1918 Death of Angus Douglas, 29 after contracting pneumonia. (1913-18)

1939 Arthur Cox born, Southam, Warwickshire. (Manager 1980-84, Coach 1993-97, Coach 2009)

As a player, Cox had been on the books of Coventry City, joining their coaching staff when a broken leg ended his career.

Moving on to Walsall, Halifax Town, Preston North End and Aston Villa, Arthur teamed up with Bob Stokoe at Roker Park and can be seen celebrating on the field in footage of the mackems FA Cup Final win in 1973.

Following a spell coaching in Turkey with Galatasaray, Cox was appointed Chesterfield boss in 1976, replacing Bill McGarry at SJP early in the 1980/81 season.

11th and 9th place finishes followed, before the piece of business that Cox instigated and the club (and Newcastle Breweries) made a reality - capturing Kevin Keegan.

The first season saw a few misadventures along the way and a late rally that wasn't quite enough to lift us higher than fifth - Keegan going public at one stage to defend his manager from criticism.

What was to be Cox's fourth and final campaign at the helm however was a success, with the key acquisition of Peter Beardsley propelling United into third place.

The triumphant 3-1 home win over Brighton that rounded off both the promotion season and Keegan's playing career also spelt the end of Cox's time in charge at SJP.

By the time Newcastle kicked off in Division One, Cox was back in Division Three with Derby County - having walked out on United in a row over contracts and transfer budget.

Cox remained at the Rams until 1993 when ill-health saw him step down and apparently retire from an active role in the game.

However, the offer of a job from Keegan was enough to get him off his sick bed and remained at SJP until 1997 - acting as caretaker manager alongside fellow coach Terry McDermott at Aston Villa following Keegan's abrupt abdication.

Following KK on to Fulham, England and Manchester City, Cox officially called it a day in 2004 - until he was again lured back to Newcastle in January 2008 when Keegan returned to manage the club.

However, Cox departed within eight months - a clear sign that all wasn't well following the parachuting in of Dennis Wise by the club's owner.

1960 Brian Ferguson born, Irvine, Scotland. (1979-80)

Midfielder who had begun his career as a youngster with Mansfield Town, following Stags player-boss Peter Morris from Field Mill to SJP when he was became manager Bill McGarry's number two.

Brian was promoted from the reserve side to the first team bench in April 1980 at home to Burnley, replacing Peter Withe.

Retaining his place in the Magpies starting XI for the final four games of that season, he netting away to QPR in a 2-1 defeat.

Moving on to Hull City, Brian also played in the colours of Goole Town, Southend United, Chesterfield and Skegness Town.

Later managing Skeggy, Ferguson settled in the area and ran a pub in the town. 

More recently he worked as a financial consultant, his company co-sponsoring Skegness Town's kit.

1960 Chris Waddle born, Heworth.
(1980-85)

From working in a factory that produced sausage seasoning and playing for non- league Tow Law Town to missing a penalty in a World Cup Semi Final is some journey, but Waddler was always good value on the ball.

A lifelong mackem, he joined Newcastle after an unsuccessful trial at Roker Park and soon posted a series of great reserve displays. 

Debuting in a home win over Shrewsbury Town, Waddle came to prominence when netting twice in a 2-1 FA Cup victory at SJP against Sheffield Wednesday.

And learning his trade in the first team, the arrival of Kevin Keegan and then Peter Beardsley took him on to international honours - and a transfer to Tottenham.

The mullet years then followed - along with that bloody awful record with Glenn Hoddle - before joining Marseille, where he became the darling of the crowd (and made another rotten single, with team mate Basile Boli).

Returning to England and snubbing an offer to rejoin United, Waddle instead signed for Sheffield Wednesday and later played for  Falkirk, Bradford City, the mackems, Burnley (as player boss) and Torquay United.

Coaching at Hillsborough for a time, Chris built up his media career and worked as a match summariser on radio while also playing for non-league sides Worksop and Glapwell.

Now a regular radio pundit, he's still yet to realise that the proper name for a spot kick is a penalty, not a "pelanty"....

1967 Scott Sloan born, Wallsend.
(1990-91)

Striker who had earned a move to Berwick Rangers after impressing for local league side Ponteland United - giving his job as a salesman for Cadbury's when turning pro!

Handed his debut from the bench in a 0-0 draw at Oxford in October 1990, Sloan found the net for the only time at senior level for us in a home win over Leicester City.

Used as back up to Mick Quinn/Mark McGhee, along with the likes of Andy Hunt and David Robinson, United also turned to loan forwards Tommy Gaynor, David Mitchell and Paul Moran that season in search of goals.

Sloan left SJP that summer and joined  Falkirk, later playing for Cambridge United, Hartlepool United and Swedish club Kalmar.

