On this day in 1946, Newcastle United beat Newport County 13-0 at St. James’ Park in a Division Two fixture. Len Shackleton who was making his debut scored six of the goals.
The Magpies signed Shackleton from Bradford Park Avenue for £13,000 as a replacement for Albert Stubbins who was transferred to Liverpool for the same fee. Three of Shackleton’s six goals against Newport came inside 155 seconds.
The arrival of the former Bradford ace further augmented Newcastle’s already fearsome forward line that included the likes of Jackie Milburn, Roy Bentley and Tommy Pearson. They scored an impressive 96 goals in the 1946-47 season, but leakage at the other end of the pitch derailed their chances of winning the division.