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Joe Harvey was the last Newcastle United manager to bring home major silverware – and now he’s been forever immortalised in bronze.

After a more than five year campaign, fans and former players have officially unveiled a memorial to the Magpies FA Cup winning player, coach and triumphant Fairs Cup boss.

Scores turned out to see the 5ft by 3ft, half tonne, £10,000 plaque – which was paid for by fan donations and fundraising - unveiled between the club shop and statue of Jackie Milburn on the Gallowgate End at St James’ Park.

Fairs Cup winning captain Bob Moncur said that “if you look at his record as a player, coach and manager there’s none better” than Joe Harvey and the honour was long overdue.

“All of the players had marvellous respect for Joe,” he said. “He was a great man manager too.

“He tried to do the right things for the club and Newcastle United Football Club was his life.

“He played for the club and won the FA Cup as a player, he coached and he managed the team to the Fairs Cup in 1969.

“But the most important thing was that he wanted to get good players and good footballers to the club because he knew the crowd would appreciate them.”

Malcolm “Super Mac” Macdonald agreed, saying it was a shame that it had taken a supporters group to honour such a major figure in the club’s history.

“It’s been a long time coming and I don’t know why people with control of the club – and that’s not saying anything about the current regime, because you might forgive them for not knowing about him – didn’t do this a long time ago.

“And I’d now like to see something similar done right in the heart of the club, somewhere near the trophy room, which is rather empty, but which he provided so much to.”

Much of Joe’s family turned out for the unveiling, including his son Ken Harvey, his six great grandaughters and his great grandson.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Ken, who also during the ceremony saw his father inducted into the Newcastle United hall of fame. “It was nice to see so many of the old players and the plaque looks very good.”

Many fans took the opportunity to have their heroes of yesteryear sign books and shirts, while Bill Gibbs, a founder member of the Fairs Cup Club, who brought about the idea of the memorial said the turnout showed the high regard in which Joe, who died in 1989, is still held.

“It’s been five and a half years of effort, but we just thought that we’ve a statue of Jackie Milburn and a statue of Bobby Robson, Joe is as deserving if not more so after the Fairs Cup and should have been recognised years ago,” he said.

“Newcastle have been great about it and allowed us to choose ourself where the plaque went. I think where we’ve chosen is ideal as all the fans will see it.

“It’s been a hell of a turn out for him, and just shows the regard in which he’s held.”