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12 Facts About Willie McFaul

1.

Willie McFaul spent most of his career with Newcastle United.

2.

Willie McFaul joined Newcastle United from Linfield in his native Northern Ireland in 1966 after impressing in a friendly match.

3.

Willie McFaul was part of the Newcastle team that won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.

4.

Willie McFaul went on to serve Newcastle as player, coach, assistant manager and then finally, in 1985, as manager.

5.

Willie McFaul departed in October 1988 after a poor start saw early season optimism turn into an ultimately futile struggle against relegation.

6.

Willie McFaul's reputation was as a caring and loyal manager, who got the best out of a number of players including Peter Beardsley and Paul Goddard.

7.

Willie McFaul has since managed teams in Northern Ireland and worked as the coach of the national team of Guam.

8.

Willie McFaul did discover Paul Gaston, who went on to captain Coleraine and play over 600 games for the club.

9.

Willie McFaul is working as a scout for Norwich City, professional connections having been made with Norwich Manager Glenn Roeder during Roeder's time as Newcastle United manager.

10.

Willie McFaul was appointed caretaker manager of Newcastle United in August 1985 after Jack Charlton had resigned after a pre-season friendly against Sheffield United after a row with the Newcastle fans over the sale of Chris Waddle and the failure to sign Eric Gates from Ipswich Town.

11.

Newcastle finished the season in 11th place, a good position for Willie McFaul given the chaos at the start of the season when he took over as manager.

12.

Willie McFaul signed Brazil's flamboyant striker Mirandinha to replace Beardsley, and with Wimbledon winger Glyn Hodges coming in as well as Northern Irish teenager Michael O'Neill, Newcastle had their best season under Willie McFaul finishing eighth, with Gascoigne taking all the plaudits winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award.