Frank Clark on Newcastle's return to the City Ground

Oct 17 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Frank Clark knows the pain and pleasure of Newcastle United only too well. Mark Douglas talks to the Fairs Cup winner on the club’s return to the City Ground for the first time for a decade.

FRANK Clark holds the distinction of being responsible for one of the proudest days in Newcastle United’s history – and one of the most heart-breaking in living memory too.

The 1969 Fairs Cup winner still classes himself as a United fan, but knows he inflicted serious pain on his fellow followers some 27 years later as the manager of Nottingham Forest.

It was a balmy May night and Kevin Keegan’s United needed a victory to realistically keep them in the hunt for the Premier League title – but on an electric evening Clark’s Forest were inspired.

Peter Beardsley’s opener had appeared to give United the game’s decisive moment but Ian Woan – an inconsistent left winger riled by comments made in the pre-match build-up – leveled matters to pave the way for an exasperated Keegan to give one of the most memorable post-game interviews in history.

As United prepare to return to the City Ground for the first time for more than a decade, Consett-born Clark admits the unforgettable night is etched in his memory.

“It was very much a bitter-sweet moment for me. That 1-1 draw probably ended up costing them the title,” Clark admits.

“It was a really fiercely-contested game, but I think all that anyone really remembers is the row between Kevin and Sir Alex Ferguson before the game – and his interview afterwards. It was disappointing and the build-up was disappointing too.

“Alex being Alex he tried to stir things up before the game, making reference to Stuart Pearce’s testimonial which Newcastle were going to send a team for and it created plenty of turbulence. I have to say it did not make much difference to me, but it certainly affected one or two of my players – they felt as if they were slighted by what he said.

“As a team we always prided ourselves on the fact we did our talking on the pitch and did not go around talking about what we were going to do to other teams, so it dented their pride.

“We had also gone to Manchester United and done ourselves no favours by losing the game 5-0. My players wanted to prove a point, and it was Newcastle who were on the wrong end of it.

“I do believe the build-up to that game and all the little whispers about us had a big effect. To do this day I think what Sir Alex said had a big effect on the game. It seems to have been downhill since then, I really wish they had gone on to win the league, but we had a job to do.”

The wounds were healed partially a few weeks later by Keegan sending a full team for Pearce’s testimonial, a “wonderful gesture” which helped create one of Clark’s most enjoyable nights as a manager. However, part of him wishes United’s class of 1996 had eclipsed his own achievements in Europe at the end of the sixties.

Not that many United fans would hold a grudge for his part in the demise of Keegan’s ‘Entertainers’ – not after the service he gave in the 1969 triumph.

That win is fresh in Clark’s memory after taking part in a mini-reunion of the side for Sky Sports’ excellent Time of Our Lives programme alongside Bob Moncur and Pop Robson.

“I really enjoyed it. I think all of us love talking about it, it was such a proud moment,” he said.

“It was great to relive it and seeing Bob (Moncur) again was great. It is a very laid-back show and an enjoyable thing to be part of it.

“Yes, none of us have ever grown tired of reminiscing about it.

“All of us just wish there was another trophy for Newcastle to celebrate – it is time for someone else to take that glory from us.”

Clark will be at his daughter’s birthday in London today rather the City Ground – a quirk of fate that left him cursing the fixture computer.

However, he will retain a keen interest in the meeting of the two football clubs which defined his life.

“I will be in London, but I will set the tape for the game and watch it later. I was a Newcastle fan and player before I ever went to Nottingham Forest, but I had some very good times there so I suppose I will have split loyalties,” he said.

“It will be a big test for Newcastle. People may try to draw comparisons between the two clubs because they are both big teams fallen on hard times, but in reality Forest are very stable.

“The owner Nigel Doughty has brought stability to the place. When he came in they were in a dire state, but now I would say things are back to normal behind the scenes.

“That is starting to be replicated on the field too, although it has probably taken a bit longer to bring success than he thought it would.”

Not that he believes United have much to fear from a division from which he managed to escape at the first time of asking with Forest.

“Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood have done very, very well in bringing together a fragmented club. They are ignoring the turmoil behind the scenes and that cannot have been easy,” he said.

“Newcastle are flying and you can tell they have that touch of Premier League class. I do worry about them if they pick up injuries because the squad is small – but at the moment they are a match for anyone.”