Returning to the North East, Scott joined the fire service and played for Whitley Bay. He later ran a sandwich shop on the Team Valley.

1979 Jean-Alain Boumsong born, Douala, Cameroon. (2005-06)

Sir Bobby Robson and John Carver went scouting in France during the 2003/04 season: their target, Auxerre's Cameroon -born central defender, available on a free.

Deciding that Boumsong was no better than their existing options (Aaron Hughes, Titus Bramble, Steve Caldwell, Andy O'Brien) they opted not to pursue their interest and the player's agent did a deal with Rangers.

The French international actually featured at SJP that pre-season for the Gers but hardly caught the eye. 

Fast forward to January 2005 however and with former Ibrox favourite Graeme Souness in charge, United bid £8m for Boumsong.

Surprise, surprise it was accepted and Boum debuted in an FA Cup tie against Yeading at Loftus Road, but didn't impress on a boggy pitch against non-league opposition.

56 starts (+3 sub appearances) later and having partnered Bramble (disastrously) and Steven Taylor (periodically competent), Boumsong was gone - with few lamenting his August 2006 departure.   

Juventus paid £3.3m, but allowed him to move on to Lyon just 17 months later and after three seasons in France it was off to Greece, Jean-Alain inking a three year deal at Panathinaikos that was later extended.

Departing from Athens in June 2013, Boumsong then began appearing as a pundit for the BeIN Sport channel. 

1979 Michael Owen born, Chester.
(2005-09)

Taxi!

Striker who debuted for Liverpool in May 1997, moving on to Real Madrid in August 2004 and then Newcastle in August 2005.

NUFC.com coverage of Owen's signing

Signed at a cost of £16m, Owen made 65 starts for the club plus 14 substitute outings, netting 30 goals in all competitions.

The highlight of his stay was a hat trick in a 4-2 away win at West Ham in December 2005, but two weeks later he broke a bone in his foot at Spurs - an injury that marked the start of a downturn in his fortunes.

A negative cycle of injuries and ongoing off-field unrest at SJP saw Owen's stock fall drastically amongst fans. His own mood wasn't helped by dropping out of the international picture for England and his departure from SJP at the end of his four year deal was inevitable - and welcomed.

"The athlete; the ambassador; the icon" read the 32 page brochure prepared by Owen's advisors after that deal expired - which prompted us to comment thus:

Feel free to take your gissa job brochure, your helicopter, your equine fixation and your miserable face to anywhere daft enough to employ you. 

Don’t think that this criticism has anything to do with your fading talents as a footballer though, No, our beef with you remains the four years-worth of utter contempt shown to the people who bought the shirts, seats and subscriptions that funded your lavish lifestyle.

At least people like Joey Barton go through the motions of badge-kissing and patronising the punters. You couldn’t even be bothered to do that, spending your time on Tyneside with a face like a smacked arse, interspersed with brief interludes of sucking lemons.

Your skin may be thick but it’ll never be as thick as your wallet. Don’t feel bad about us though – we’d have only blown the tens of millions of pounds that went into your offshore accounts on other ungrateful pillocks.

No shame, no guts, no soul, but a bulging portfolio. Role model? My arse. You put the con in Icon.

His next employer proved to be Manchester United, joining on a two year deal that was extended by a year. After just five Premier League goals in 31 games - 25 from the bench - he was released in July 2012.

Once again Owen touted himself shamelessly during the August transfer window but in the absence of any lucrative offers, he joined Stoke City in September, reportedly on a pay-per-play basis.

With hamstring problems again sidelining him, Owen made nine appearances (one start) for the Potters, ending with a brief outing against Southampton in May 2013.

His self-publicising continued, however, with numerous TV appearances that included popping up as a contestant on Mr & Mrs and a pundit on Match of the Day, sporting a ridiculous Movember moustache reminiscent of the Village People. Not a good look.

Joining BT Sport, Owen routinely gave his verdict on Newcastle with a familiar air of feigned excitement that suggested he was purely there for the lucre.

Fittingly, Michael now hosts a shambolic referee review programme with Howard Webb that whitewashes the latest blunders by officials in the Premier League.

1984 Chris Carr born, Newcastle.
(1998-2004)

Central defender who was playing for West Denton Boys Club when the mackems took him to their Centre of Excellence.

However, he came to his senses and joined United, earning England U18 honours as he captained our academy and reserve sides.

However, Chris failed to break into the first team squad and joined Sheffield Wednesday, making two substitute appearances in the Championship and registering an own goal.

After an unsuccessful trial at Macclesfield Town, Carr signed for Queen of the South before returning to Tyneside with Blue Star.

Signing for Durham City, Carr later served Newcastle Benfield in two spells that bookended a stint at Bedlington Terriers.

1998 Daniel Lowther born, Newcastle.
(2015-17)