HULL City and Arsenal contest the FA Cup final at Wembley tonight, so this week’s Sport Memories profiles the man who captained Newcastle United to back-to-back FA Cups in the 1950s It has been far too long since Newcastle United lifted a piece of silverware let alone the FA Cup, so it was only fitting that the man that led them to their last victory in the competition was honoured recently.

A memorial plaque of Joe Harvey was unveiled at St James’ Park last month, where 20 former players — including Frank Clark, Bob Moncur and Wyn Davies — gathered to pay tribute to ‘Mr Newcastle’.

Harvey, who passed away in 1989 aged 71, is still the club’s longest serving manager and while supporters will probably remember him for guiding the Magpies to their last piece of silverware, the Fairs Cup in 1969, his achievements as a player were equally as memorable.

For a city starved of success and silverware since 1969, those lucky enough to support the Tynesiders in the 50s will remember a time when they won not one, nor two, but three FA Cups in five golden years.

The idea of Newcastle doing that anytime soon is unthinkable, especially given the remarks of club director John Irving earlier this season that competitions like the FA Cup and League Cup are “not a priority” for the Magpies.

Such comments would make Harvey wince, especially after experiencing the euphoria bringing a trophy back to Tyneside can create.

Harvey arrived at Newcastle as an established inside forward but quickly settled into the half-back position and, in the 1947-48 season, the Doncaster-born midfielder was an influential figure in the club’s promotion to the First Division.

However, Newcastle and Harvey didn’t stop there and having gone 19 years without winning the FA Cup, they added back-to-back wins over Blackpool and Arsenal in 1951 and 1952, respectively. They added a third in 1955 after Harvey retired.

Harvey’s career at St James’ Park was not without controversy.

He was suspended along with Len Shackleton for going on strike over the quality of accommodation in 1947, while he was also alleged to have been involved in the illegal selling of tickets for the 1952 final.

After spells in charge of Barrow and Workington, Harvey returned to bring more success to Newcastle nine years after calling time on his playing career at St James’ Park.

When Harvey’s plaque was unveiled last month, Bob Moncur said: “Joe has been the most successful manager and that’s over Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson.

“He won the Fairs Cup.”