“I’ve got to say, when I saw that, I did think it was fantastic. It reminded me of the old days,” says Bob Moncur, thinking back to that wonderful display by Gallowgate Flags prior to the game against Huddersfield Town in August.
“Right away, as a player, it must give you a buzz to see the flags flying. I think it’s a great idea, and it’s bringing back the spirit of the football club. Everybody’s in it together.”
This afternoon, St. James’ Park will host another spectacular display, this time with more than a passing nod to the past. Magpies hero Moncur is one of 12 legends who will have flags flown in their honour before the game against Cardiff City.
For the Scot – the last man to pick up a piece of major silverware as captain of Newcastle United – this city and its club have been a huge part of his life since he pulled into Central Station in his mid-teens.
“I came to Newcastle, and immediately I felt at home,” he remembers, casting his mind back to 1960. “I came in by train; it was a Monday morning, peeing down with rain. But the people were so good, and I just felt at home in Newcastle. I thought ‘I like this place’.
“And when I say the Geordie people are great, they really are.”
It is, of course, that 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup victory that made sure of Moncur’s place in the pantheon of United greats.
A scorer of three in the two-legged final against Ujpesti Dozca, Moncur and United prevailed by an aggregate score of 6-2. His memories of the team’s return to Tyneside, trophy in tow, remain vivid.
“We flew back, and there are some pictures of me, Stan Seymour and Joe Harvey on the plane with the cup,” he explains.
“When we got to Newcastle airport and landed, Lord Westwood said ‘Bob, we want you to go out first’. I said ‘why’s that?’
“He said ‘just trust me. Do as you’re told – and you need to take the cup with you’.
“So I got the cup, and the door of the aeroplane opens. To this day, I get goosebumps on the back of my neck. I just stepped out of plane, and looked around – wow.
“All the balconies were lined with people. I thought ‘this is important’. There was a massive cheer. I was staggered.”
The achievements of Harvey’s team, skippered to glory by Moncur, have not diminished with time. “At the time when I was playing, when you’re that age, when you’re 24, you don’t understand the enormity of what it meant to the fans,” he says.
“But only now, all these years later, I now know – as a fan – just how important it was.
“I wasn’t blasé about it, but that was my job. We went out, we won a cup and I knew it was a good achievement, but I didn’t realise how big it was at the time. All these years later, I sit there and think ‘we won a trophy in Europe’. Imagine if we did that now – it would be amazing.
“I’m probably more emotional about it now than I was then, because I look back and think ‘that was some time’.
Moncur, now 71, paints a picture of a club that was truly United in those heady days. “The club used to hire a plane, and you’d have the directors, the press, the staff and all the players all on board, and it was just a big team – a massive, big team.
“You remember the good times in your life, but also being around the club here now, I’m the luckiest guy in the world. OK, we’ve seen the difficult times, but I’m very fortunate to be involved in some level at this football club.
“I’m very lucky to be involved with the football club, and grateful for that as well. I can see things happening. Without getting carried away, I’m excited about it.”
In his role as club ambassador, Moncur is still involved with the club today, and has watched on with great interest as Rafa Benitez has rebuilt the Magpies squad in recent months.
And with the Spaniard at the helm, Moncur reckons the good times may not be too far away, 47 years on from that famous Fairs Cup triumph.
“Forget about anyone else – the best signing we’ve made is Rafa Benitez. Lee Charnley did a great job in getting him here,” he says.
“With Rafa coming here, I can see things happening that excite me – they really do excite me. He’s a really passionate man. He’s got the same kind of passion as I have.
“I can see him bringing back the good old days, definitely. Without a doubt.”
