Joe Harvey

Lore & Background

Harvey began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers in November 1936 but made no appearances, moving to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic where he made 37 appearances in 1937–38. He then signed for Bradford City in 1938. During World War 2 he joined the Royal Artillery, becoming a sergeant-major in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, and made guest appearances for Aberdeen and Dundee United. After the war he returned to Bradford City, making 28 appearances in 1943–44 and 25 in 1944–45. On 20 October 1945 Newcastle United paid Bradford £4500 for his services. He quickly established himself, was made captain after an impressive debut against Barnsley, and settled into the wing-half position. In 1946–47 he was suspended along with Len Shackleton after a strike over poor accommodation, and both made public apologies. He was also believed involved in illegal ticket selling for the 1952 FA Cup Final but never charged. He captained Newcastle to FA Cup wins in 1951 and 1952, and retired from playing on 1 May 1953. After retiring he worked as a trainer for two years, and in 1954 took charge of Crook Town, leading them to the FA Amateur Cup after a 2–2 draw, another 2–2 draw, and a 1–0 win. He later managed Barrow, keeping them in the league by goal average in 1955–56, then managed Workington from 1956. He applied for the Newcastle manager's job in 1958 but lost to Charlie Mitten, then succeeded in 1962. As manager he won the Fairs Cup in 1968–69, the Texaco Cup in 1973–74 and 1974–75, and the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1973. He resigned after pressure from supporters at the end of the 1974–75 season, but briefly helped out as manager in August 1980, steering Newcastle to two wins and a draw. A memorial plaque was erected at St James' Park in April 2014.

Reader's Guide

Joe Harvey is a legendary figure at Newcastle United, serving as both player and manager. As a player, he captained the club to two FA Cup titles. As manager, he led Newcastle to the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and other trophies. His man management skills were highly regarded, though he was considered tactically flawed. He was the last Newcastle manager to win a major trophy until 2025.

Did You Know?

• Harvey was Newcastle United's longest-serving captain.
• He managed Crook Town to the FA Amateur Cup in 1953–54.
• He briefly returned as Newcastle manager in August 1980 after Bill McGarry was fired.

Playing Career and Military Service

Harvey began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers in November 1936 but made no appearances. He moved to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, making 37 appearances in 1937–38, then signed for Bradford City in 1938. During World War II, he joined the Royal Artillery, becoming a sergeant-major in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, and made guest appearances for Aberdeen and Dundee United. Newcastle United paid £4,500 for him on 20 October 1945. He quickly became captain after an impressive debut against Barnsley, transitioning from inside forward to wing-half. He led Newcastle to promotion in 1947–48 and captained them to FA Cup wins in 1951 and 1952. He retired on 1 May 1953 at age 34, his final game a 1–0 win over Aston Villa.

Captaincy Controversies and Leadership

In the 1946–47 season, Harvey and teammate Len Shackleton were suspended by the club's directors after going on strike against the quality of accommodation provided. Both were forced to make a public apology. Harvey was also believed to have been involved in the illegal selling of tickets for the 1952 FA Cup Final, though he was never charged. Despite this, he remained popular with supporters due to his attitude and displays on the pitch. His time as a sergeant-major made him an authoritative figure who commanded respect from teammates.

Early Coaching and Amateur Success

After retiring, Harvey attended coaching sessions set up by Walter Winterbottom and worked as a trainer for Newcastle for two years, watching from the sidelines as the club won the FA Cup for the third time in five years in 1954–55. In 1954, he took charge of Northern League club Crook Town, who had reached the FA Amateur Cup final against local rivals Bishop Auckland. After a 2–2 draw at Wembley before 100,000 fans and another 2–2 draw at St James' Park before 52,000, Crook won 1–0 at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, before 39,000. The club credited Harvey's intensive training sessions as the difference.

Managerial Triumphs and Legacy

Harvey managed struggling Barrow, keeping them in the league by goal average only in 1955–56 with just five players on appointment. He then managed Workington from 1956, gradually nearing promotion. He applied for the Newcastle job in 1958 but lost to Charlie Mitten, then succeeded in 1962. His greatest achievement was winning the Fairs Cup in 1968–69. He signed John Tudor for £888 from Sheffield United, who became an outstanding strike partner for Malcolm Macdonald. He brought through Alan Kennedy and Irving Nattrass from the youth system. In 1973–74, Newcastle reached the FA Cup final but lost 3–0 to Liverpool. Harvey resigned after the 1974–75 season under fan pressure. He briefly returned in August 1980, steering Newcastle to two wins and a draw before Arthur Cox was appointed. He has been described as a manager with a flaw tactically but with man management skills on a par with Alex Ferguson.