1901 Jerry Best born, Mickley, Northumberland. (1919-20) 

Outside left who joined United from Mickley Colliery Welfare in December 1919 (having guested for Huddersfield Town during WW1). By the following July though Jerry had moved on to Leeds United for £100.

Another quick change of clubs then saw Best head for North America, featuring for Providence Clamdiggers, New Bedford Whalers (twice), Fall River Marksmen and Pawtucket Rangers. 

Returning to England in 1931, Best played for Clapham Orient, Darlington and Hull City, ending his days at non-league Hexham. 

His death was recorded in 1975.

1907 Ron Williams born, Llansamlet, Wales. (1933-35) 

Welsh international forward signed from Swansea Town for £1,500, making a goalscoring debut in a 3-2 away win at Aston Villa during November 1933.

Despite netting ten times in his opening ten games (including a hat trick at Everton in a 7-3 success), Ron couldn't inspire his new side sufficiently to avoid relegation.

Remaining at Gallowgate, Williams wasn't a regular choice in Division Two and after eight appearances without a goal by Christmas he departed for Chester City. 

Later spells at both Swansea and Chester followed, before ending his career with Lovells Athletic and Milford Haven.

A keen cricketer and bowls player, Williams served as a policeman during WW2 and later worked as a civil servant in Swansea. His death was recorded in 1987.

1917 Bob Fraser born, Glasgow, Scotland.
(1946-50) 

Defender signed from Hibernian for a fee of £3,750 and given an immediate debut in a 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest on New Years Day 1947. 

Beginning his career at Dunoon Athletic and Ashfield Juniors on his native Clydeside, Bob moved to Easter Road in 1937 and guested for Dumbarton during WW2. He saw active service with the Glasgow Highlanders.

Part of the 1947/48 promotion winning side and appearing at both centre half and full back, a foot injury forced him to retire in the summer of 1950 - almost two years after his final senior appearance for United.   

Later acted as a scout for Newcastle, he ran a sports wholesale business on Tyneside.

Living in Ponteland, Fraser's death was recorded on Tyneside during April 2003.

1985 Dylan Hughes born, Vancouver, Canada (2001)

Highly-rated young forward who played for our academy side but opted to return to Canada due to homesickness.

Dylan later reappeared in Europe with German sides Kaiserslauten and Jahn Regensburg before moving to the Netherlands, where he played for RKC Waalwijk and VVV Venlo.

Having played as a youth international for both Canada and Wales, Hughes signed for Rhyl in 2008, with younger brother Kevin.

However, that failed to work out and Dylan is then believed to have returned to Canada.

1986 Steven Taylor born, Greenwich.
(2000-16)

London-born but quickly returning with his Geordie parents to Tyneside, Steven was just 14 when debuting for Newcastle’s U17 side against Birmingham City in August 2000.

Appointed England U16 captain the following year, his league bow came in the colours of Wycombe Wanderers in December 2003 - a six game loan spell at Adams Park seeing him play under his hero, Tony Adams.

March 2004 saw Taylor's Newcastle debut, replacing Andy O'Brien during a 3-0 away win against Real Mallorca in the UEFA Cup.

A first start came three days later at the Reebok against Bolton Wanderers in the Premiership, at right back.

April 2005 saw Steven red-carded during the infamous Bowyer/Dyer onfield grapple during a home game against Aston Villa, Taylor walking for a handball to prevent a goal - although his awful attempt at feigning injury was worthy of a red card on its own.

Another UEFA Cup tie against Spanish opposition saw Steve score his first senior goal. That came at SJP against Celta Vigo in November 2006 and he celebrated by running the length of the field - prompting team mates to label him "Forrest Gump".

Having made his England U21 debut in February 2004, Steven's first senior England call-up came in August 2007 - although he remained on the bench as Germany beat England 2-1 at Wembley.    

Taylor’s first taste of club captaincy came in a Carling Cup tie at Peterborough United in September 2009. However, a knee injury against West Bromwich Albion the following January saw him miss the rest of the Championship-winning campaign.

And his comeback in pre-season would be halted by a shoulder injury incurred at Carlisle which would keep him out until November 2010 - by which time he'd put an end to speculation over his future by signing a new contract until June 2016.

Taylor started the 2011/12 season in fine form alongside Fabricio Coloccini, only for a serious Achilles injury in the home defeat to Chelsea ended his season in December.

Returning to action in pre-season ahead of the 2012/13 campaign, Steven played the same number of games (15) as the previous season before again succumbing to injury - this time a hamstring problem.

A mindless red card in the 2013/14 season opener at Manchester City was followed by an injury and he remained out of the first team picture until the following January until returning to the side after injury and suspension to colleagues. 

The 2014/15 campaign began with Taylor once again out of favour, but his return to the side in place of Mike Williamson coincided with a run of victories.

Taylor's season was cut short by a ruptured Achilles tendon after scoring in the home 3-3 draw with Burnley on the first day of 2015.

Fit again the following season, Taylor was soon sidelined with a hamstring injury that required surgery and ruled him out until the following February.

