Bobby Mitchell
Years at United: 1949-1961
A darling of the St. James’ Park crowd, ‘Bobby Dazzler’ was a wing wizard and instrumental in United’s immediate post-war years, culminating in three Wembley FA Cup triumphs.
Born in Glasgow in 1924, he joined the then-notable Scottish side Third Lanark in 1942 before serving as a telegraphist in the Royal Navy during World War Two.
Moving to St. James’ Park in 1949 for £17,000 – a record fee for a winger, he was without doubt worth every penny.
Famed for his immaculate ball control he scored many important goals for United, especially in FA Cup ties during a magnificent 13-year career on Tyneside.
Thrilling the Geordie public with magical footwork and ball skills, Mitchell was able to raise his game from friendlies right up to the most important of fixtures - a hallmark of a true great.
In his earlier career he was the Scottish League’s top scorer in 1946/47 with 22 goals, even though he played most of his games on the wing.
Operating in the number 11 shirt, he played a pivotal role in the 1951 FA Cup winning campaign before scoring a last-minute penalty against Blackburn in the semi-final of 1952 to take United to Wembley again.
There, he would set up George Robledo’s winner and he again netted himself in the 1955 final.
He scored on his Scotland debut too in 1951 and in his final year, 1961, he was awarded a hugely deserved testimonial where a terrific crowd of over 40,000 turned up, clear evidence of the affection in which Mitchell was held by United’s fans.
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