Jackie Milburn Legend Status

Lore & Background

Milburn was born on 11 May 1924 in the upstairs flat of his grandparents' house at 14 Sixth Row in Ashington. He played two trial matches at St James' Park as a 19-year-old in 1943; in the second, he scored six second half goals. Milburn made his competitive debut in the FA Cup in the 1945–46 season and was initially deployed on the left wing. After a 1947 FA Cup semi-final defeat, manager George Martin switched Milburn to centre forward. In his next match, on 18 October 1947, Milburn wore the number nine shirt for the first time and scored a hat-trick. His achievements include two goals which won the 1951 FA Cup Final and his 45-second opener in the 1955 FA Cup Final, which was the fastest ever Wembley FA Cup Final goal until beaten by Roberto Di Matteo in 1997. Milburn played in three FA Cup winning finals for United: 1951, 1952 and 1955. By the time he left Newcastle in 1957, he had become the highest goalscorer in Newcastle United's history. He remained so until surpassed by Alan Shearer in February 2006. Milburn remains Newcastle's second highest goalscorer, having scored 200 competitive goals. He died of lung cancer on 9 October 1988, aged 64.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the floodlights at St James' Park, turning the pitch into a slick battlefield. Jackie Milburn, drenched in his black-and-white stripes, scanned the field, his eyes locking onto a gap between the defenders. With a burst of speed that defied the mud, he received a lobbed pass, controlled it with a touch so soft it seemed to defy gravity, and slotted it past the keeper. The roar of 30,000 fans shook the stands, a sound that would echo through history. In that moment, Milburn wasn't just a player; he was the embodiment of Newcastle's soul.

Reader's Guide

Milburn was a centre forward for Newcastle United, known for his speed and goal-scoring. He scored 200 competitive goals for the club, making him the second all-time top scorer. He also played for Linfield, making 54 appearances and scoring 68 goals in four seasons. A statue of Milburn, paid for by donations from Newcastle United supporters, stands on Strawberry Place just outside St James' Park. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in October 2006.

Did You Know?

• Milburn's cousin was the mother of Jack and Bobby Charlton.
• He scored six second-half goals in a public trial match for Newcastle United in 1943.
• His 45-second goal in the 1955 FA Cup Final was the fastest at Wembley until 1997.
• Milburn was a very shy and self-deprecating individual, according to the source.