Picking up where we left off. After our last article, in October last year, with regards the former Newcastle United manager, Joe Harvey’s, links with Northumberland Freemasonry, we were contacted by W.Bro Chris Emmerson of St Raphael Lodge No. 6261, which meets at Corbridge Road Masonic Building.
Chris used to present a fascinating lecture about Newcastle United’s Fairs Cup win in 1969, has met all of the players from that game, becoming close friends with many of them. When he advised us that there was more than just one Masonic connection, we knew that this demanded more research, coming from such an authority on the game.
Willie Iam McFaul, initiated into Palatine Lodge No.97, Province of Durham, on 12/5/77, was born in Coleraine in 1943 and joined Newcastle United from Linfield in 1966. It took two years for him to establish himself as Newcastle’s goalkeeper, a position he held until after the 1974–75 season. His career highlight was probably when he helped Newcastle to the 1974 FA Cup Final at Wembley, but were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool, whose first two goals were from shots by Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway. He played six times for Northern Ireland and 290 times for Newcastle United, going on to serve Newcastle as Coach, Assistant Manager and then Manager in 1985. He departed in October 1988 after a poor start saw early season optimism turn into an ultimately futile struggle against relegation.
Bryan Stanley Robson, initiated into George Stephenson Lodge No 3390, Province of Northumberland, on 11/11/1970, was born in Sunderland in 1945 and played for Clara Vale in his youth before joining Newcastle United in 1962. Whilst there he won the Second Division title in the 1964–65 season and the 1969 Fairs Cup, forming a productive partnership with Welshman Wyn Davies as a centre forward. He stayed with Newcastle United until 1971 and made 206 appearances, scoring 86 goals.
Alwyn Derek ‘Ollie’ Burton, initiated into Montgomerie Lodge No 1741, Province of Norfolk on 10/2/1975, was born in Chepstow in 1941. He was a versatile player as either a defender or a centre forward and began his playing career as a wing half at Newport County. He later spent 10 years playing for Newcastle United after transferring from Norwich City for a fee of about £35000. His move followed an FA Cup tie between the two clubs that Norwich won 5-0. He gained nine caps for Wales and regards being part of the Norwich City side that won the second ever Football League Cup in 1962 as one of his greatest achievements.
Willie Iam McFaul, initiated into Palatine Lodge No.97, Province of Durham, on 12/5/77, was born in Coleraine in 1943 and joined Newcastle United from Linfield in 1966. It took two years for him to establish himself as Newcastle’s goalkeeper, a position he held until after the 1974–75 season. His career highlight was probably when he helped Newcastle to the 1974 FA Cup Final at Wembley, but were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool, whose first two goals were from shots by Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway. He played six times for Northern Ireland and 290 times for Newcastle United, going on to serve Newcastle as coach, assistant manager and then finally, in 1985, manager. He departed in October 1988 after a poor start saw early season optimism turn into an ultimately futile struggle against relegation.
Jim Scott, initiated into Lodge St John, Slammanan, No.484, Province of Stirlingshire, on 20/01/1962, was born in Falkirk in 1940. There is no record of him having received his Mark Degree, however, he went through his three degrees with two other candidates, one called Robert McFarlane Scott and the other Robert Munro Scott, aged 24 and 29 respectively. It was first thought that it might have been his brothers, but only one could have been as they are both named Robert, so maybe his brother and cousin. Jim did have another brother who played for Rangers and then Everton, Alex Scott, a Scottish internationalist. Jim won one cap for Scotland in a 3-0 friendly defeat against the Netherlands in May 1966. He played for Hibernian, Crystal Palace, Falkirk, Hamilton Academical and made 74 appearances for Newcastle United, scoring 6 goals, playing outside right.
Tommy Gibb, initiated into Lodge Torphicen Kilwinning, No 13, Province of Linlithgowshire, on the 06/04/1965, aged 18 and therefore a ‘Lewis’, was born in 1944 in Bathgate, Lothian. He received his Mark Degree on the 18/05/1965 and started his football playing career with Armadale Thistle before joining Partick Thistle where he graduated to the Scotland Under-23 squad. He joined Newcastle United, playing his first game on 14/08/1968, as a midfielder, against Sheffield Wednesday. He went on to create a club record, appearing in 171 consecutive games, playing his final game against Arsenal on 23/04/1975. In his first season with Newcastle he was a Fairs Cup winner, and in his final season a FA Cup runner-up. He also had spells with Sunderland and Hartlepool.
Graham Tot Winstanley, initiated into Luell Lodge No.6482, Province of Cumberland and Westmorland, on the 07/10/1974 and exalted into Border City Royal Arch Chapter on the 11/01/1989, was born in Croxdale, County Durham in 1948. He started his career with Newcastle United and made 270 appearances, as a central defender, for Newcastle, United, Carlisle United and Brighton and Hove Albion before finishing his career with Penrith, firstly as a player and then as Manager.
Bob Moncur himself was not a member of the Craft, however, his father was.
A number of the Rangers team, beaten by Newcastle United in the 1969 Fairs Cup semi-final, including their captain, John Greig, were also Freemasons. It was very much a tradition that Rangers players joined a Masonic Lodge after signing for the club, if not already a member before signing. It is only in recent years that this has not been the case. In fact, it wasn’t until very recently that Rangers, for the first time, played a game without there being a freemason in the team. It is still quite common for people to shout ‘What Lodge is the referee in?’ if Rangers are awarded a penalty during a game.
Thanks go to W.Bros Chris Emmerson and Stuart Cairns, and to Bro Craig Thompson of the Grand Lodge of Scotland for the submission of this article.
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