1939 John Russell Bell born, Evenwood, Durham. (1956-62)

Left half who was rejected by Burnley as a youngster before joining Newcastle from Evenwood Town in October 1956.

Jackie then marked his senior debut away to Luton Town in November 1957 with a goal as United ran out 3-0 winners. 

Becoming a regular starter, Jackie was unable to prevent United dropping out of Division One in 1961 and after one failed attempt at promotion, he fell from favour when Joe Harvey took control at SJP.

Sold to Norwich City in 1962 for £10K, the fee was later reduced by FA decree when Bell's diabetes was confirmed. Moving on to Colchester United, Jackie later turned out for Gainford Town in his native Durham and was a regular at Barnard Castle Golf Club, winning several trophies.

He died in 1991, shortly after a Magpies XI had visited Evenwood to provide the opposition in a benefit match for him.

1940 Jim Smith born, Sheffield. 
(Manager 1988-91)

With almost 20 years of managerial nous gained at Boston United, Colchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Oxford United and QPR, "The Bald Eagle" swooped into SJP during the dark days of December 1988.

And although he was able to inspire his new side to a 2-1 home win over Wimbledon, the struggle to avoid relegation from the top flight was ultimately to be a fruitless one.

Smith then set about fashioning a side to gain promotion at the first attempt, pairing strikers Mick Quinn and Mark McGhee to good effect but seeing his side falter in the closing weeks of the season. 

A playoff semi-final defeat by the mackems in May 1990 was a blow from which Smith never recovered and with the club imploding off the field with a failed share issue leading to boardroom unrest, he quit in March 1991.

At the time Smith commented that had he regretted ever taking the job after "the two years of heartache" that he'd faced at SJP.

Popping up soon after on the backroom staff at the smoggies, Jim became Pompey boss ahead of the 1991/92 season and sat in the away dugout at SJP the following April as David Kelly's goal gave us a precious win.

Leaving Fratton Park in February 1995, Smith reappeared three months later in charge of Derby County, taking charge of the Rams for six and a half years. 

A series of assistant manager posts at Coventry City, Pompey and Southampton then followed, the latter two in the company of Harry Redknapp.

2006 brought a return to former club Oxford United, with a stint in charge leading on to a director's position and a brief period of caretaker management before his eventual departure from the Kassam Stadium in 2009.

Jim's death in December 2019 prompted glowing tributes from players and colleagues at his many former clubs.

Newcastle's FA Cup meeting with Oxford the following month then saw U's fans unveil a banner in Smith's honour during the replay at the Kassam Stadium.

1943 Death of George Thompson, 65.
(1903-05)

1989 Dwight Gayle born, Walthamstow, London (2016-22)

Newcastle's second capture ahead of the 2016/17 season, striker Gayle arrived from Crystal Palace just as Andros Townsend completed a move to the Eagles - although the deals were separate.
 
Gayle left Selhurst Park after three seasons that brought him 26 goals in 74 senior appearances, including just 34 starts.

Two of those 26 goals came against United: in the opening seconds of a 3-3 draw at SJP in August 2014 and a successful penalty during a League Cup tie a month later.

Rejected by Arsenal as a youngster, Dwight's career restarted at Essex Senior League side Stansted in 2009.

Signing for Dagenham & Redbridge in 2011, Gayle was then loaned to out Bishop's Stortford before being blooded in League Two at the start of the 2012/13 season.

A move to Peterborough United saw him net 13 times in 28 Championship during the 2012/13 season, form that persuaded Palace to pay £6m for him that summer.

A first sight of Dwight in Toon colours came as a half time replacement against Bohemian in Dublin and he got off the mark after just six minutes - having already struck the woodwork at Dalymount Park.

Marking his home debut with a goal in a pre-season win over Vitesse Arnhem, Gayle netted against Huddersfield Town a fortnight later - although the Terriers claimed the points with a 2-1 success.

Notching a hat-trick in a 4-3 home win over Norwich in September 2016, Gayle turned 27 a month later with nine goals to his name - the Championship's top scorer.

He finished the promotion season with 23 league goals from 32 appearances, hamstring injuries meaning he missed 14 games that should have seen him finish as the Championship's top scorer.

Amid speculation that he'd leave the club, Gayle remained at Gallowgate and scored six Premier League goals in 23 starts and 12 further appearances as a substitute.

However, a return to the Championship came in August 2018, loaned to relegated side West Bromwich Albion as Baggies striker Salomon Rondon made a temporary switch in the opposite direction.

Gayle finished with 23 goals and helping Albion to the play-off semi-finals where they lost out to Aston Villa. He scored in the first leg but was sent off and missed the second game.

Gayle returned to Tyneside but fitness issues kept him out of pre-season and he only featured sporadically until COVID.

Four goals in nine games followed the 2020/21 season resumption, but further fitness issues then sidelined him again.

A surprise contract extension in July 2021 suggested Dwight would feature more regularly, but he remained on the bench.

A late winner against West Bromwich Albion in December 2020 proved to be his last Newcastle goal; his final appearance against Arsenal at home in May 2022.

A free transfer switch to Championship side Stoke City saw Dwight score three times in 50 games before his contract was terminated in February 2024. 

Dwight then joined League One Derby County until the end of the season, six appearances bringing three goals and the feat of scoring in all four of the top tiers of English football.

Attending a PFA summer training camp for free agents with fellow ex-Magpie Ciaran Clark, a brief trial with Stockport County failed to harvest a permanent contract.

However an unexpected new club would appear, Gayle agreeing a 12 month deal with Hibernian in September 2024.

Debuting in the SPL from the bench in a 0-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox, a goal in the Edinburgh derby was the pick of his six for the Easter Road club.

Helping Hibs qualify for Europe, Dwight
retired at the end of the season and took up a new role with the Unique Sports Group, who had represented him as a player.

PS: Gayle's first birthday as a Magpie in 2016 came as something of a surprise, with a general acceptance until that point that he was born on October 20th - the date that appeared in press releases and stats sites.

1991 Conor Newton born, Whickham.
(2007-14)

Right-sided midfielder who first linked up United's Academy at the age of nine, debuting for the U18s in April 2008.

A reserve team bow then came in September of that year at right back in a 2-1 home win over Blackburn Rovers.

Appearing regularly at reserve level by the 2010/11 season, Conor was sidelined through injury at the tail end of that campaign and took almost two years to re-establish himself for the second string.

Joining SPL side St. Mirren on loan along with Paul Dummett in January 2013, Conor scored in a 3-2 League Cup Final win over Hearts at Hampden Park within two months. 

Appearing for Newcastle along with Dummett in a pre-season game at St. Mirren, Conor then agreed a further loan spell that kept him in Paisley until January 2014.

Released by United that summer, Newton rejected Birmingham City, Millwall and Wolves for Rotherham United - a decision that paid off just days later, as the Millers triumphed in the League One play-off final at Wembley.

Within a year though he'd joined Cambridge United on a two year deal and moved on to Hartlepool United in 2017.

After two years at Victoria Park, Conor joined Whickham in June 2019, later signing for South Shields until announcing his retirement in 2023.

Conor then worked as a personal trainer and co-owned a gym in Gateshead. 

1991 Danny Williams born, Worksop.
(2007-10)