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We kick off our international odyssey by going back to where it all started for Newcastle in terms of their players representing their nations. 

Although England and Scotland both began playing international matches in November 1872 (drawing 0-0 with each other in Glasgow), it wasn't until March 1901 that the Magpies would be represented at that level.

The eighteenth staging of the Home International Championship between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland saw two Gallowgate alumni selected. 26 year-old Bolton-born goalkeeper Matt Kingsley took the honours, his England bow coming a fortnight before Scotland recognised 24 year-old wing half and Ayrshire native, Andy Aitken.

England's tournament-opening 3-0 home win over Ireland at Southampton saw Jack Robinson between the posts at his own home ground; Kingsley was in the Newcastle side beaten 3-5 at home to Preston the same day.

The following week saw Matt named in a Football League XI facing their Scottish League counterparts in Glasgow. United lost 0-1 at Wolves with Charlie Watts in goal while Kingsley endured a 2-6 reverse at Ibrox. 

Regardless of that setback, the England selection committee duly confirmed that the Magpies custodian would face Wales the following week, a game scheduled to take place at Gallowgate.

Details of the team appeared in the press a week before the game, one newspaper reporter justifying the selection thus: "the inclusion of a member of the Newcastle team will add to the interest in the match locally."

Both squads were accommodated in the Hotel Metropole on Clayton Street West in Newcastle from the previous Saturday, ahead of what was a 4pm kick-off the following Monday afternoon, March 18th.

The thirtieth goalkeeper to play for England in what was their 72nd international, Kingsley had little to do as his side ran out 6-0 winners.

That proved to be the end of Matt's international career and he wasn't considered for England's next Home International 12 days later, hosting the Scots at Crystal Palace. The selectors instead favoured John Sutcliffe of Bolton Wanderers, some six years after his previous cap.

Ahead of their own team selection for that game, the Scotland committee staged a Home Scots versus Anglo Scots trial match at Third Lanark's Cathkin Park 10 days earlier; United's Aitken and John Fraser both selected for the "Anglos".

That finished 0-0 and following a meeting in Glasgow's Alexandra Hotel, the team was announced to the press, with neither Newcastle player favoured. 

That all changed 24 hours before the game however, when Neil Gibson of Rangers withdrew from the Scotland side following a family bereavement. That caused Aitken to be summoned by telegram, withdrawing from the United party to face Liverpool at Anfield and instead travelling to London.

He then took to the field for a 2-2 draw, the point confirming England as Home International champions for that year.  

Unlike Kingsley, Aitken would make more than one international appearance, adding seven more caps while at Newcastle and a further half dozen after moving on to Boro and then Leicester.

PS: United's first-footers for the other home nations (and Ireland) were:

1905 Bill McCracken (Northern Ireland)
1928 Tom Evans (Wales)
1962 Liam Tuohy (Ireland)

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