10 Key Stats Ahead Of Newcastle Vs Northampton Town

39-And-A-Half Years - Since NUFC Were Last In The League Cup Final

There isn't a single Newcastle United fan who is in their 40s or older who does not remember the Magpies' first and, to date only, League Cup final loss back on February 28th 1976. The competition itself was still in its infancy, just 16 years old, and the match against Manchester City that day was just the 10th final to be played at Wembley Stadium. Unfortunately for Gordon Lee's Magpies, winger Peter Barnes put Man City ahead on 11 minutes, only for No 10 Alan Gowling to level for the black and whites in the 35th minute from a Malcolm Macdonald cross. However, in the 46th minute, the 100,000-strong crowd at Wembley witnessed one of the greatest goals in English football history. Willie Donachie directed a cross into the Newcastle box, Tommy Booth headed it back and then winger Dennis Tueart (pictured above, holding a photo of the strike), facing the opposite way, hoisted his body to unleash an unstoppable overhead kick into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Toon hearts were broken, while Sky Blue fans were ecstatic. Newcastle have never since reached the very business end of the League Cup - and the final this season will mark the 40th anniversary of that famous game.