Jackie Sinclair RIP

Fairs Cup legend Sinclair loses cancer battle

Sep 2 2010
by Lee Ryder
Evening Chronicle

JACKIE Sinclair has died after a long battle against cancer.

The legendary Fairs Cup winger is the first of the triumphant 1969 team to pass away at 66.

Skipper of the iconic side Bob Moncur was first to pay tribute to Sinclair and said today: "We’ve known he was ill for some time, but it is a sad miss to us.

"He was a mainstay of the side. He was obviously a key member of the team that won the Fairs Cup.

"I like him very much because he was an old fashioned Scottish winger.

"He's the first of that team to pass away and he will be a big sad miss to us all.

"He set up so many goals on our Fairs Cup winning team for Wyn Davies and Pop Robson."

Speaking last year at the reunion of the 1969 win, Sinclair said: “Seeing old pictures of me with the other lads still gets you.

“It seems like yesterday but you realise it was 40 years ago. It’s hard to imagine. Memories are fresh.

“We will never forget the occasion, but in case we ever did, the pictures of us on the bus from the airport to St James’s Park will always be at the ground as a reminder.”

Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton also paid tribute to the United legend: "Everyone at the club was very saddened to learn of the untimely death of Jackie Sinclair.

"We knew he had been bravely battling cancer and had been unwell for some time.

"I'm told Jackie was a terrific player during his time at St. James' Park and was instrumental in helping the Club win the Fairs Cup back in 1969.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time."

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2010/09/02/fairs-cup-legend-sinclair-loses-cancer-battle-72703-27186427/

Played for the reserves in the first game my dad took me to.

I seem to remember hearing how Sinclair had been a miner before he became a professional footballer and after he retired (early 70s, maybe?), he went back down the pit. Of course, that was was when most footballers would be lucky if they could afford to run their own pub after they packed in.