1991–92 Newcastle United F.C. season explained

Club:Newcastle United
Season:1991–92
Manager:Osvaldo Ardiles
(until 5 February 1992)
Kevin Keegan
(from 5 February 1992)
Chairman:Sir John Hall
Stadium:St James' Park
League:Division Two
League Result:20th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Third round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Third round
Cup3:Full Members Cup
Cup3 Result:First round
League Topscorer:Peacock (16)
Season Topscorer:Peacock (19)
Highest Attendance:30,306
(vs. Sunderland)
Lowest Attendance:9,175
(vs. Crewe Alexandra)
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Prevseason:1990–91
Nextseason:1992–93

During the 1991–92 season, English football team Newcastle United participated in the Football League Second Division.

The season started with much promise but quickly deteriorated into a relegation battle. Manager Ossie Ardiles struggled to add to his squad of talented youngsters due to lack of funds, the truth being the club was severely in debt. At one point it had looked like Newcastle would be relegated and could go out of business.

Sir John Hall had all but taken control of the club, and replaced Ardiles with Kevin Keegan on 5 February 1992. An improvement in form helped Newcastle to narrowly avoid relegation from the Second Division, with their survival only confirmed on the last day of the season. They finished 20th, two places above the relegation zone – the lowest League finish in the club's history.

Season synopsis

In a season that saw a change of manager, the club had three different chairmen: Gordon McKeag stepped down under pressure from the Magpie Group consortium, to be replaced by board member George Forbes, before Sir John Hall, the head of the Magpie Group since the late 1980s, replaced ForbesHall presided over a period of boardroom calm at the club, debts were restructured and the funds were made available for team strengthening. He chairman installed Kevin Keegan, a former Newcastle player, as the new manager on 5 February 1992, in place of Ardiles. In the last few weeks of the season Keegan led the team to safety and the possibility of relegation to the third division for the first time in the club's history.

Just as in the 1980s, Keegan's mere presence captivated the region. St James' Park was regularly packed to capacity again and United confirmed their Second Division survival with a 2–1 win at Leicester City on the last day of the season, after a last-minute own goal.

Even though the club had narrowly avoided relegation, the club's supporters were overjoyed with the choice of manager and the prospect of a bright new start.

Appearances, goals and cards

(Substitute appearances in brackets)

Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupZDS CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Tommy Wright330201000360
DF Matty Appleby16 (2)0202 (1)00020 (3)0
DF Paul Bodin6000000060
DF Darren Bradshaw17 (2)010201021 (2)0
DF Robbie Elliott90001010110
DF Steve Howey13 (8)10 (2)01 (2)10014 (12)2
DF Brian Kilcline120000000120
DF Bjørn Kristensen1 (1)00000001 (1)0
DF Darron McDonough2 (1)00000002 (1)0
DF Gavin Maguire3000000030
DF Alan Neilson160002010190
DF Ray Ranson5 (1)00000005 (1)0
DF Kevin Scott441203010501
DF Mark Stimson23 (1)000200025 (1)0
DF Steve Watson23 (5)120000025 (5)1
DF Terry Wilson2000000020
MF Kevin Brock31 (4)420001034 (4)4
MF Franz Carr12 (3)200100013 (3)2
MF Lee Clark25 (4)520301131 (4)6
MF Archie Gourlay0 (1)00000000 (1)0
MF Lee Makel5 (4)10010006 (4)1
MF Liam O'Brien404203040464
MF Gavin Peacock46162023125121
MF David Roche18 (8)010200 (1)021 (9)0
MF Kevin Sheedy131000000131
MF Alan Thompson12 (2)010000013 (2)0
FW Justin Fashanu00000 (1)0000 (1)0
FW Andy Hunt21 (6)922311027 (6)12
FW David Kelly25111000002611
FW Micky Quinn18 (4)700101320 (4)10
FW David Robinson0 (3)00000000 (3)0
FW Andy Walker2000100030

Starting XI

These are the most used starting players (all competitions).

Matches

Zenith Data Systems Cup

External links