Malcolm MacDonald once told a story of a conversation he had with Jackie Milburn, who told the former Arsenal striker what it meant to wear the Newcastle United number 9 shirt. These words resonated with "Super Mac" for along time, having been told by the greatest ever player to wear the black and white, and the only man on this list who won a trophy at the club, what this club is. "Wor Jackie" played for Newcastle United between 1943 and 1957 and died in 1988, yet every fan, young and old, knows his story. Milburn was the blood of Newcastle, the legend you learned about, and it says so much that he has lasted so long in the memory, and the arguments about the game then and the game now mean nothing. Hr was years ahead of his time. Born in Ashington, Milburn went on to score 200 goals for Newcastle, leading them on to three FA Cup triumphs in five years in the 1950's. (I know, imagine that!) There has only been one man to surpass him and not many, if any at all, will get close to doing so again in a long, long time, most likely not in our lifetimes. Wor Jackie is immortal, and will forever be known by some as the greatest.
Budding football journalist, European football fan and Newcastle United season ticket holder. I have contributed to FourFourTwo.com and The Evening Chronicle.
