Magpies legend Supermac backs Spartans

Blyth Spartans have received a pre-match thumbs up from a legend of North East football ahead of their big FA Cup Second Round clash at Hartlepool United on Friday night. Former Newcastle United striker Malcolm MacDonald spoke to Senior Press Officer Mark Carruthers at a book signing at the Metrocentre and added his support to Tom Wade's side's bid to get into the Third Round of the competition for the first time since 2008/09.

"There is very much a chance of an upset. Hartlepool United are having a disastrous season and I am not sure they know where their next win is coming from so I really can see an upset on the cards. It would be wonderful for Blyth Spartans if they were to go through"

MacDonald almost faced Spartans during their epic FA Cup run of 1977/78. The Croft Park club made it all of the way to the Fifth Round during a run that saw them thrust into the national limelight before being controversially knocked out by Fourth Division club Wrexham in a replay at a packed St James Park. That denied Spartans a glamour tie in the Quarter Finals with MacDonald's Arsenal side and the former England star revealed that the Gunners players were relieved that they faced the Welsh side rather than Spartans.

"We were so close to playing Spartans in 77/78. Blyth played Wrexham at St James Park and sold is out with an incredible 42,000 there. I remember at the time thinking if we had to play Spartans it probably would have been at St James Park and of course that would mean me going back to my old ground.

We were more concerned facing Blyth than we would have been again Wrexham, it's that whole non-league scenario and the unknown, rather than Wrexham who were a very good Football League team at the time. We were very concerned about playing Blyth Spartans, you can be certain of that"

MacDonald never faced Spartans during his playing career in either a competitive or non-competitive fixture. However he did reveal that an appearance in a charity match at Croft Park left a last memory in his mind.

"I once played at Croft Park for Dennis Waterman's charity side and there was a massive crowd there, it was incredible with people everyone. It felt like I signed about 5,000 autographs on that day and there was a really special atmosphere. It was amazing"

MacDonald has an interest in Non-League football with his role as Life President at Northern League side North Shields and he stressed the importance of the game at Non-League level calling it "the base that all of the big boys rest upon" before reiterating his belief that Spartans could pull off a shock at Victoria Park on Friday night.

"I'm the life president at North Shields and non-league is the base of football in this country. It's the base that all of the big boys rest upon, without non-league the whole national game slips away. It's a hugely important level of football and of course the FA Cup is the chance of national glory. Who is to say the impossible can't become possible for Blyth Spartans tomorrow"