1930 Arthur Bottom born, Sheffield. 
(1958)

Coming through the ranks at Bramall Lane before moving on to York City, Arthur first made his name during the Minstermen's 1954/55 FA Cup run.

A hat-trick at Dorchester, two goals at Bishop Auckland and one at Notts County helped York to a Semi-Final at Hillsborough, where he netted in a 1-1 draw against us - although United won the replay.

Almost three years later, relegation- threatened United's search goals led them to Arthur and a £4,500 investment was repaid handsomely by a run of ten goals in eleven games, including a debut brace in a 2-1 victory at Everton (prompting the Pink Headline, "Bottom is Tops").

United posted a £500 profit when selling him to Chesterfield in November 1958, Arthur never elaborating on the reasons for his departure, except to say that he was "happy when in the first team - but unhappy in the reserves."

That was a clear reference to the fact that he'd played just three games out of a possible fourteen that season for United - scoring three times.

And what proved to be Bottom's final SJP appearance is also worthy of note, scoring five times in a 12-1 friendly demolition of Brazilan side Bela Vista at Gallowgate. 

Living in his native Sheffield, Bottom later played for Boston United and Alfreton Town and after retiring from playing, worked as a silversmith.

Arthur died in hospital during April 2012 following a short illness. He was 82.

1958 Kevin Todd born, sunderland. 
(1981-83)

Striker who came on trial from local league side Ryhope CA, debuting for the reserve side in a 2-0 loss at Preston in March 1981.

Kevin then netted at Sheffield United - one of four goals he scored in eight outings - and signed a permanent deal with the Magpies ahead of the 1981/82 season.

Appearing off the bench in pre-season against the mackems, Todd made his senior Magpies debut as substitute in a 3-0 home win over Derby in October 1981.

His first goals then came in January 1982, netting twice in a 3-2 win at Watford. 

The following season he fluked one in at Rotherham in a 5-1 trouncing of the Millers that was featured on Match of the Day - Kevin Keegan getting the other four.

However, he played what was to be his final game for us only a month later - a 2-0 loss at Carlisle - before sustaining ligament damage that ultimately cost him a top-level chance. 

A spell with Darlington then saw him score 23 goals in 102 games, before moving on to Newcastle Blue Star in 1985.

Next stop was the Finnish side FC Kuusysi Lahti, with whom he won a domestic Cup Winner's medal in 1987. 

And along with ex-Magpie Kenny Mitchell, Todd appeared at Anfield in the final of the FA Sunday Cup in 1988 for the Wearside -based team Humbledon Plains Farm.

Late that year he signed for Whitley Bay, seeing his profile raised again when he made a return appearance on Match of the Day in December 1989, scoring Bay's second goal in a 2-0 FA Cup win over Preston at Hillheads.

A spell with Berwick Rangers followed and season 1990-91 saw him voted Scottish PFA Division Two Player of the Year.

A return to local non-league football in 1992 saw Todd link up with Bishop Auckland, moving on to Spennymoor United in 1996.

He later ran a sports trophy business on Wearside.

1960 Jamie Scott born, Newcastle. 
(1976-80)

Midfielder who was born locally but uprooted as a youngster when his pitman father was transferred to the Staffordshire coalfield. 

Jamie returned to the region and made his way through our junior set up, but had the misfortune to come into the team in the wretched relegation season of 1977/78.

Making two appearances in Division Two the following season, he moved on to play for Carlisle United and Torquay United.

He later turned out for Berwick Rangers, Ashington and Blyth Spartans while working in a stone supply business.

Living in Morpeth, Jamie remained involved in local sport, winning a UK Athletics Coach of the year award in 2006 for his work with young pole vaulters - a sport he gave up as a youngster in favour of football. 

1967 Death of Dick Keith, 33. Killed in an accident while dismantling a garage door in a builder's yard. (1956-64)

1993 Ben Robinson born, Manchester. 
(2009-11)

Goalkeeper who began his career at Flixton Juniors and later joined Stockport County's School of Excellence, before moving on to Liverpool at the age of 14. 

Signing for Newcastle in early 2009, Ben made his U18 debut in a 2-2 home draw with Sheffield United back in April of that year.

Vying with Jak Alnwick for the number one spot, Robinson graduated to the reserve squad during the 2010/11 season but was never called into action from the bench.

His final game was a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers U18s in April 2011, after which he returned to his native North West, with non-league Trafford FC.

2000 Otto Huuhtanen born, Tampere, Finland. (2016-19)

Initially playing football and ice hockey, goalkeeper Otto chose the former at the age of 12 and was capped at youth level by Finland.

Invited for a trial at Newcastle in July 2016 following a previous spell with Norwich City, the 16 year old impressed and a three year deal was soon agreed with his club FC Ilves.

