SOME of the greats of Newcastle United converged on St James Park today to unveil a permanent memorial to the man who led the club to FA Cup and Fairs Cub - legendary Magpies captain and manager Joe Harvey.

Harvey’s son, Ken, Fairs Cup winning captain Bob Moncur and Vic Keeble – the only surviving member of the 1955 cup-winning side of which Harvey was trainer - unveiled a bronze plaque in his honour at the Gallowgate End of the ground in Newcastle. 

They were joined by Harvey’s family and a host of famous ex-players including Wyn Davies, Frank Clark, Malcolm Macdonald, David Craig, Alan Foggon and Dave Hilley, as well the Fairs Club group which spearheaded the project with the support of fundraisers including Newcastle United, who made a significant donation and also paid for all installation costs.

As part of the ceremony, it was also announced that Joe Harvey has been inducted to the Newcastle United Foundation’s Hall of Fame.

Fairs Club chairman Bill Gibbs said: “We have had a long-standing ambition to see Joe Harvey rightfully remembered with a permanent memorial at St. James’ Park and we are delighted to see it come to fruition with this plaque.”

A half-back as a player, Harvey captained the Magpies to promotion from the second tier in 1948 and successive FA Cup victories at Wembley in 1951 and 1952, returning to Wembley as the team’s trainer for the club’s third FA Cup success in five years in 1955.

He was appointed as Newcastle United manager in 1962 and after guiding the club to the Second Division title and promotion in 1965, he led the team to the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.

It remains the club’s most recent piece of major silverware.