Hereford? Is It That Time Of Year Already

Malcolm Macdonald has given an interview to the Offical Newcastle Website in advance of the Magpies trip to Cheltenham in the FA Cup. Below is a flavour of the article:

Cheltenham's Whaddon Road is just 40 miles along the A40 from Edgar Street, Hereford, scene of Newcastle's biggest FA Cup shock. The Magpies play their 5,000th competitive match against The Robins this Saturday - and arguably none of the previous 4,999 have been as infamous as THAT giantkilling act of February 1972.

Who knows what script will be written on Saturday, but one thing is certain on Saturday Match of the Day will dust down footage of Ronnie Radford, Ricky George and co in their pre-match build-up!

IAN WILLIS spoke to MALCOLM MACDONALD about a result that still sends a shiver down the spine of all Geordies.

GALLOWGATE legend Malcolm Macdonald hopes the Magpies will stick to the basics in order to avoid an FA Cup upset at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Supermac, who will be commentating on the game at Whaddon Road for Century Radio, knows all about giant-killing acts having suffered at the hands of Hereford back in 1972

He told nufc.co.uk: "People always talk about that game against Hereford at this time of year. I dread the start of January because the BBC always drag out the footage of that game.

"I scored five goals in a game for England against Cyprus and I've never, ever seen those goals on the BBC, yet those Hereford goals are on every year!

"The thing about that game at Hereford was that I scored to put us 1-0 up with just seven minutes left

"At that point, as the higher club, you think it's the job done and is just a case of seeing the game out.

"But it didn't work like that, and a couple of minutes later Ronnie Radford got the equaliser. I remember seeing that ball leave his foot and seeing Willie McFaul make a move for it. I thought to myself 'don't even both going for that one Willie, you've got no chance'.

"That took the game to extra time, the fans were on the pitch, the surface was getting worse, and we all know what happened after that.

"I suppose that's why they say this is a magical competition, though, because it shows that anything can happen"

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