Willie McFaul, Newcastle Legend and Manager, Dies at 82

Willie McFaul, the celebrated Newcastle United goalkeeper and manager, has died at the age of 82, prompting tributes from his former clubs and the football community. Born in Coleraine, he joined Newcastle from Linfield and made 386 appearances between 1966 and 1975, playing a key role in the club's 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup victory and the 1974 FA Cup final. Internationally, McFaul earned six caps for Northern Ireland, often competing with Pat Jennings for the goalkeeper position. Transitioning to management, he became Newcastle's caretaker manager in 1985 and helped nurture talents such as Paul Gascoigne and Peter Beardsley before being appointed full-time manager until 1988. After leaving Newcastle, he managed his hometown club Coleraine and even the Guam national team. Newcastle United honored his memory by wearing black armbands during a recent Premier League match and expressed sincere condolences to his loved ones.