With the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar approaching the closing stages, we're continuing our look back at previous tournaments and recalling any Newcastle United connections. So far, we've covered the finals from 1950 to 1990. We've now reached the finals of 1994 and 1998.
In 1994, England under the management of the much-derided Graham Taylor failed to qualify for the USA finals. But if the national team was once again at a low ebb, Tyneside was buzzing at the resurgence of a rampaging Newcastle United side, which only two seasons earlier had nearly dropped into the old Third Division.
The end of the 1993-94 season saw newly-promoted United finish third in their first season back in the top flight. It was the club’s highest post-war league position and saw the Magpies qualify for Europe for the first time since 1977. With St James’ Park under reconstruction, Kevin Keegan in the manager’s chair, and with strike duo Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley terrorising Premier League defences, things hadn’t looked as bright at the Toon for years.
