By Neil Fissler
THE Texaco Cup has become an after thought in football history, but its significance shouldn't really be forgotten.
It was the first time that football had dipped its toe in commercialism as Texaco put up £100,000 to help promote their purchase of the Regent filling station chain.
Wolves were the first winners in 1971, followed by Derby County, Ipswich Town and then, in 1973, Newcastle United.
The season before, the Magpies had won the Anglo Italian Cup, beating Fiorentina, but by the time they retained their crown the competition was dying on its feet.
Joe Harvey's side came through a regionalised pre-season section before beating Aberdeen 4-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
Birmingham City were brushed aside 5-2 over two legs in the semi-finals.
Southampton, who had shocked Rangers at Ibrox, awaited in the final.
Irving Nattrass says there was something special about cups for Newcastle. He lost the FA Cup Final in 1974 and League Cup Final two seasons later.
“It was one of our rare successes,” said Nattrass. “Our team was capable of either getting knocked out in the first round or getting all the way to the final.
“We were basically an attacking side, capable of beating anybody and everybody.
“Especially in that Texaco Cup and also the Anglo-Italian Cup when the lesser sides were in. It was a good period.
“Even now, you ask any Newcastle supporter if they could win any competition what would it be and they would tell you it's the FA Cup.”
Southampton appeared to have one hand on the trophy after England striker Mike Channon scored the only goal in the first leg at The Dell.
Two weeks later in the North-East, John Tudor sent the tie into extra time before Southampton's Jim Steele was sent off for a foul.
It allowed Newcastle to wrap up the win with further goals from Alex Bruce and Paul Cannell. Nattrass' stand-out memory was a clash he had with Peter Osgood.
“A 1-0 lead going to St Jame's Park in December when it was cold was never going to be enough,” he said. “Southern teams never liked coming up here in the bleak winter.
“From memory, we were missing a few players, but we were still able to put out a very, good strong side
“Osgood was playing for Southampton at the time and we had an altercation after he said I was trying to kick him.
“They were getting beaten 3-0 at the time and I caught him purely by accident. He took it a bit personally, and accused me of trying to go over the top, which I'd never do.
“They weren't playing particularly well at the time but I never did anything wrong..”
- Keith Robson: Striker who became a machinist with Impress Metal Package and then went to work at Norwich Airport as an apron hand. He also works in hospitality at Carrow Road.
- Dennis Laughton: Centre-half who ran a hotel in the Whitley Bay area and then went to work for UK Planet.
- Alex Bruce: Striker who went into the leisure services industry and worked his way up to become Director Of Leisure for South Ribble Borough Council until retiring.
- Ian McFaul: The Northern Ireland international goalkeeper managed Newcastle, Coleraine and Guam. He has also scouted for a number of clubs.
- Jimmy Smith: Midfielder who ran a trophy business in Newcastle with teammate John Cowan and went on to be a taxi driver
- Tommy Gibb: Midfielder who returned to his native West Lothian to become a publican and then worked as a lorry driver in the haulage industry.
- Pat Howard: Centre-half who worked for the PFA as a community officer around Manchester and was a football development officer for Salford City Council before retiring
- Terry McDermott: The England international midfielder has held a number of management posts and now works on match days at Liverpool.
- Glenn Keeley: Central defender who became a sports lecturer at Trafford College, a football development officer for Bolton Council and then for Serco.
- Dave Crosson: Right-back who settled in Australia, where he became a businessman in Coolangatta on Queensland's Gold Coast.
- Alan Kennedy: The England international left-back became a football coach and then worked in the media on Merseyside.
- Tommy Cassidy: Midfielder who has managed a host of Non-League clubs in the North East and has run a newsagent's, a trophy business and worked in the local media.
- David Craig: Right-back who went into coaching with Carlisle, returning to Newcastle where he became a milkman, newsagent and care worker.
FRONT ROW
- Micky Burns: Joined the coaching staff at Middlesbrough before going to work for the PFA as an education officer, prior to retiring in 2004.
- Stewart Barrowclough: An England Under-23 winger who ran the family fruit and florist business in home town Barnsley, then worked as a glass technician.
- Terry Hibbitt: Midfielder who managed Gateshead, ran a milk round, a newsagent's shop and a pub in Northumberland. He died from cancer in August 1994, aged just 46.
- Frank Clark: Defender who managed Orient, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. He has also been Forest chairman, for a while, and worked for the League Managers' Association.
- John Tudor: Striker who became a publican in Derbyshire and Northumberland before moving to the United States, where he coached in Minnesota.
- Irving Nattrass: The midfielder built up a successful chain of ladies clothes shops and now lives in Whitley Bay, working for Low Cost Parcels.
- Malcolm McDonald: The England international striker went on to manage Fulham and Huddersfield. He has also run pubs and worked in the North-East media.
NOT PICTURED
Paul Cannell: Striker who later worked for a brewery and ran a publishing company before going into pub management in Newcastle.
Ray Hudson: Midfielder who settled in the United States, coaching Miami Fusion and DC United, but now works in the media.
