Newcastle United and the World Cup: Italia '90

Newcastle United and the World Cup: Italia '90 - Three former Magpies shine for England

With the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar in full swing, 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 finals from 1950 to 1986.

We've reached 1990. It was a year which away from football saw the resignation of Margaret Thatcher, the re-unification of East and West Germany, and Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. But, for many, 1990 remains vivid in the memory for that year’s dramatic World Cup finals in Italy.

At the time, it proved to be England’s best showing in the tournament since 1966. It also foreshadowed profound changes in English football which would see the imminent arrival of the all-powerful Premier League and Sky TV.

But, as the drama of Italia ‘90 unfolded on TV, accompanied by the powerful operatic soundtrack of Luciano Pavarotti and co, downhearted Newcastle United fans were forced to ask themselves ‘what if?’ Because, as England progressed in thrilling fashion, they were driven by a nucleus of three brilliant players who’d all departed St James’ Park in recent seasons.

Chris Waddle, Peter Beardsley and Paul Gascoigne had all left a club mired in mediocrity in search of success elsewhere, while here on Tyneside, the summer of 1990 saw United fans wallowing in despondency. The Magpies’ promotion push that season under the management of the 'Bald Eagle' Jim Smith had ended in disaster as a 2-0 home defeat by Sunderland in the play-offs saw the Wearsiders leapfrog the Magpies back into the top flight.

Roy Aitken joining Newcastle United in January, 1990. Aitken represented Scotland at the World Cup in Italy later that year (Newcastle Chronicle)

Seeing former heroes Waddle, Beardsley and Gazza playing together and producing world-class form in the same England team was difficult for long-suffering Newcastle fans to swallow. As for United players at the time, only recent signing and club captain, Roy Aitken, got the World Cup nod with Scotland bowing out at the group stage after beating Sweden, but losing to Costa Rica and Brazil.

Away from football, 1990 was the year when the National Garden Festival was staged in Gateshead. The festival site was created on 200 acres of derelict land in Dunston and, between May and October, three million people visited 200 gardens and 50 exhibitions, in an event which saw the regeneration of former industrial wasteland.

In other news, there was trouble brewing for Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her government. As divisions in her party raged over Europe, and demonstrations over the unpopular poll tax exploded in violence, Thatcher was forced to resign after eleven years in Downing Street.

Abroad, following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August, USA and UK forces were deployed to counter Saddam Hussein’s forces. As the Cold War threat receded, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to lessen tensions and reform his nation.

1990 also witnessed the Strangeways Prison riots, the shock defeat of world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson by unknown Buster Douglas, and the first showing of the satirical cartoon The Simpsons on television. Meanwhile, a hugely significant but low-key technological breakthrough was also being made - the first ever page on the worldwide web was created. Little did we know how much the internet would transform our lives in the decades that followed.

Out at the World Cup, England, manged by future Magpies boss Bobby Robson, battled to the semi-finals, going out on penalties to eventual winners West Germany on an emotion-packed night in Turin. Chris Waddle missed a crucial spot-kick, while Paul Gascoigne famously dissolved into tears and became a national treasure - for a while anyway.

Italia ‘90 will forever be remembered as the defining moment of Paul Gascoigne’s rollercoaster ride with fame and fortune. For the next few years, for better or worse, he would be a virtual ever-present on the front as well as the back pages of Britain’s tabloid newspapers.

READ NEXT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here