Malcolm ‘Supermac’ Macdonald was guest of honour at Bay View House residential care home in Whitley Bay the morning after England’s triumph over Croatia in their opening game at the World Cup.
Regarded as one of Newcastle United’s best ever number nine’s, Malcolm amassed an astonishing 138 goals in 258 games over five seasons with the club, and played for England 14 times, scoring 6 goals; 5 of them in one match – a memorable victory over Cyprus – which is a post-war record he holds to this day.
And, as World Cup fever sweeps the country, Malcolm made a special appearance at Bay View House, Whitley Bay.
Bay View House, Whitley Bay
The home – which is owned by Prestwick Care and was opened last year after a £12mn renovation – was holding a football themed open day – that included a screening of the 1966 World Cup final in their cinema room – for families and potential residents keen to explore the facilities. Football quizzes and other entertainments were on offer, and the Northumberland Cup – won by Whitley Bay Football Club – was on display throughout the afternoon.
Interview with Malcolm Macdonald
I began by asking Malcolm what he thought about England’s match against Croatia.
Malcolm: In all honesty I thought that Croatia were the better team. Much better on the ball. But the beauty of England under Tuchel, is they can score goals.
Chris: Speaking of scoring goals for England, you’re the proud owner of a record in that regard.
M: I remember when I’d retired from playing, and I was wallpapering my dining room. I had this beautiful stripy wallpaper. At the time the game wasn’t televised, so I was listening on the radio to England playing Spain. They went one nil up – Lineker scored, two nil up, Lineker again, three nil up, Lineker again, four nil up, Lineker again, and I was on tenterhooks thinking ‘Am I gonna lose my record’. Anyway, it so happened it remained four nil at the final whistle. The following morning I came down and went into my dining room, and all the paper was at a funny angle and the stripes didn’t line up. I obviously couldn’t concentrate!
C: You must be proud to have held that record for over 50 years considering the strikers we’ve had since then; Lineker, Rooney, Kane?
M: Yes. I was very fortunate to have some very good crossers of the ball in the side that day. Alan Hudson, and Dave Thomas a County Durham lad, who came on for the last twenty minutes and made the fourth and fifth goals for me.
C: What are your memories of the 1974 cup final between Newcastle and Liverpool?
M: Absolute disaster that day. We had got to Wembley having won every tie away from home; we never won a home game. It was a bad old day. We played dreadfully in the first half, and I remember coming off at halftime and I said to Frank Clark, ‘Clarkie, there is no way we can play as bad as that in the second half’. He said ‘I hope you’re right.’ We didn’t play as bad, we played worse!
C: Who was the best team mate you had at Newcastle?
M: I got on very, very well with John Tudor. And Terry Hibbitt without a doubt. And Tony Green. I was stood right next to him when he had his serious injury, I was literally two yards from him. There was the tiniest of divot holes and he went into it awkwardly, and his ankle turned in it. And it was like a rifle shot when his ankle snapped. So loud. And that was sadly the end of his career.
C: Of course Terry Hibbitt made a lot of your goals didn’t he?
M: He had this understanding of what my pace could do. I was the quickest player in the game at the time. I could run a hundred metres in 10.4 seconds.
C: You still live in the area don’t you?
M: Twenty-five yours ago my wife and I got married. She’s from North Shields, and that’s where we are now, down on the quayside.
C: Finally, your prediction for England in the World Cup.
M: I can see them getting to the semi finals. But they weren’t sure of themselves last night. I’ve got to see a really big improvement.
C: Malcolm, thank you very much.
M: My pleasure