A Geordie All-Rounder: 20 - Marking Tommy Taylor
...Most of the players were very good at supporting a young newcomer to the side, especially 'Wor" Jackie. It was amazing. Here was a man, a great match winner, whom I had watched from the terraces during United's successful cup runs, now talking to and advising me. I didn't sleep much that night!...
Malcolm Scott tells of his debut game for Newcastle United.
I remember being rushed to Newcastle by car, put on the Manchester train, met on arrival and taken to the team hotel. Late that night, only six hours after leaving Readheads, here I was sitting in a posh Manchester hotel having a delayed supper with members of Newcastle's first team. I simply could not believe this was happening to me.
Most of the players were very good at supporting a young newcomer to the side, especially 'Wor" Jackie. It was amazing. Here was a man, a great match winner, whom I had watched from the terraces during United's successful cup runs, now talking to and advising me. I didn't sleep much that night!
There was also a nice gesture from a former South Shields man I shall always remember. Tom Curry played for the Magpies from 1912 to 1929 and was now on Manchester United's staff. He came into our dressing room before the game started to wish me the best of luck - perhaps he knew I would need it.
It was an experience never to be forgotten playing before 44,911 spectators at Old Trafford. Because Manchester United had so many top-class young players and were managed by Matt Busby - they were known as 'The Busby Babes'. There was no doubt they were a magnificent side which would have won many more trophies and cups had it not been for the Munich air crash of February 195 8. Several of the first team and many more, including Tom Curry perished. One of the injured survivors was goal-keeper Ray Wood who used to play for Reyrolle Juniors in the Jarrow J.O.C League.
In actual practice, the young, rampant side - in which Bobby Charlton couldn't get a place - ran us ragged with great passing and off the ball movement. We lost 6-1. I was marking England centre-forward Tommy Taylor, and I took some consolation in the fact that he was not amongst the scorers. Coming from part-time training into the pace of First Division was a shock to the body and I almost passed out after the game.
After the Manchester experience I was glad to get home and have a long lie in on Sunday morning, whilst dad went to Matt Smith's paper shop and bought nearly every paper printed. We enjoyed comparing the different perceptions of the game and found out that the papers had given me a good Press.
On the Monday morning The Newcastle Journal was even more complimentary saying:-
"Scott was without a doubt Newcastle's outstanding player. He didn't arrive in Manchester until late Friday night, yet the manner in which he was able to take such a hammering and yet, where the least opportunity arose, move forward to make constructive passes, was grand. I vividly recall delightful passes to Eastman, Milburn and a 60 yard defence splitter for White, after fine interceptions or tackles, stamped Scott as of championship class - maybe a future Soccer Giant."
With my football success following my cricket achievements, some of the papers started to comment on my dual skills. The Evening Chronicle wrote, rather ambitiously, "Can Newcastle's Malcolm Scott follow Willie Watson as a double international at cricket and football?"
Going back to work at Readheads on Monday morning was an anti-climax. Even then the Press didn't give up and I was visited, at my machine, by a Gazette photographer who wanted a picture of me at my workplace. Readheads again gladly co-operated.
With all this praise and publicity I thought seriously about packing in my apprenticeship and going full-time as a professional footballer. However, I remembered what most youngsters on Tyneside were taught in the 1950's, that you must have a trade to fall back on, and preferably, a skilled trade. Anyway, I had only four months of my apprenticeship to complete and if I gave this up it would mean starting National Service earlier.
After the Manchester United game, Bob Stokoe was fit for the visit by Arsenal and, in spite of the praiseworthy Press reports, I was relegated to the reserves. However, the same thing happened again the following week when the Magpies were away to Millwall in the fourth round of the F. A Cup. This time, I got a little more notice when the Club dragged me out of work at Readheads on Friday morning for the long journey to London. After the thrilling third round tie with Manchester City, thousands of supporters travelled to London expecting another good run in the cup. We failed them. In front of 45,000 spectators, the Third Division club beat us 2-1. When I got home Harry Hudson commented "Well, it's an improvement on 6-1!"
Stokoe was still unfit for the following game, away to Burnley, so for the first time I was selected, rather than being a late replacement, for the first XI. Perhaps Readheads were pleased because the team travelled on the Friday and I had the day off. Unfortunately, after leading 1-0 at half time we were beaten 3-2.
Three games and three defeats was not a good introduction to top grade football, but it was certainly good experience for a 21 year old going into National Service.