Relocating to Tyneside in October of that year, a debut for the U18 side came during December 2016, Otto coming off the bench to replace injured custodian Ben Smith in a 2-1 victory at Wolves.

Given 45 minutes for the U23s in their first pre-season game at Darlington in July 2017, his first competitive reserve outing was also as a substitute, Brendan Pearson making way for him in a Premier League Cup tie at Swansea in early 2018. 

Taking over from Paul Woolston during a 1-5 reverse at Southampton soon after for his U23 league bow, Otto's first start saw him keep a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Colchester United days before turning 18.

Released in 2019, he returned to Finland with Helsinki-based HIFK and made his senior league debut in August 2020.

That proved to be his only outing for them however and following a loan move to MYPA, a permanent departure to FC Honka followed in early 2021.

2021 Death of Glenn Roeder, 65. (1983-88 player, 2006-07 Manager)

News of the unexpected passing of the former player and Manager due to a brain tumour was met with dismay by fans and those in the football world alike.

Among tributes was one from Roeder's assistant at SJP Nigel Pearson, who called him "a man with incredible integrity, humility, warmth, humour and humanity."

1876 William Graham Stewart born Glasgow, Scotland. (1901-03)

Scottish international winger who began his career at Third Lanark, moving on to Queens Park, where he scored in their 3-4 1900 Scottish FA Cup Final defeat by Celtic.

Joining United in the summer of 1901, Willie debuted in a 5-1 home win over Stoke that September, getting off the mark with both goals in a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa at Gallowgate the following April - although he had previously netted in the FA Cup. 

Helping the team finish third in his first season, Stewart was dropped midway through the following campaign and exited SJP following a disappointing 14th place.

NB: this wasn't the presenter of TV quiz show Fifteen to One or the Willie Stewart who had the best chip shop in Morpeth.... 

1984 Darren Ambrose born, Harlow.
(2003-05)

England U21 midfielder signed from Ipswich Town in March 2003, just days after the Portman Road club entered administration.

Ambrose had first come on to our radar in May 2001 when part of the Ipswich U17 side who beat their Newcastle counterparts 5-2 on aggregate in the league playoff final.

That came just days after Darren had made his senior debut as a substitute against Arsenal in the Premier League at Highbury.

Signed by Sir Bobby Robson in a £2.5m deal, Ambrose made his United debut in a reserve game against Manchester United at SJP and netted within half an hour. 

His senior bow for Newcastle came from the bench away at West Bromwich Albion on the final day of the 2002/03 season.

The following September then saw Darren mark his home debut by scoring against NAC Breda in a UEFA Cup tie, barely six minutes after coming on to replace Craig Bellamy.

That came in the 89th minute and his two other goals that season - at Leicester and Southampton - were 90th minute efforts.

However, the arrival of Graeme Souness as manager the following season saw Ambrose drop down the pecking order, with a mid- season injury hardly helping his cause.

Despite netting at Old Trafford and Craven Cottage on his return to the side in the closing weeks of the season (adding to a spectacular Boxing Day strike at Bolton), he was sold to Charlton in July 2005 for £1m.

Sent off at the mackems on his Addicks debut, Darren suffered relegation in May 2007 and was loaned back to former club Ipswich Town in November 2008.

However, he returned to the Valley a month later and suffered another relegation, this time down to League One - becoming a free agent at the end of the season.

Joining Crystal Palace on a free transfer, Darren's time at Selhurst Park saw him in the goalscoring form of his life, once netting in six successive matches.    

Sadly the second administration in his career saw the Eagles exchange playoff hopes for a relegation battle - with the player himself admitting that he felt "jinxed".

Narrow escapes from the dreaded drop came in both 2009/10 and 2010/11, with Darren returning to Tyneside as Neil Warnock's side were beaten during our "year out".

Warnock's subsequent departure to QPR was widely expected to see Ambrose relocate to Loftus Road but no move was concluded and he remained to help Palace enjoy a run to the League Cup semi-finals in 2011/12.

That included an eye-catching 2-1 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford that featured an unstoppable long range strike by Darren at the Stretford End.

Exiting Selhurst Park in July 2012, Darren signed for Birmingham City days after the appointment of Toon old boy Lee Clark.

Having only made a handful of appearances for Blues, he went out on loan to Greek side Apollon Smyrni in January 2014, scoring six times but failing to prevent relegation.

A free agent once again, he played for Colchester United in pre-season before re-joining Ipswich in September 2014.

However, that second spell at Portman Road was decimated by injury and he departed the following year, signing for Colchester and marking his debut with a goal against Blackpool in August 2015.

Following one season with the U's, Darren retired to pursue business interests including a barber's shop in Ipswich. He also worked as a pundit on Sky Sports and matchday host at Selhurst Park.