A sad day for Newcastle United – R.I.P to my very first Toon hero, ‘The Mighty Wyn’

“Come all without, Come all within, You’ve not seen nothing like The Mighty Wyn.”

An original terrace chant from The Leazes End at St. James Park from 1966 to 1971 to support the 6’ 2” centre rorward, Wyn Davies, who wore the No. 9 with pride and was my very first Newcastle United hero.

A very sad day indeed for me as the news has come through at the age of 83 that The Mighty Wyn has taken flight to heaven, where no doubt he’ll leap higher than the Angels he deserves to fly amongst.

Let’s get to the facts and figures. 53 goals in 216 Club appearances. 40 of those in 181 League Division 1 games, the forerunner of the FA Premiership. He also scored 10 goals in Europe in 24 Inter-City Fairs Cup games and was capped by his country Wales 34 times netting 6 goals.

Ronald Wyn Davies was a proud Welshman but he was also an adopted Geordie and although when he left Newcastle in 1971 and moved on to both Manchester City and Manchester United it was his time at United that he’ll always be remembered for.

Wyn The Leap flew higher than a kite in a strong wind and was more lethal than a spitfire in full flight. A true battering ram of a Centre Forward and when you hear the expression ‘old-fashioned Centre Forward’ never was it more fitting than for Wyn.

He came to Newcastle from Bolton Wanderers for a Club record £80,000 fee after stellar performances for them against The Toon when he almost cost United promotion from the Second Division. United boss Joe Harvey moving quickly to secure his signature not long after.

A formidable member of the 1969 European winning Inter-City Fairs Cup Team, he formed a tremendous partnership with Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson and there’s no doubt in any Newcastle fan’s mind of that era that without Wyn, ‘Pop’ would never have scored the amount of goals he did.

For me he’s etched in my memory for ever. After United won The Fairs Cup I begged and begged my beleaguered parents to allow me to start going to St. James Park to watch the Mighty Mags. I’d been to a few games with an Uncle and a friend and his Dad up my street but never with my mates alone.

I’d also never stood on the famous/infamous Leazes End terraces. But all that changed on Saturday 31^st October 1970 when my parents finally relented and Steve Wilkinson, Tom ‘Tucker’ Hodgson and I got the train to Newcastle to watch United play Manchester United.

I was only 10 and it was a big adventure. It was also a triumphant adventure as United beat Man. Utd 1 – 0 with the scruffiest ever goal in front of the Leazes End tapped home by Wyn from inside the six-yard box after a Jimmy Rimmer error.

For me a legend was born and like so many I had a footballing hero that I could aspire too. I wasn’t much of a player but was quite good in the air and played Centre Forward for a while. I got picked for the school team because I won headers and made life difficult for defenders.

Just like my hero Wyn! As the years rolled on, Wyn left in 1971, I never ever and still haven’t forgotten him and that Saturday 31^st October 1970. It was a game that was even on Match of the Day and I was able to re-live it and allowed to stay up to do so.

So, a sad day indeed but evoking great memories of a bona fide Newcastle United Legend. I hope the Club does something to remember and memorialise him but for me he’ll always be my first true United hero. R.I.P. The Mighty Wyn the Leap.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our former player, Wyn Davies at the age of 83.

‘Wyn the Leap’ made over 200 appearances for the club and was part of our 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winning side.

Our thoughts are with Wyn’s family and friends at this sad time. 🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/5XTbioIbrH

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) July 17, 2025