Jackie Milburn was born at his grandparents' home at 14, Sixth Row, Ashington. His was a famous footballing family; several cousins played for league clubs and Bobby and Jack Charlton became World Cup winners. Jackie lived for football and idolised Hughie Gallacher, the Newcastle centre-forward, little dreaming that he would one day wear the famous No. 9 shirt himself. Possessing tremendous speed (he was a Powderhall professional sprinter), his initials J.E.T. were a sports writer's dream. Though indifferent in the air, he had a powerful shot with the leather lace-up ball of the day. Jackie was watching Sunderland play at Roker park in 1937: 'When Raich Carter ran out he looked immaculate, hair slicked perfectly into shape and stockings showing precisely the right number of inches of white turn-over.' Carter (q.v.) emphasised the point much later, when he told Jackie: 'If you don't look the part, you'll never be the part.'
Newcastle United won the FA Cup three times in the early 1950s, and Jackie played in all three finals, along with the dazzling winger Bobby Mitchell and full-back Bobby Cowell. Jackie considered the 1951 side the best he ever played in, perhaps the best of all cup final sides. He scored twice against Blackpool in that match (where he smoked in the Wembley dressing-room at half-time), but his finest game was probably the sixth round match at Portsmouth, then a formidable side in the top five in the first division with Newcastle. Newcastle won a thrilling game 4-2. Milburn's hat-trick included one of his greatest goals. Jackie was unfortunate to live in the era of Nat Lofthouse, which limited his international appearances. He had a brief spell in management, including a period in Northern Ireland; from there he would fly at his own expense to watch Newcastle play, home or away. On one occasion, he shared his aircraft with a load of pigs.
A testimonial match for Jackie, ten years after he retired from the game, attracted 45,000 to St James Park, testifying to the esteem in which this lovable man was held. He died aged 64, of lung cancer and his ashes were scattered at the Gallowgate end. He is commemorated by a stand at St James Park and a statue erected by subscription, significantly to 'a footballer and a gentleman.'