1917 John Shiel born, Amble.
(1936-38)

Centre forward Jack was signed by United from Seahouses for £10 in December 1936, immediately after marking his reserve team debut by scoring all three goals against Huddersfield Town at Gallowgate.

Shiel's first team bow followed in a 0-3 loss at Barnsley in September 1937, the sole senior appearance of his United career.

Released the following year he joined North Shields before a further opportunity of playing league football presented itself in 1938 when joining Huddersfield Town.

However he also played just once for the Terriers first team, against Middlesbough during March 1939.

Released with the onset of World War II imminent, Shiel joined Blyth Spartans and served on a Royal Navy minesweeper

He later skippered a Seahouses fishing boat and ran tourist boat trips to the Farne Islands.

Jack's story became the object of media attention in 2008, when his profile as the oldest surviving Magpie was highlighted.

Attending the home win over Fulham in August 2011 as a guest of United, Shiel was subsequently interviewed by the Chronicle about his footballing career:

"About five schools formed a football team and we won the Embleton and District Schools League trophy in 1931 when I captained the team. I suppose it all started from there.

"They were great days when I was at Newcastle and I made some wonderful friends. We were all young and playing the game we loved.

"I don’t know to this day how I became a footballer with them. I left school at 14 and started as a fisherman with my dad, Jack, and Uncle Scott.

"I had become friends with Newcastle’s Roderick MacKenzie, who also lived in Seahouses. He would keep an eye on me when I played for North Sunderland near where we lived.

"We won the Alnwick Infirmary Cup in 1935 or ‘36 and he asked if I could go and play with the Newcastle youth team.

"I went to Fenham Hall Drive where they sometimes played and then I was asked to play with the Reserves at St James’ Park where I scored three goals.

"It was after that game I was signed up for a £10 fee and £4 a week wages, which was big pay in those days.

"I moved down from Seahouses to lodge with my two team-mates, John Park and Jimmy Denmark. They were both from Scotland and we lodged with Mrs Mews in Salters Road, Gosforth, in Newcastle. 

"What a person she was, she fed us like royalty and treated us like sons. We weren’t like the footballers of today.

"My debut was at Barnsley. Their centre forward hit me awkwardly and I was concussed. We lost 3-0 and I then went to the Reserves.

"I was in the Reserves after that but we still got great crowds in those days. Thousands would come to watch us play at St. James’ Park.”

Shiel's death was reported in December 2013, at the ripe old age of 96.

1979 Jamie McClen born, Newcastle.
(1999-2006)

Midfielder Jamie was a product of United's youth academy, having joined them as a ten year old from Cramlington Juniors. 

Handed a senior debut against Spurs at SJP in April 1999 by Ruud Gullit, McClen won a five year deal as the Dutchman sought dressing room allies.

Following a flurry of appearances under Sir Bobby Robson though, McClen fell out of favour and a loan move to Motherwell was agreed in October 2000 - only for injury to immediately cut short his Fir Park stint.

Jamie's sole senior goal was in an FA Cup tie at Peterborough in January 2002, with his final senior appearance in a 4-0 home win over West Ham in August that year.

Despite appearing on the 2004 pre-season tour of Thailand and Hong Kong, he remained out of the first team picture and following a trial at Port Vale, signed for Carlisle United on a free transfer in the summer of 2005.

Exiting Brunton Park within six months, he ended up at Blyth Spartans while looking to find a league club - having trials at Bristol City, Stockport and Shrewsbury Town.

Scoring against Newcastle for Spartans in the 2006 Northumberland Senior Cup Final, a brief spell at Gay Meadow was followed by a stint at Conference side Kidderminster before a loan move to Bedlington Terriers.

2007 saw Jamie released by Kiddy and after trials with Motherwell (again) and Hamilton Academical, he returned to Tyneside and linked up with Gateshead.

McClen then moved back across the Tyne from the International Stadium to join Newcastle Blue Star on loan - later signing for them permanently, only to see the club enter administration and promptly fold.

After an unsuccessful trial at Barrow, Jamie played for Morpeth Town, West Allotment Celtic and Hebburn Town. He later worked in the NHS. 

1982 Oguchialu "Oguchi" Chilioke Onyewu born, Washington DC, USA. (2007)

Of Nigerian parentage, the man universally known as "Gooch" moved from the college soccer team at Clemson University in the USA to join French side Metz in 2002.

After just three appearances though, he was loaned to La Louviere the following year, before signing a permanent deal with fellow Belgian club Standard Liege in 2004.

Capped for the first time by the USA against Honduras in July 2005, Gooch played his part in the rise of Liege and a number of clubs were credited with an interest in him.

January 2007 saw Onyewu join Newcastle on loan, a baffling deal blamed on manager Glenn Roeder's assistant Nigel Pearson, a coach at West Bromwich Albion when the Baggies made an abortive transfer bid.

He wasn't the first US-born player to appear for us in the Premier League, following Chicago-born Jimmy Crawford and New Jersey boy Giuseppe Rossi.

