Phil McDonnell introduces this atmospheric news feature on Newcastle United’s 1974 FA Cup Final defeat against Liverpool at Wembley on 4 May for this Tyne Tees TV Today at Six Cup Special. The focus is on the empty city streets and fans watching the match on televisions at home and in a local pub. Includes vox pops with fans. This was broadcast on 14 May 1974. Title: Today at Six Cup Special Reporter Phil McDonnell introduces this FA Cup special from an empty Grainger Street, Grey’s...

Phil McDonnell introduces this atmospheric news feature on Newcastle United’s 1974 FA Cup Final defeat against Liverpool at Wembley on 4 May for this Tyne Tees TV Today at Six Cup Special. The focus is on the empty city streets and fans watching the match on televisions at home and in a local pub. Includes vox pops with fans. This was broadcast on 14 May 1974. Title: Today at Six Cup Special Reporter Phil McDonnell introduces this FA Cup special from an empty Grainger Street, Grey’s Monument in the background. Shortly before the FA Cup kick-off time, a juvenile jazz band march from the Forest Hall school in Benton in celebration of the Newcastle football team under Joe Harvey, dressed in distinctive red and white pseudo-military uniforms complete with peaked caps and miniature busbies. The voice-over comments on the parade as premature. The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas clock on St Nicholas Square strikes 3 o' clock. The streets of Newcastle are almost empty. Reporter Phil McDonnell points out that most people are at home in front of their television sets. Two teenage girls are on a city street listening to a commentary on the FA Cup on their portable radio. Another street is almost empty but for a couple of young lads playing together. Inside a pub, the mostly male fans are chanting ‘Howay the lads’ and watching a small colour television set. The TV is showing the match. On screen, Newcastle’s No. 11 player Terry Hibbitt pulls up his socks, slightly limping, as players leave the pitch at half-time. The score is Liverpool 0 Newcastle 0. Vox pop with a drunk middle-aged fan in the pub wearing a black and white checked top hat. He slurs his words as he offers advice for his team to win. The match continues on the TV in the corner of a bar. A female fan in a black and white striped waistcoat waves her hat in support. Almost empty pint beer glasses are on the bar top next to a pack of Regal cigarettes. There is silence in the bar as it is clear that Liverpool have scored too many goals now to lose the Cup. Fans watching the match in the pub look unhappy or serious, everyone concentrating on the screen. General views follow of TV aerials attached to chimney pots on Newcastle rooftops and the still empty terraced streets. Back in the pub, the match continues on screen. A man wipes away a tear. A woman cries openly. The match is over on screen. These Newcastle United fans clap the Liverpool win despite their team’s defeat. Interview with a long-haired fan wearing a black and white striped hat. He says his heart is beating too fast. He’s very disappointed. Another man interviewed says that Liverpool is a good side. They didn’t win the League but they won the FA Cup. An older fan says that, as a football man, he has to say that the best team won and Newcastle weren’t good on the day. One of the fans at the pub screening of the match speaks at a microphone, giving his round up of the final. He says next year Newcastle United will win the Cup and rallies the small crowd. He raises a ‘Howay the Lads’ cheer in the room. Credit: Reporter Phil McDonnell A fan at the pub claps.