After I let it slip out this morning that I had been on Newcastle United’s books in the relegation season of 1960-1961, while still at school, and played that season with Bobby Moncur and David Craig, I’ve been asked to come clean on my bio. ๐
Many readers have asked for an expanded bio – so we’ve put it up on the site on the right hand side for a couple of days.
As most of you know we’ve been running the Newcastle United Blog since last April, and our goal for the blog is to give a responsible platform to Newcastle United fans all over the world – to express their views on the Newcastle United news of the day.
Hopefully we’ll have some impact on growing the fan base for the club in the coming seasons, which we still expect the club to be very successful, even given the travails of this season.
So far on our site we’ve had 3.45M hits (is that good? – not really sure), we’ve written 2,470 stories and had 67,7212 comments from our readers – in just under 11 months.
The one big problem we’ve had on the site is keeping the language fairly decent – and we’ve had some complaints from readers about this in the past. This continues to be our biggest problem, quite honestly.
So here’s a plug – please try to keep the language decent, because we want this site to be accessible by the young Newcastle United fans of the future – one is shown above with James Milner.รย Do you notice how they have the same haircuts? รย ๐
When we started last year we were also accused of not having any connection to Newcastle, although those messages have diminished in the last several months.
I said I was born and bred in Newcastle and proud of it – so for those of our readers who have questioned my Newcastle heritage, here is an expanded version of my bio.
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Dr. Ed Harrison is a recently retired IBM Consulting Group Executive who now has time, lots of time, to write about his lifelong passion – Newcastle United Football Club.
Ed was born and bred in Newcastle and watched his first game at St. James’ Park in 1949 as a 4 year-old with his Mother and Father. He was told to look out for number 9 – Jackie Milburn – Wor Jackie.
In football terms Ed was a goalkeeper and played for Warrier Street School and Newcastle Minors (Under-11), in 1956 and went on to play for Newcastle schoolboys and Northumberland schoolboys (Under 15) in 1959.
Ed was also an England Schoolboy Trailist that year, and in January 1960 played a full game at Highbury, in a trial for Arsenal.
He was at Newcastle United for a couple of years from 1960 as an amateur, and played with Bob Moncur, David Craig for the Newcastle Juniors side (Newcastle N’s in those days) that season 1960-1961 which of course saw Newcastle relegated (it wasn’t my fault – honest)..
He attended Heaton Technical and Manor Park schools and then went on to study at both King’s College, London (BSc) and Newcastle Universities (PhD). He played for Newcastle Universities and England Universities from 1967 until 1970 and in the English team Steve Heighway was probably the best known player he played with at that time.
The Newcastle University side of 1967-1969 was probably one of the strongest ever and the team reached the UAU finals twice, getting beaten by Swansea in 1968 and then drawing with Loughborough Colleges the following year. Alan Brown and Stan Calvert were the Newcastle University coaches in those days.
In local football the Newcastle University team reached the final of the Norhumberland Senior Cup in 1968, after beating Ashington at Ashington in the semi-finals. I cannot remember the score (think it was 1-0) but we had drawn 0-0 at Cochrane Park and we were told Ashington would kill us at their place. ๐ So you can understand our interest in this cup and following the Newcastle Reserves progress this season. We see Blyth Spartans are again in the final.
Newcastle University was well beaten in the Northumberland Senior Cup Final Final at St. James’ Park by Blyth Spartans (3-0?) in April of 1968, but we had several of our best players missing because the final was between terms. That was always a problem with the University football team, because we only had our best players during the terms.
Ed had a very serious double fracture (fibia and tibia broken right through) of his left leg at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium when playing for England Universities against the England Amateur side in April, 1969. That was effectively it as far as his University football was concerned as he was out of action for 10 months.
But it did have some positive impact on his studies since it allowed him to concentrate more on what he was really at Newcastle University for – as his tutor Dr. Scoins kept telling him – and that was to work towards a PhD. Ed got his Doctorate in Computer Science from Newcastle University just a few months after he joined IBM in 1970.