Gooch made an ill-starred debut at Fulham early the following month and played his 11th and final Magpies game in the season-closer at Watford in May of that year, on his birthday.

However, he did become the first current Magpie to appear for the US national team when he played against Ecuador in Tampa, Florida in March 2007.

(We've worded that bit carefully to take account of former Newcastle striker Andy Parkinson - who although South African by birth, later took US citizenship and played for them internationally in 1984).

Following Roeder out of SJP, Gooch returned to Standard Liege and helped them to League title success in 2008 and 2009.

Signing for AC Milan in May 2009 on a free transfer, a serious knee injury later that year on international duty left him having played for Milan in friendlies and the Champions League but never in Serie A.

Belatedly returning to fitness, Onyewu was loaned to Dutch side Twente early in 2011 and then joined Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon that summer on a three year deal.

Yet another country was then added to his CV in the closing hours of the August 2012 transfer window, with a loan deal was agreed with Spanish side Malaga.

His Sporting contract was terminated by mutual consent in August 2013 and he returned to these shores, joining QPR on a free but never making an appearance.

Joining Sheffield Wednesday in January 2014, Gooch made 17 appearances and scored in the FA Cup for the Owls. 

However he failed to earn an extended deal at Hillsborough was also overlooked for the USA's World Cup squad, turning up on trial with MLS side DC United in July 2014.

His next port of call was Charlton Athletic but after only a handful of games he was released by the Addicks in May 2015.

Gooch then trained with MLS side New York City FC and Glasgow Rangers without earning a deal - but was rather more successful in early 2017 following a tryout with MLS side Philadelphia Union.

He left after a season and retired from playing, later serving as Sporting Director of Orlando City B.

1907 Karlsruhe (Germany) (a)
7-0 (?-?) 
Friendly 
Scorers tbc
Crowd tbc
Among the crowd at the KFV Stadion was Prince Max von Baden, who went on to serve as German Chancellor after WW1.
 
1944 North East Select XI (h) 3-3 (1-0)
Friendly
Stubbins(13,46), Woodburn(70)
Stobbart(51), Spuhler(59), Hastings(81pen)
11,270
A week after the War League season ended, United staged a benefit match for the widow of Middlesbrough boss Wilf Gillow, who had died two months earlier. 

1953 Aberdeen (Scotland) (n) 4-0 (2-0)
Friendly 
White(14), Hannah(20),
og(Young)(52), Milburn(83)
16,000 
United's participation in the Coronation Cup began with what became a routine win - although the Dons hit the woodwork inside a minute.

This match was at Ibrox on a Wednesday evening - at the same time as Rangers were losing 1-3 to Manchester United in front of 75,500 fans across Glasgow at Hampden Park.

Team: Simpson, Batty, Cowell, Harvey, Brennan, Crowe, White, Mulgrew, Milburn, Hannah, Mitchell.

1967 West Bromwich Albion (a)
1-6 (0-4)
Division One
33pts, 20th/22 
Noble(87) 
Foggo(31), Brown(38,44,69), Williams(45), Clark(82)
20,035
Victory in our final home game against Southampton two weeks earlier had saved us from relegation, which was a good job as we came into this Hawthorns mauling on the back of a 2-4 loss at Leicester City...

1974 sunderland (a)
3-2 (2-1)
Friendly 
McDermott(18,80pen) Bruce(38)
Belfitt(28), Hughes(62)
29,000 
The Magpies visited Roker Park to participate in the Jimmy Montgomery Testimonial Match, with Boro goalkeeper Jim Platt guesting for the visitors.

Former Magpie John Craggs also returned to black and white from Boro for one night, along with West Ham's Pop Robson.

Mackem custodian Trevor Swinburne had a substitute runout for United in place of Platt.

Team: Platt (Swinburne), Craggs, Kennedy (Crosson 33), McDermott, Howard, Laughton, Bruce, Robson, Tudor (Cannell 8), Foggon, Hibbitt (Barrowclough).

1976 Future Newcastle boss Bill McGarry's reward for taking Wolves down to the Second Division was the sack, confirmed on this day.

1984 Darlington (a)
3-0 (0-0)
Friendly 
Keegan(62pen), Clarke(66), Wharton(3-0) 
5,000 
Just 24 hours after ending a successful promotion season with a home victory over Brighton, Kevin Keegan led his side out at Feethams and played 75 minutes.

The occasion was a Testimonial Match for ex-Magpies defender David Barton, who had been playing for the Quakers when forced to retire through injury earlier that season.

KK commented afterwards, "my feet were on fire through the hard ground but nothing will prevent me from playing on Thursday night" (against Liverpool in his farewell match at Gallowgate).
 
1989 Manchester United (a) 0-2 (0-0)
Division One
31pts, 20th/20 
McClair(74), Robson(82)
30,379 
A healthy number of away travellers gave the already-relegated team a memorable send off and did their best to antagonise the home fans with frequent renditions of "You'll Never Walk Alone."  

