sport news Newcastle's players reunite celebrate their 1969 Fairs Cup glory in Budapest

It is 50 years since Newcastle United last won a trophy, beating Hungarian champions Ujpest Dozsa 6-2 on aggregate to lift the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup of 1969. 

The team, led by captain Bob Moncur, returned to Budapest this week to celebrate the anniversary. Sportsmail’s Craig Hope was with them…

Newcastle United captain Bobby Moncur holds aloft the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in 1969

Newcastle United captain Bobby Moncur holds aloft the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in 1969

(Left to right) John Craggs, Alan Foggon, Bob Moncur, Jim Scott, Frank Clark, David Craig, David Clark, Keith Dyson and Ollie Burton enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane in Budapest

(Left to right) John Craggs, Alan Foggon, Bob Moncur, Jim Scott, Frank Clark, David Craig, David Clark, Keith Dyson and Ollie Burton enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane in Budapest

The first thing you see are the floodlights, vintage Eastern European and intimidating in their own way, dominating the skyline of the Ujpest district on the banks of the Danube.

Our taxis approach, taking the same journey along the tree-lined Vaci Ut as the team coach had done exactly half a century ago.

‘It’s just as hot as it was then,’ says Frank Clark, the left-back. The temperature on the dashboard reads 35C.

On that summer’s evening of June 11, Joe Harvey’s side arrived with a 3-0 lead from the first leg at St James’ Park.

Scottish winger Jim Scott, now 78 years old, scored in that game. He is in the front seat as the Megyeri uti Stadion looms into view.

‘Bill Shankly and Don Revie said Ujpest were the best team in Europe,’ he tells us. ‘And they were probably right.’

Ujpest had beaten Revie’s great Leeds side 3-0 in the quarter-finals of a competition which included the continent’s best - Liverpool, Juventus and Rangers among them. 

‘We knew they were good, but the press were still saying we had one hand on the trophy,’ says Scott.

Ujpest Dozsa goalkeeper Antal Szentmihalyi makes a save from Moncur from close range

Ujpest Dozsa goalkeeper Antal Szentmihalyi makes a save from Moncur from close range

Craig, Burton, Moncur and Clark were among the last men to win silverware for Newcastle

Craig, Burton, Moncur and Clark were among the last men to win silverware for Newcastle

The stadium has developed over time but our host believes the old dressing-rooms still exist, deep in the main stand. David Craig, the Northern Ireland right-back, wants to find them.

‘This is the corridor,’ he says, as we turn into a long, concrete passage. Fifty paces ahead, on the right, there is a door. ‘This is it,’ says Craig. The 75-year-old stands silent, later admitting the scene stirred memories which had long since faded.

Clark joins us. ‘We went out to warm up but we soon came back in, we were f****** sweating,’ says the man who later won a European Cup with Nottingham Forest. ‘Ujpest were out there buzzing the ball about. We didn’t need to see that.’

Doug Weatherall was the Daily Mail’s man in the stadium that night. ‘That first-half performance from Ujpest was among the best I’ve ever seen. My God, they were excellent,’ says the 86-year-old. His eyes fill as he finds the spot at the base of the stand from where he watched Ujpest take a 2-0 lead inside 45 minutes. ‘It’s all coming back to me now.’

Back in the dressing-room, Clark is sitting with his head in his hands, bent at the waist.

’What are you doing?’ Craig asks.

’I’m remembering how I felt at half-time. There was a pool of sweat from my brow, just there,’ he says, pointing at the tiled floor. ‘Moncs (Moncur) said to me, “If ever we need the gaffer to lift us, it’s now”.’ 

Back row (L-R):  Ollie Burton, Tommy Gibb, Eric Ross, David Smith (trainer), David Craig, Frank Clark, Alan Foggon, Wyn Davies, Bobby Moncur, Joe Harvey (manager). Front row (L-R) Jackie Sinclair, Ian McFaul, Bryan Robson, Ben Arentoft, Jim Scott pose with the trophy

Back row (L-R):  Ollie Burton, Tommy Gibb, Eric Ross, David Smith (trainer), David Craig, Frank Clark, Alan Foggon, Wyn Davies, Bobby Moncur, Joe Harvey (manager). Front row (L-R) Jackie Sinclair, Ian McFaul, Bryan Robson, Ben Arentoft, Jim Scott pose with the trophy

Moncur, the Scotland captain, takes up the tale. ‘Joe eventually bursts in like John Wayne through these saloon doors with a cigarette in his mouth. And all he says is this, “Lads, what’s the problem? All you need to do is score one f****** goal and these foreigners will collapse like a pack of cards”.

‘I said, “Gaffer, score a goal? We haven’t been past the f****** halfway line!”.’

But Harvey was right. Within 60 seconds of the restart, Moncur, a centre-back who had never scored a senior goal before the final, volleyed home, adding to his two from the first leg.

‘That killed them,’ says Clark. ‘It was like pricking a balloon. I also think they thought, “Moncur! Him, again? He’s a f****** defender!”.’

We are back in the middle of the main stand, estimating that this is where the players’ wives had sat amid the partisan locals.

Clark had been best man for forward Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson the week before the game. Moncur and Craig were by each other’s side on their wedding days.

‘We were more than team-mates,’ says Craig. ‘I suppose that’s why we’re here now.’

We gaze out towards the goal where Danish midfielder Preben Arentoft volleyed a second and Geordie teenager Alan Foggon smashed a third.

Clark says: ’As the goals were going in, me and Moncs were at the back trying to work out

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