SOCCER stars yesterday paid tribute to a North-East football legend who died at the weekend.

Newcastle United players donned black arm bands last night for their home game against Liverpool, as a mark of respect to former Magpies striker, Albert Stubbins.

The flame-haired, Wallsend-born centre forward, was a hero both on Tyneside and Merseyside, where he played for Liverpool.

He was immortalised in 1967, when the Beatles included him on the collage of celebrities that make up the cover to the band's classic album, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Stubbins is the only footballer featured, alongside famous faces including Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.

Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson, who as a boy had idolised Stubbins, said: "Albert was a fabulous player, both for Newcastle and Liverpool. I only wish he could have played more games with Jackie Milburn. Imagine that partnership."

He died aged 83 after a short illness.

A natural goalscorer, he is considered one of the best players the North-East has ever produced.

He started out playing amateur football for Sunderland and for Whitley and Monkseaton before signing for Newcastle in 1937. He also played as a guest for Sunderland in the War Cup final in 1942 - the wartime equivalent of the FA Cup - when the Wearsiders lost to Wolverhampton.

Official records show him having scored only five goals in 29 matches for Newcastle. But during the Second World War, he scored at a rate of more than a goal a game during unofficial matches. At the end of his Newcastle career, he had a tally of 237 goals from 218 matches, including one spell in 1941 when he scored hat-tricks in four successive matches.

In 1946, he was sold to Liverpool for £13,000 - then the second highest transfer fee in history.

Stubbins' time at Anfield saw him play in the same team as fellow North-Easterner and Liverpool legend, Bob Paisley. A year after his move, Liverpool won the First Division Championship.

He also played in the FA Cup Final in 1950, when Liverpool lost to Arsenal and gained one England cap.

He returned to the North-East in 1953 and was persuaded to turn out for Ashington FC by former team-mate and fellow Newcastle United legend Jackie Milburn. In 1960, he went to America to coach a local side, but returned to the North-East to take up a career in journalism.

It was originally thought that Stubbins was included on Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover simply because John Lennon liked the sound of his name. Years later, however, he received a telegram from Paul McCartney which revealed that McCartney had been a fan.

Newcastle United's chief operating officer, Russell Cushing, said: "I first met Albert in 1971 and from that first meeting I found him to be the perfect gentleman - he truly was an outstanding player and an outstanding person.

"His record for Newcastle and Liverpool spoke for itself. He was undoubtedly a legendary figure at St James's Park and Anfield.

"Albert will be sadly missed by his family and friends and his death is also a very sad loss for the game of football."