Little Joe was every girl's heart-throb when Bonanza was the most popular western on telly for 14 successful years from 1959 to 73 with repeats still to be seen to this day. Well Big Joe created a bonanza of his own at Norwich's Carrow Road when he scored two crucial goals on his 100th Premier League appearance in Geordie garb to catapult Newcastle to a dizzy ninth top on 43 points.
Joelinton, once seen as a joke not fit to wear the legendary No.9 shirt, is now revered as a cult figure in a side shooting for the stars. This has been a breakout year for him and, switched from his midfield stomping ground where he has been born again, he came from left side of a front three to net United's opening two goals just before half-time to break Norwich hearts and kill their resistance.
Serenaded by the happy travelling fans at the end, it must indeed have been music to his ears. The whole afternoon became a celebration for the Boys From Brazil when Bruno Guimaraes, as smooth as silk once again, delightfully chipped former United keeper Tim Krul to make it 3-0.
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United who at the beginning of December were rock bottom three points behind Norwich, are now a whopping 22 points ahead of the division's whipping boys. How soccer can change and how we love it. The sun has never shone so brightly for many a long day. Such has been the startling turnaround that the Mags have harvested an incredible 32 Premier League points in 2022 with only Liverpool having a better record
Significantly Brazil's boyos are now joint third top scorers for Newcastle this season with four each -a failed No.9 and a supposed defensive midfielder! Eddie Howe, who has displayed a golden touch since walking amongst us, made four changes to rest weary legs after the last two monumental efforts to attain six successive home victories but I defy anyone to have seen the joins. All four simply slotted in to a system that is built on one-for-all-and-all-for-one.
Regulars Jonjo Shelvey, Fabian Schar, and Chris Wood sat on the bench without ever being asked to take off their tracksuit tops while Miggy Almiron was dumped alongside them despite his wonder goal midweek until he got a late call to arms for injured hero Joelinton. Even Matt Ritchie, last seen during FA Cup defeat home to Cambridge in January, joined the fun with the match won.
Unbelievably United had never tasted celebration at Norwich in 28 years - the last eight visits had ended in five Norwich wins and three draws but this is as poor a side as there is in the top flight and they were smacked for their audacity snatching an embarrassing 1-1 draw at SJP in the dark old days earlier this season.
After Mirandinha became the first Brazilian ever to play in English football on joining United back in the late eighties we've had some who defy the reputation of a majestic footballing country. Think Cacapa and Fumaca, even Kenedy who flared brightly like a firework upon arrival on loan before burning out and falling to the ground.
Now however Big Joe is looking the real deal and Bruno is, well, a current Brazilian international.
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BOB GRAY, the last link with Gateshead's illustrious past and the oldest living former Football League goalkeeper, has died at the grand old age of 98. Gray was Gateshead's keeper when they gallantly reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 1952-53 despite playing in the third tier of English football before losing to Bolton Wanderers through a solitary goal from their England centre-forward Nat Lofthouse.
Bolton went on to contest what became known as the Matthews Final when Blackpool at last gained an elusive trophy edging an epic 4-3 with South Shields born Stan Mortensen scoring a hat-trick, the first player ever to do so in Wembley's blue riband event. Yet they named the match after another Stanley!
Gateshead had knocked Liverpool out of the Cup en route to the sixth round. The legendary Billy Liddell was in the Liverpool side beaten 1-0 at Redheugh Park as was future coach Ronnie Moran. Albert Stubbins had played his last game for them the previous week and Bob Paisley was also on the Scousers' books at the time.
As a small boy supporting Gateshead when Newcastle United were playing away I remember those fifties days well _ the Mags won the FA Cup three times in five years during which time the Heed made it to within two games of Wembley. My cup did indeed runneth over.
Bob Gray was a tall, elegant goalkeeper, the Callender brothers Tommy and Jack played around 1,000 Football League games between them, and Johnny Ingham was a dashing forward who much later in life used to stop me when I walked up to St James’ Park to speak with Joe Harvey on the Chron's behalf so that we could have a natter. He was working in a shop en route.
Gateshead with Gray their last line of defence also finished runners-up in the Third Division North but failed to gain promotion as only one club went up.
Bob started his career with Whitehall Juniors and played as an amateur for Newcastle before joining Gateshead in 1944 where he was a loyal servant. He made a mighty 432 league appearances plus 28 in the FA Cup as well as having 57 outings in the wartime leagues before spells at non-league Ashington and North Shields.