Within a short 3 years Ed was moved by IBM to the USA, where he remains today with his Geordie wife, Madeline, daughter Elaine and twin boys, Paul and Neil. His three kids are now all in their early thirties. One of his sons, Neil, continues the tradition of Newcastle support in the family, and is an avid Newcastle United fan, very depressed with our current position in the league. ๐
Ed lives just outside Raleigh, NC and remains an exiled Geordie, fully committed to the cause.
If anybody reads the blog who we knew back then – we’d love to hear from you – you can contact us here.
34 comments so far
AlexW
Mar 14, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Comment #1Ed is a bad boy geordie
GP
Mar 14, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Comment #2Hey, I went to Heaton Manor too.
A geordiedoonsooth
Mar 14, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Comment #3I went to Heaton Tech (59-60) then Manor Park Tech (60-65), I lived on Welbeck Road Walker, we used to train on the ash pitches at the sports centre in Wharrier Street School.
Espen V B
Mar 14, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Comment #4Nice to read about your background Ed!
I’m a big fan of your column :p
Zx
Mar 14, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Comment #5I wish I have a life like yours ๐
Graham
Mar 14, 2008 at 6:51 PM
Comment #6Just been to the co-op opposite Heaton Manor School and the kids are still talking about Big Ed – must be some kind of illegal substance
Sir HC
Mar 14, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Comment #7Fan tastic mae keep up the good work……from a longbenton lad
Nick C
Mar 14, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Comment #8Ed, that is a pretty fascinating story. I think everyone has a lot of respect for you. Next time u come over for the match u should tell everyone where u fancy a pint. I think its fair to say u will have a few people buying you drinks. It would be an honour to meet you fella!
Penalty-Spot
Mar 14, 2008 at 7:44 PM
Comment #9Nice ๐
Swanx
Mar 14, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Comment #10My youngin goes toWharrier Street.Hes 10 in may and normally stays behind to play football.
Bob
Mar 14, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Comment #11I’m very glad you put that up Ed.
I’ve seen a couple of idiots come on here and have a go at you ….hopefully more respect will come your way in the future.
Sturla
Mar 14, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Comment #12Good to get an idea who’s behind this good blog.
Mick G
Mar 14, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Comment #13Changing the subject slightly, Iwas friends with a bloke in Jersey,a Dave Madison.He was from Heaton and was working in Jersey with his wife in 1974/75.If anyone knows of him could you please ask him to make himself known through this site ,it would be great to here from him.Sorry to use this site like Friends Reunited”
ObaFan2
Mar 14, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Comment #14I discovered this blog the day we were “raided” last summer. I found the information not only accurate but unique in comparison with the rubbish printed in the paper.
Since that day I have probably checked out this site everyday.
It’s nice to hear about your background but I have always had a great respect for you and this site since that day last summer.
p.s. If you ever arranged a meet over here with your bloggers I’d recommend some big bouncers to seperate some of the fans on this site ๐
Keep up the good work and don’t worry, we’ll be safe this season and next season will be a joy again to be part of the “Toon Army”.
domtoon
Mar 14, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Comment #15Never doubted ya mate, you do credit to the Toon army worldwide. Nice to read a bit more about you, and congratulations on a great website. For those other supporters who might come across this site, it truly makes us stand out as what we are widely regarded as – the best and most dedicated fans on the planet.
TOOON!!!!! TOOON!!!!!!
tonygreenthetannerballmagician
Mar 14, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Comment #16Ed,your Blog is an essential read.There’s a Berwick “Gadgie” lives in Raleigh too.Michael Thompson went to the US on a Soccer scholarship about 15 years ago and enjoyed it so much he stayed!!.
daiv
Mar 14, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Comment #17Proper fan Ed. been through lots of thick and thin and hardly any jam and still there to tell the tale. respect. I am not as old as you but started supporting the Toon in 1963 with the likes of keith kettleborough, Jim Iley and ankles Bennett. Dream on bloggers.