After the teams had left the field, an impromptu minute's silence was held in memory of Darren, a Newcastle fan who died after the Wimbledon away game a month earlier apparently in a fight with rugby league fans.

In an odd day all round, manager Jim Smith was elsewhere checking on a transfer target and Steve Howey made his senior debut.
Youtube footage is online here

1990 mackems (a)
0-0 (0-0)
Second Division Play Off
1st Leg 
26,641 
There was last minute drama at Roker Park, as referee Vic Callow pointed to the spot following Mark Stimson's foul on Marco Gabbiadini in the United area.

Paul Hardyman took the penalty which United 'keeper John Burridge managed to block, only for the mackem to follow up by attempting to put Budgie's head into the net.

Mayhem erupted in the Fulwell End goal, with Hardyman sent off and players from both sides tussling as temperatures soared.

With hindsight, United may have done better in the second leg if the penalty had actually been scored. We didn't really know what to do with a 0-0 in the second leg....
Youtube footage is online here

2002 Alan Irvine's U17 side finished the season in fine style, beating Manchester United's youngster 2-0 in front of 6,109 fans at SJP.

Goals from Calvin Zola and James Beaumont gave the Magpies a 5-2 win on aggregate and saw them lift the Premier Academy League trophy for that age group. 

Striker Zola fired in three minutes into the second half, before midfielder Beaumont conjured up a contender for goal of the season with a glorious right foot curler from the left side of the box.

It was a fitting farewell to Academy Director, Irvine, who then left for Goodison Park to work with new Toffees boss David Moyes. 

2004 5,585 fans at SJP for the final reserve home game of the season and all but 136 fare dodgers from the dark place went home happy as United completed a reserve double over the mackems.

Despite having had his release confirmed just days before, midfielder Andy Ferrell bowed out in style with two goals.

Lewis Guy made it 3-1, while mackem boss Mick McCarthy apparently offered Ferrell the chance of a trial at the dark place - his reply? he'd rather clean windows...
NUFC.com match report

2007 Watford (a)
1-1 (1-0)
Premier League
43pts, 13th/20
Dyer(20)
King(52pen)
19,830
Following the dismissal of Glenn Roeder, Nigel Pearson was in charge for this season closer (assisted by Lee Clark). Sam Allardyce meanwhile was being lined up for the permanent job, but not in attendance as was rumoured mid-match.

On the pitch, Kieron Dyer scored his last Newcastle goal and Michael Owen was stretchered off with concussion, after colliding with team mate Matty Pattison.

Missing was Obafemi Martins, who reported unfit at the team hotel before parading round Watford post-match in full view of Toon fans in bars.

Charles N'Zogbia meanwhile found himself dropped from the bench after being caught texting on his phone during the pre-match team meeting.

We ended the season 13th place with 43 points - a new Premier League low. Things could only get better... couldn't they...?
NUFC.com match report
PL highlights are online here

2012 Everton (a)
1-3 (0-2)
Premier League
65pts, 5th/20
og(Hibbert)(73)
Pienaar(16), Jelavic(27), Heitinga(65)
Cahill(90+5)
39,517
Defeat at Goodison Park coupled with results elsewhere ended any chance of a Champions League spot, but United's best finish since 2004 earned a place in the Europa League.

The game ended in confusion, with a mass coming together of both sides after Tim Cahill attempted to shake Yohan Cabaye warmly by the throat - collecting a red card following the final whistle.

United debuted next season's maroon change kit on a day that Tim Krul completed a full house of Premier League games in a season.
NUFC.com match report
PL highlights are online here

2018 Chelsea (h)
3-0 (1-0)
Premier League
44pts, 10th/20
Gayle(23), Perez(59,63)
52,294
United well and truly knocked the Champion's crown off Chelsea heads on a gloriously sunny afternoon at SJP.

Dwight Gayle briefly joined Ayoze Perez as our top scorer in the league, before two strikes from Perez took him clear again with eight Premier League goals.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for the Magpies and in no way flattered them, as they outclassed the soon-to-be FA Cup winners from the very first whistle and could well have won by a greater margin.
NUFC.com match report
PL highlights are online here

2019 Newcastle U23s lost 1-2 to Southampton in the PL2 promotion play-off final at St. Mary's.

The Saints scored either side of half-time before Owen Bailey struck late on.
NUFC.com match report

2023 Leeds United (a)
2-2 (1-1)
Premier League
P35, 66pts, 3rd/20
Wilson(31pen,69pen)
Ayling(7), Kristensen(79)
36,955
Newcastle were two wins away from a Champions League spot after two Callum Wilson penalty conversions at Elland Road.

An incident-packed encounter included four goals, three penalty awards, one red card and one pitch invader.

The latter saw a home fan grab Eddie Howe's arm at pitchside in second half added time, before stewards and security staff intervened.
NUFC.com match report
PL highlights are online here

2025 The U21s drew 1-1 with Celtic B behind closed doors at Darsley Park, with Sean Neave netting for the hosts.

Defender Jamaal Lascelles featured for what was his first appearance after missing 13 months with an ACL injury.