Why am I not surprised by that?
My old man still speaks very highly of him as a player. Must have been a terrific talent. Marvellous clippings, btw - thanks for sharing.
I was a teenager round about the same time (1972) and had a bad problem with my hip after a climbing holiday in Scotland. Nowt to do with the club, but the treatment I got was a farce. My GP gave me pain killers and an appointment to see a specialist some five or six months later. Before that ever happened, I slipped on some ice, fell on the hip, and was in screaming agony. At that point I was hospitalised and the RVI gave me the wrong treatment. A month later, a new doctor realised what was going on. I had a second operation and was in hospital for six months, walked on crutches for another six months after that. Today, as a result, I'm officially disabled, can barely walk some days, and need a hip replacement.
Medical treatment in Newcastle in those days left a lot to be desired.