Featuring only sporadically under incoming manager Rafa Benitez, the offer of a one year "pay as you play" contract extension wasn't accepted and a low-key final outing came in the season-closing 5-1 win over Spurs after relegation was confirmed.

Amid rumours of interest from various overseas countries, the free agent signed for Portland Timbers in the USA.

But after just nine MLS outings (and one goal - against Seattle) Taylor and the Timbers parted in December 2016.

Returning to join Championship side Ipswich Town after a successful trial, injury saw him play only three games. 

Accepting an invitation to join pre-season training (and play in two friendlies), no new contract offer was forthcoming and he went on trial at Doncaster Rovers - facing Derby County in pre-season.

Seemingly set to join Donny, he opted to sign a two-year deal at Peterborough United and completed a half century of games for them in his first season, also scoring four times.

After 12 months at London Road he secured his release and turned up in New Zealand at Wellington Phoenix in July 2018.

Despite signing a two-year extension with Wellington, Tayls joined Indian Super League side Odisha in September 2020.

Agreeing a one year deal extension in 2021 and accepting the club captaincy ahead of the new season, Steven abruptly confirmed his retirement that September.

Within weeks he'd relocated to Dubai, becoming a fitness trainer and coaching at the Gulf United youth academy. He was also spotted guesting for local amateur football side Slugs & Goats.

Setting up semi-professional side Gulf United, they played a friendly against Newcastle in March 2022 when Eddie Howe's team had some warm weather training during a two-week fixture break.

Taylor left Gulf United in August 2023 and became the manager of UAE fourth tier side Al Qabila the following March.

He continued to play for local side Kamani FC, August 2025 saw him take charge of third tie outfit Rimal Al Sahra.

1986 Jose Enrique Sanchez Diaz born Valencia, Spain (2007-11)

Left back who was a £6m signing from Villarreal in August 2007, having appeared at SJP a year after he'd featured here for the Spanish side in a 3-3 pre-season draw.

An U21 international, Jose began at Spanish side Levante, before arriving at Villarreal in 2006 via a loan spell at Celta Vigo.

Debuting in a Carling Cup tie against Barnsley at SJP, but he struggled for both form and fitness in his first two seasons at SJP - with manager Joe Kinnear preferring to play "Charles Insomnia" at left back.  

The hospitalisation of JFK in February 2009 proved to be a turning point for Enrique at SJP, marking a improvement in his form and seeing him ultimately choose to remain at the club, despite numerous claims that he was set for an exit back to Spain.   

A series of man of the match awards followed Newcastle’s demotion to the Championship, while December 2009 saw Enrique respond to further transfer speculation - this time to the mackems - by telling reporters:

"I don’t care about sunderland. Even if the newspapers said Chelsea, I wouldn’t care. I worry for my team – I love the city, I love the club and I don’t care about signing for another team.

"I don’t read the papers because I don’t understand English that well! Some players were joking with me about what it said."

Scoring the first goal of his United career with a fine individual effort at home to Nottingham Forest in March 2010, Enrique was a mainstay of the Newcastle side on their return to the top flight.

And his 25th birthday arrived amid media speculation of transfer interest from various significant clubs, with United attempting to tie him down to a new, improved, deal.

He stayed at SJP, but only until the summer of 2011 when he followed Andy Carroll to Anfield for a claimed £5m, just as the final year of his contract commenced.

And within a year Jose had a winner's medal for his collection, appearing for Liverpool in their Carling Cup Final victory over Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium.

His return to Gallowgate in April 2012 though was an afternoon to forget, as Liverpool lost 0-2 and ended up a man short - with Jose acting as a stand-in goalkeeper!

Fitness issues saw Jose become a forgotten man at Anfield and he turned down the chance of a return to SJP in January 2016 - becoming a free agent that summer. 

A return to Spain followed in September, joining second tier side Real Zaragoza.

Although a regular in the 2016/17 season, Enrique announced his retirement in August 2017 - unable to continue playing due to knee problems.

He then hit the headlines in 2018 after revealing that he'd been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Happily, an operation was successful and he made a good recovery, returning to his new career as a football agent and pundit.

1997 Stefan O'Connor born, Croydon. (2017-19)

A free agent following his release by Arsenal, central defender Stefan joined United during July 2017 and was spotted for the first time playing in a reserve friendly at Darlington.

Swapping Crystal Palace for the Gunners in 2010, O'Connor's only senior out for Arsenal came from the bench during a Champions League tie away to Galatasaray in 2014.

Playing four games on loan at York City the following season, Stefan was sent out to Dutch side MVV Maastricht for the 2016/17 campaign but only featured fleetingly.

After making 41 appearances over two seasons with Newcastle U23s, he was released in June 2019. 

However, O'Connor then reportedly signed a short-term deal as he recovered from a cruciate ligament injury that had sidelined him for much of the previous season.

Forced into retirement in 2020 by his ACL issue, his next career was as a self-styled entrepreneur and investor.