When the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain came around, it coincided with Newcastle United toiling at one of the lowest ebbs in the club's 90-year history - but little did long-suffering fans know that a huge, headline-grabbing surprise was just around the corner.
As the 2022 finals in Qatar progress, we're looking back at previous tournaments, recalling any Newcastle United connections, and remembering what else was going on in those years. So far, we've covered the World Cup finals from 1950 to 1978.
After a drab campaign, United had finished the 1981-82 season ninth in the second tier and they were now firmly entrapped in the footballing doldrums. The club had little money, few saleable assets on the pitch, and once-proud St James' Park after years of neglect was in a sorry state.
