On the field of play one team stood out in the early years of the new century: Newcastle United. In the 13 seasons 1899-1900 to 1911-12 Newcastle finished in die top 6 eleven times and won the championship on three occasions, in 1905, 1907 and 1909. Their Cup record was, if anything, even more remarkable. Between 1905 and 1911 they reached the Final five times. In 1909 the team went down to Manchester United in the semis, so 1907 was the only year in which the club failed to reach the last four. And that season of “failure” was dramatic indeed - a home defeat by Crystal Palace, then a Soudiern League outfit.
Unfortunately, Newcastle’s record after reaching the
Final was not so impressive. Crystal Palace, the venue for each of diem, was not a happy hunting ground. Newcastle failed to record a single victory in five attempts. Their best effort came in 1910, when they managed a 1 -1 draw with Second Division Barnsley before beating the Yorkshire side in a replay at Goodison Park.
Villa thwart Double hopes
1904-05 saw Newcastle come agonisingly close to die Double. Aston Villa spoiled the party in the Cup Final. Villa were not quite the force they’d been in the 1890s, but spearheaded by new young striking sensation Harry Hampton they ran out 2-0 winners. Hampton scored both goals. Newcastle picked themselves up and won 3-0 at Middlesbrough on the last day of the season, enough to pip Everton for the championship by a point.
A scene from the 1907 Cup Final between Everton and Sheffield Wednesday. Just one year earlier Everton were 1-0 victors over Newcastle, but on this occasion were beaten 2-1 by Wednesday. The middle years of the decade were highly successful for both Merseyside teams. AlecYoung's goal gave Everton the FA Cup in 1906 and LiverpooTs Scottish centre-forward Alex Raisbeck helped them secure victory in the league in the same year.
World History
