1935 Jackie Charlton born, Ashington.
(Mgr 1984-85)

Promoted back to the top flight but lacking a manager after Arthur Cox walked out in a wrangle over budgets and contracts, United were looking for a new boss in June 1984.

Without a club following a brief caretaker spell at Boro, Newcastle fan Jack Charlton allowed himself to be talked into taking the job by his uncle, one Jackie Milburn.

Refusing a contract and imposed an initial 12 month limit in the post, Jack was to survive slightly longer than that - but not much – quitting after being barracked in a pre-season game against Sheffield United although barely 5,000 fans were at SJP.

In retrospect he should have followed his instincts and turned down the job, as his attempts to reshape the side into a more solid, less entertaining outfit didn't find favour in the dressing room or the stands.

In despair after his side turned a 4-0 lead into a 5-5 draw at QPR, the likes of Pat Heard and Gary Megson arrived and a new twin strike force of Tony Cunningham and George Reilly saw Chris Waddle and Peter Beardsley forced to play in new roles.

As a player Jack had famously served Leeds United and England, picking up a World Cup Winners medal in 1966 alongside his brother, Bobby (of whom we shall not speak again).

And a managerial career that had seen him taste success at both Boro and Sheffield Wednesday resumed its upward progress following his departure from Gallowgate.

Appointed Republic of Ireland boss in 1986, Charlton earned himself hero status in the Emerald Isle for his side's exploits in both World Cup & European Championship finals.

But it was a future Magpie who put an end to what was almost a glorious decade, Jack standing down soon after Patrick Kluivert's brace saw Holland beat Ireland in a European Championship playoff 2-0 at Anfield.

After that Charlton lived in semi-retirement, appearing from time to time in promotional events with the boys of '66 and continuing his lifelong hobby of fishing. 

Awarded an OBE in 1974, his work with Ireland saw him honoured with a statue at Cork Airport in 1994 and he was granted honorary Irish citizenship in 1996.

Jack made the news in August 2009 when he collapsed while on holiday in Spain and was briefly hospitalised. Following a fall in March 2012 meanwhile, he underwent a hip replacement operation at the RVI.

Charlton died in July 2020 from lymphoma after a long battle with dementia that was chronicled in an acclaimed documentary, "Finding Jack Charlton".

October 2022 then saw the unveiling of a Charlton statue in Ashington's Hirst Park - the venue where he was spotted playing by a Leeds United scout as a youngster.

Sculpted in bronze by Douglas Jennings, the life-size statue cost £40K: £10K from the local council and £30k in public donations.

1936 Malcolm Scott born, South Shields. (1955-61)

Defender recruited from Cleadon Juniors who signed for the Magpies in September 1955, combining his football with a job in the shipyards and playing cricket for Durham. 

However Malcolm had to wait until January 1957 for his first team debut, deputising at short notice for the absent Bob Stokoe in a 1-6 reverse at Old Trafford.

After one outing the following season, he finally made an impact on the side under manager Charlie Mitten in 1958. 

Scott's cricket career also took off, when he signed for Northamptonshire the following year, having appeared in the Minor Counties Select XI, RAF & Combined Services teams.

The following season saw him unable to force his way into the defensive lineup, but Scott did have some success as a stand-in striker, scoring twice in a 3-2 win at Leeds. He'd also played in goal for the reserves.

An Achilles injury sustained in a reserve game against Huddersfield Town in 1961 affected Malcolm's football career and after leaving SJP, he played for Darlington, York City and Rugby Town.

Malcolm later became a social worker and wrote his autobiography, entitled "A Geordie All Rounder", published in 2009. 

His death was reported in September 2020.

1940 Carl Wilson born, Lanchester, Durham. (1958-59)

Striker Carl joined United as an apprentice in October 1955, following in the footsteps of his father Joe, who had played for United between the wars.

Turning professional during February 1958, his sole competitive appearance was in a 0-3 Division One loss at Blackpool the following August, deputising for Len White.

Injuries disrupted Wilson's progress at SJP and he was transferred to Gateshead at a cost of £410 in January 1960.

Later moves took him to Doncaster Rovers and Millwall, before a switch to Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam for the 1962/63 season.

That saw him feature in the UEFA Cup for Sparta, netting a 16 minute treble during a 4-2 success against Swiss side Lausanne Sports at Feyenoord's De Kuip Stadium.

Carl subsequently played for German outfit Schwarz-Weiss Essen before returning to his native County Durham, where he ran a haulage business.

Sadly, he fell victim to cancer and passed away during February 2019, aged 78.

1965 Death of Harry Hardinge, 79.

1973 Death of Andy Cunningham, 83.

1973 Laurent Charvet born, Beziers, 
France (1998-2000)

Defender/midfielder signed from Cannes in summer 1998 for £520K by Kenny Dalglish, after a loan spell at Chelsea the previous season failed to see him win a deal there.

Charvet's competitive debut came in a 0-0 home draw with Charlton and what proved to be his sole goal came in a 2-2 draw at the smoggies that December.

By then Charvet had been reunited with ex-Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit at SJP, Gianluca Vialli having succeeded him at Stamford Bridge and allowed Charvet's loan to lapse.

After a first season that ended in an FA Cup Final appearance though, 1999/00 was a write off for Charvet who featured in only a handful of games once Bobby Robson was installed as Magpies boss.

However, he fought his way back into the first team in the following season ahead of Warren Barton in the right back berth.

United then chose to cash in on a player in the final year of his contract and Charvet  
followed fellow defender Steve Howey to Manchester City for £1.5M in 2000.

An injury-hit spell at City saw him make just  24 appearances in over two years, although he passed a medical at Marseille in January 2002 - but was then unable to agree terms. 

Late 2002 saw him released by Kevin Keegan and train with Monaco before turning up on trial at Ipswich Town - managed by his former Manchester City boss Joe Royle.

No contract offer was forthcoming though and after contact from both Auxerre and Sochaux in France, Charvet joined the latter in January 2003 and was reunited with his ex-Cannes coach Guy Lacombe. 

Netting an own goal in a defeat by Lyon was about the most memorable thing he did in a short period at the Stade Auguste Bonal and Laurent departed in summer 2003.

He then worked as Marketing Director of Principality Sports Management in London.

2000 Alessandro Tonali born, Lodi, Italy (2023-present)

Following United's fourth place finish in the Premier League and entry to the Champions League, their incoming transfer business in summer 2023 was eagerly awaited.

The first arrival in July from AC Milan was a statement signing: £60m spent on an Italian international midfielder who signed a five year contract at Gallowgate.

Previously with Brescia, Tonali was a regular in the AC Milan side that won the Serie A title in 2022 and had appeared in the Champions League for the previous three seasons. A lifelong fan of the Rossoneri, he was under contract until 2027 at the San Siro.

Sandro's season had finally ended a week earlier at the Euro U21 tournament and he trained with his new colleagues on Tyneside before his first outing against Rangers in the Allan McGregor testimonial at Ibrox.

His competitive debut in England would be a memorable one; volleying his side ahead in only the sixth minute of what ended up a 5-1 rout of Aston Villa on Tyneside.

Returning to former club AC Milan in the Champions League he was well received during a 0-0 draw in the San Siro, but his season was cut short when banned for breaching Italian betting regulations.

That 10 month suspension from all football activities also meant that Sandro would miss out on the UEFA Euro 2024 finals.

Further charges were brought against Tonali in March 2024 by the English FA after it transpired that he'd placed bets on his own team after moving to Newcastle.

However a two month suspended ban was imposed for those offences, meaning he could resume playing in late August 2024.