scott and Tommy Robson.

Newcastle United 1 Celtic 0, February 17, 1968

Jimmy Scott scored a late header in front of the Leazes End to snatch victory for Joe Harvey's side over Jock Stein's European Cup winners.

There was massive pride at stake in what was billed as a Battle of Britain between the two passionately supported clubs as 38, 836 Geordies turned out on FA Cup Fourth Round afternoon.

Newcastle United 2 Celtic 0, February 25, 1953

Chilean forward George Robledo scored both goals at the official inauguration of the St.James' Park floodlights.

The lights were even switched off at half-time in an effort to save energy as the 41, 888 crowd were plunged into darkness, and all that could be seen was the light from cigarette lighters during the interval.

United were the third Division One side to get floodlights, the electricity bill from that opening night coming to £2.

Celtic 3 Newcastle United 3, September 12, 1952

United and Celtic shared six goals as the two sides met in the English versus Scottish Cup Winners Challenge Match.

George Robledo, Bobby Mitchell and Ernie Taylor on target for the black and whites.

Other meetings

Newcastle United 1 (Neil Harris) Celtic 1, September 27, 1922

Celtic 3 Newcastle United 0, May 29, 1921 (played in Paris)

Celtic 4 Newcastle United 2 (Rutherford, Heywood), March 13, 1902

Newcastle United 3 (Logan 2, Milne) Celtic 0, September 4, 1895

Tickets for Newcastle United's glamour home friendly matches against Celtic on Thursday, Juventus on Sunday and Sampdoria on August 5 are still available from the SJP Box Office and online by clicking below ... For every adult ticket bought in advance from the Box Office you can receive two FREE Under-11 tickets ... Click here for full pre-season friendly info ...