Egar
Mar 14, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Comment #18Good job, Ed. Keep it up. (Hopefully NUFC too.)
Hadrian
Mar 14, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Comment #19aye had a good innings their Ed , wish i picked a carear that took me across the world ,
anyone in florida need a door swung ?
daiv
Mar 14, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Comment #20Hadrian, Ed’s a proper fan but hes missed 50 years of being on terraces and heartache. A Geordie in exile is nothing to aspire to.
Reading Mag
Mar 14, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Comment #21Daiv – Please think before you write….get the point..This guy allows US ALL .the commicate with the one thing we have a passion and more in common, Just because we dont live in the motherland any more, does not mean we dont share OUR passion.
Ed – Top man, I thank you – me Dad when to Heaton tec.
As the song goes “Geordies here Geordies there..”
Punk Skunk
Mar 14, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Comment #22Ed…Nice one…Y’almost a Geordie Legend, Ha!..
…I mean that in the best sense…Keep up the good work please!..Ta!..
TOON,TOON!..
NC Toon
Mar 14, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Comment #23Ed – glad to know that you are in NC! I have been a NUFC fan for the past 10 years – not a lifelong fan but an exhuberant one! If you ever get to Elon, look me up and I’ll take you out for a pint or two and we can discuss our favorite club – I know I have a lot to learn. Keep up the great work.
UTD111
Mar 15, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Comment #24Flippin Heck Ed – you even pre-date me yer old bugger!!
JakartaDean
Mar 15, 2008 at 2:47 AM
Comment #25Thanks Ed. I was born in Toronto, to a Geordie father and Hull mother, but have always preferred Newcastle (Dad’s from Heaton: Chillingham Road). My younger son is also an avid NUFC fan.
Your site is great, I check in most days. Some of the comments are hard to read for those of us who learned English before text messaging was invented ๐
Keep up the good work. Not much Newcastle news in Jakarta, where I live now, so I take what I can get.
Dean
Brad
Mar 15, 2008 at 2:57 AM
Comment #26Hey, I’m going down to North Carolina in a few weeks. Maybe I’ll see you down there. ๐
nufctj
Mar 15, 2008 at 5:46 AM
Comment #27Keep up the good work Ed! I am also over here in the USA, Detroit MI. Been a Toon supporter for about 10 years now, attracted to the club by a certain Mr. Shearer. Someday I hope to make the trip to St. James’. I would guess there is a pretty big Toon Army contingent over here in Yank Land. But way too many ManUre fans for my liking. Hope to see the black and white squad come over and play some games over here, but in the off season, not as part of game 39.
nightfall
Mar 15, 2008 at 9:20 AM
Comment #28ED – keep up the good work! ๐
lee
Mar 15, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Comment #29IF U R READING THIS PLEASE LOG ON TO TOONULTRAS.COM they r a site dedicated to the support of newcastle and could realy do with ur help so please ….donate make banners buy balloons and wave scarfs to help newcastle regain its status as best supporters in the land and also to help with the teams current plight
TOON TOON TOON TOON TOON TOON TOON TOON TOON TOON
stjames
Mar 15, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Comment #30Thank you Ed. I think your site unique. It seems to me you write more than 1o articles every working day of the year. And every article very informative. Quite an achievement. ๐ ๐ ๐
the northern monkey
Mar 15, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Comment #31Sir hc i am a logbenton lad where bouts you from?
the northern monkey
Mar 15, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Comment #32sorry Ed forgot to mention how much we appreciate the work you do and i think this site is greeat
m.
Mar 15, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Comment #33Ed – how many years of your life have you spent studying to get a PhD?
Mar.k
Mar 16, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Comment #34Ed mate, Warrier street, just next to the lightfoot centre yeah? and Heaton manor, I dont live to far from there, I went to st. Marys anyway like.