Ex-Magpies defender has died, age 77

FORMER Newcastle United defender Stuart Boam has died at the age of 77.

- By NICK LOUGHLIN

The no-nonsense centre-half appeared 69 times for the Magpies over two seasons between 1979 and 1981. Before that, he had been an outstanding player for Middlesbrough where he made 322 appearances.

Boam arrived at St James' Park for £170,000 in August 1979 as a seasoned, respected and rugged defender after becoming a stalwart as captain of Boro's 'Charlton's Champions' of the 1973/4 season.

At Newcastle, manager Bill McGarry was wrestling with the problem of getting the Magpies back into the top flight, and was finding the solution hard to find.