St James’ Park in the late 1940s
The above image is St James' Park, Newcastle, 1930, by Byron Dawson
Before my Dad got our second season ticket my visit to St James’s Park consisted of the following. We would go to the ground about an hour before the kick-off i.e. 2 o’clock. My dad would take me to the Leases End of the ground. There, at a certain turnstile, was an old fella who had worked on that gate for a number of years.
When my Dad approached with me in front of him the old chap would tell my Dad to lift me over the gate. I would run up the concrete steps make my way along the back of what was then a packed end. My Dad would disappear to find his seat or, maybe, have a drink first then go to his seat.
In those days the Leazes end was the only covered end other than the seating area reserved for season ticket holders. The cover that existed was a cantilever shell covered by corrugated sheeting and stretched from the car park at the rear right over to the cinder track that ran around the pitch. The Paddock, as the East stand was known, the Gallowgate end and the standing area in front of the old stand underneath the season ticket areas were open to the elements. Consequently, they were cheaper than the Leases end and when it rained the people standing there got a good soaking. Many people would leave the ground completely soaked to the skin when making their way home. That’s why they were cheaper. From memory I think the charge at the Leazes end was 9d (3p) for children and Old Age Pensioners and 1/6d (7 1/2p) for adults.
When I was at the back and about the centre of the goal one of the many fellows in the crowd would ask if I wanted to go to the front to sit on the wall. I always said yes and then I would be lifted up by the fella, he would shout ‘hear he comes’, and a wall of hands would automatically go up ready to pass the youngster overhead all the way from the back to the front. Whilst this was happening, I would be holding on to my coat pocket where I had a packet of ‘sherbet lemons’ to sustain me throughout the match.
When we got to the front one of the fella’s would move the other kids around so that a gap appeared and I could be slotted in right behind the goal. From there I would see all the action including the ball flying into the net - hopefully headed or kicked by a Newcastle player.
In those far-off days a wall ran right around the pitch. Behind the walls was a drop of about 3 feet then a series of concrete steps would go all the way up the terrace to eventually reach the back were at 2 feet wide step was in place. At various points between the back and the front of the terrace there were metal stanchions, lots of them right around the standing sections of the ground. Some people stood in front of them whilst others stood behind them. But always all of the standing areas around the ground would be full of people.
I remember being in the ground when there has been 62,000 even 63,000+ supporters in the ground. Me and my lofty position on the wall and directly behind the goal would be in awe at the size of the crowd and the fact that I had been passed over their heads of the ordinary working lads who were kind enough to see that got to the front safely. A proud Geordie among many proud Geordies.
Another feature of the ground at that time was the 10 minute flag. During every match, whether winning or losing, the crowd and the team would be watching towards the end of the second half for the movement of the stewards going across the back of the Gallowgate end to remove the flag from its position right on top of the corner of the Gallowgate end and the East Terrace end. On many occasions when the flag was taken down the team would see this happen and started to really play their best football. I recall games against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur where the team was losing but after the flag going down Newcastle piled on the pressure and won the game. This was particularly so in the Milburn, Mitchell era as well as when Lenny White was playing his football.
Even in those days the Gallowgate end was the most popular end. The entrance was at the levels of the Strawberry Pub. Then, for 6d for children (2 1/2p) (adults a shilling {5p}), you would enter the ground and then begin the long climb right up to the top of the Gallowgate and then walk all the way back down towards the wall at the front. Adults, in the meantime, would place themselves around the stanchions at that end of the ground as well. Because it was the cheapest end, along with the East Terrace (the Paddock), they would be packed tightly. Unfortunately, it was not unknown that visits to the toilet were extremely difficult to make. One, you would lose your place. Two, you would have very little chance of returning to the spot you had vacated. Hence, a lot of fellows who would have had a good drink before coming to the match would relieve themselves exactly where they stood. Consequently, many shoes and trouser bottoms would be soaked long before they left the match. That’s what happened when the ground was full to capacity.
(To his dying day, my Dad used to swear that in September 1930 when Hughie Gallacher returned to St James to a record crowd, that there were hundreds more than the stated 68, 300 in that crowd. In fact, he said there were that many outside of the ground. He said he had to fight his way through the crowds when leaving at the end of the match to get to the bus station to get the bus home. It was often believed by the crowds at the matches that the official figures given to the Journal and Chronicle were well below those that were actually at the match).
After the match I’d meet up with my Dad and off we’d go home either saddened by what we’d seen or elated by the result. Just some of my happiest memories of being amongst some of the finest working class people who have looked after the kids so that they too could enjoy their football.
Out of interest, my Dads last match before handing the tickets over to me was when he went to watch Newcastle play Pompey at St James. Portsmouth won 4-0 and they had a player called Dougie Reid who was about 7 feet tall (well over 6 ft. anyway). Apparently, he had an excellent game in what was an excellent team. According to my Dad, the Pompey player Reid was stepping over little Ernie Taylor as if he wasn’t there. That defeat was the end for him and so my Dad gave me the seats in the old stand which was one seat away from Malcolm Dix’s father’s seat.
Tom Page
