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In 1972 as an eight year-old, 25% of my life had already been devoted to followingNewcastle United. Thanks to the n bars of steel that were stapled throughout St JamesPark and the strong arms of my dad that supported me sitting precariously upon thesesupports I had already been able to see a fair few home matches and the odd Texaco cupgame, usually with the likes of Malcolm MacDonald leathering home from extraordinaryangles, or powering his way through the center in a straight line, like a character from Royof The Rovers. MacDonald is stored within my memory in many places and for differentreasons. There was the 1974 Liverpool FA Cup final defeat, where as a ten year old I finallyunderstood that hope could be destroyed. MacDonald had scored in every round of the1973/74 FA Cup run and I could see no other outcome than Newcastle returning victorious,fans spilling out into the streets etc etc. And they had released a fine football song - in fact,more than one. I bought the one called Howay the Lads and I can still sing the chorus infull thirty seven years later. It was that good. My dad went to the final. It was the first time Ihad heard the expression black market, in that this was where he obtained his ticket. Tome at that age it was as if he had liaised with the mafia. The house was not a happy placeon his return and I lost 4 pence to Debra Martin at school, a bet I had made because Ifancied her. 1974 was a year of learning.

Malcolm MacDonald also owned a clothes shop in Newcastle city center. It wasnear the Wimpy Bar and frequently my sister and I would chomp down a burger each thencautiously (in case we jinxed it) ask my aunty for a pen and a piece of paper and make ourway nervously to the white-fronted shop. The name of the shop was Malcolm MacDonald,written in a signature format - scrawled almost. It oozed class. And many times he wouldbe there, serving - just him. A polished wooden desk, as cash register and a shop full ofsuits, shirts, shoes. Each time we would be treated like royalty, customers would beignored on our entry and he would ask our names in full and take more time thannecessary to write the autograph. We had crossed over that line where fan meets the starand the experience had been really pleasant. It never crossed our minds that it wasstrange that a football star was working in his own shop during the week. The connectionbetween footballers and working people was still present then. We all worked. We all lovedthe football team and there was a mutual respect for all.

2011 and Harry Redknapp is being interviewed by Alan Sugar. Redknapp disclosesthat as a 17 year old playing for West Ham he also took on a job in the summer stackingshelves. In order that he could save enough money to get married. For him football wasnot yet about the money, it was about passion and a love of the club. It was a telling pointin the interview with Alan Sugar that Redknapp admitted to not knowing what any of hisTottenham players were earning - not my job to know he stated. More the point that thefigures involved were probably embarrassingly high.

Another great player from the 1973/4 era was John Tudor. Joining Newcastle in1971, he stayed for 5 years and scored 53 goals. As a ten year old I recall visiting him inhis sports shop, yet it appeared that my young memory failed me as John was soon tocorrect me after I contacted him about an article I was writing. Thanking me for remindinghim of the days of yesteryear he admitted that he had to spoil my view of him owning asports shop. Apparently he had done some promotion work in the sports store called CourtSports that was owned by a pro Badminton player named Derek Talbut in the Big Marketbut that was as far as shop-owning went. John did however run a Driving school at onetime but didnt make any money as in his own words, he just got ripped off. Anotherearner John confessed to was selling leather jackets for a while out of the office - afterwhich he states needless to say I did not make any money. When John finished playinghe went into the licensing trade in Bedlington, then went back to his home town in Ilkeston,

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Derbyshire and worked for Shipstones Brewery as a pub manager. He now works for hisson as a soccer coach in a community association with 2000 kids in it. John says I run thesenior team U13 up to U18 with 24 teams and we have a year round program. I have beenin the states for 16 years and at one stage ran my own soccer association but I found thatit was getting too big for me to run so I semi retired two years ago. I get my pension inJune.

Having read Johns words there is a strong sense of work throughout hisfootballing life and I question whether that ethic remains within the 2011 game. Whilstmany of us would admit that football has changed since it became flooded by the financial,golden rain of Sky Sports, I would go a step further and describe the beautiful game aspoisoned. Which players play for which teams matters not these days, they go where themost money is offered. Would Andy Carroll have left Newcastle if Liverpool had offered 5million? Respect for managers is questionable, players are aware how thin the ice is thatmanagers dance upon these days - a three year managerial contract may equate to 8months - when a team loses three games it is always the managers job at risk. This hasbecome an accepted fact. Respect for referees/assistants is minimal - shouting,screaming, pointing, sulking and diving are all the norm these days - there is always talk ofchanging the rules, to clamp down on the actions of footballers but there is also fear ofupsetting those involved. Those that control the purse strings of this fine sport.

Malcolm and John are still working within the business of football. Malcolm as aradio presenter and a football writer and John as a coach. What surprised me the mostabout Johns reply to me was the way he graciously thanked me for reminding him of thegood old days. I dont for a minute believe that he needed me to kickstart his memory ofplaying for Newcastle but its nice to think that that I might have.

My wife and I go back to England every November through the Christmasholidays, and this last year I wrote an auto-biography that we launched atChristmas unfortunately sales where poor as it snowed wherever we went.

Well its nice to chat but I have some work to do keep in touch and good luckin whatever you do.Thanks again for reminding me of the good old days