On this day (May 8) in 1963, Newcastle suffered a defeat to relegated Walsall in their penultimate game of the season. The Magpies lost 2-0 in front of nearly 22,000 at St James’ Park to end a run of consecutive wins.
Joe Harvey started Dave Hollins, Bill McKinney, George Dalton, John McGrath, Willie Penman, Jim Iley, Brian Wright, Alan Suddick, Jimmy Fell, Dave Hilley and Ron McGarry, but they fell embarrassingly short over the 90 minutes.
The Magpies thrashed Walsall 6-0 in their first meeting earlier in the season but somehow were beaten at home by a side that would end up relegated. And after drawing 2-2 with Preston North End in their final game, Newcastle finished seventh in the Second Division, amassing 47 points from 42 games.
Newcastle spent two more seasons in the second tier before earning promotion in 1965. They enjoyed 13 consecutive campaigns in the top-flight and Harvey remained in charge until their penultimate one.
In other news, this is the last time Newcastle United beat Leicester City at the King Power Stadium
