1956 Colin Ayre born, Ashington
(1973-75)

Winger who failed to make a competitive senior appearance for Newcastle, moving to Holland following his release by United.

After a season at Telstar, Colin returned to England with Torquay United but found games hard to come by at Plainmoor and joined hometown club Ashington before a spell at Blyth Spartans.

A longer second stint with Telstar followed in 1978, before Ayre moved on to Austria, appearing for Wacker Innsbruck and SPG Raika Innsbruck.

Returning to the North East, he embarked on an elongated spell in local football that saw him playing Sunday League aged 50.

Among his clubs were North Shields, Newbiggin Dolphins, Bedlington Terriers, Whitley Bay, South Bank, North Shields, Morpeth Town, Newbiggin CW, Morpeth St.Georges and Morpeth Wansbeck.

Colin's death was reported during September 2023.

1949 Graham Oates born, Bradford.
(1976-78)

The original "Titus" was primarily a midfielder although he also appeared at centre forward and in defence - when he played at all.

Beginning his career with Manningham Mills in his home town, Graham was signed by Bradford City in 1970.

Next stop was Blackburn Rovers in an exchange deal with Don Hutchins and £10K.

From there he was acquired two years later by Newcastle (in a joint deal with 'keeper Roger Jones) by his former Ewood Park boss Gordon Lee.

After two unused substitute appearances, Graham debuted from the bench during a 4-3 home loss to Manchester United - with two of the Red's goals coming courtesy of own goals from John Bird and Pat Howard.

A full debut followed in a 1-1 draw at Coventry before the moment that was to shape his Magpies career came in his next appearance.

After just four minutes of his first home start against Leeds, Oates (playing in defence in place of Howard) contrived to register an own goal, beating his own 'keeper Mick Mahoney from fully 25 yards.

Newcastle went on to lose the game 3-2 - although Oates only transgressed once, not twice as a certain former playing colleague of his routinely asserts in talk-ins to this day (for the record, Carl Harris and Trevor Cherry were the other Leeds scorers).

That own goal and some unimpressive displays saw him fall foul of a section of the SJP crowd - who weren't impressed when Lee publicly complained about his treatment.

Oates lingered on for a year after his mentor departed for Everton but was mainly used as a substitute during the dreadful 1977/78 season that ended with our relegation.

Spells in the USA with Detroit Express and California Surf were followed by a brief return to Valley Parade in 1982, after which Oates played and managed at local non-league level in West Yorkshire.

1987 saw him appear at Scarborough and the following year he took charge at Gainsborough Trinity.

And Graham continued to play for the Whetley Lane veterans side in Bradford beyond his 50th birthday. 

1975 Stephen Harper born, Easington, Durham. (1993-2013, coach 2016-19, 2019-present)

Originally a striker, Steve had only recently switched to the goalkeeping position when joining Newcastle in July 1993 - rejecting an earlier opportunity of a trial at Ipswich Town.

A senior debut came while on loan to Bradford City in 1995, while he also had temporary spells at Gateshead, Hartlepool United and Huddersfield Town (a further loan, to Rotherham United, was curtailed when the Millers miscalculated their loan quota and had to return Steve without playing him).   

Harper's Magpies bow came in a home win over Wimbledon in November 1998 when coming on to replace Shay Given - Duncan Ferguson also debuting that day. 

Although selected for the FA Cup Final the following May, Steve subsequently lost out on a starting place to Given and was restricted to occasional cup outings.

That included starts against Juventus and Dynamo Kiev in the 2002/03 Champions League, but even those declined - 2005/06 seeing him play just once in the first team, against Dubnica in the Intertoto Cup.

Steve then wrote his name in club history in November 2006, saving Jordan Stewart's spot kick during a penalty shootout to beat Watford in a League Cup tie - the club's first ever competitive sudden death success. 

Although frequently linked with moves, Harper remained in Toon and the sale of Shay Given in January 2009 saw him finally become first-choice custodian - and taking possession of the number one shirt.

Unable to prevent United slipping out of the top flight, the 2009/10 campaign saw Steve start every Championship game, standing aside at QPR on the last day of the season to give Tim Krul his chance. 

A nasty shoulder injury at Goodison Park, following a rash challenge by Everton's Jermaine Beckford, kept Harper out of the side's return to the Premier League but once he had recovered, Krul made way for Steve to resume between the sticks.

A combination of injury and Krul's fine form restricted Steve's appearances in 2011/12 and he spent a month on loan at Brighton, making five appearances for the Championship side.

With the arrival of Rob Elliot threatening Harper's place in the Magpies squad, the early part of the 2012/13 season saw him make seven further appearances, although a knee problem sidelined him when injury ruled out Tim Krul in early 2013 - resulting in bench duty for rookie Jak Alnwick.

Elliot's dismissal during United's penultimate game of the season at QPR then saw an unlikely return to the side for Harps and he took to the field for a dramatic final appearance at St. James' Park against Arsenal amid scenes of great emotion.

Joining newly-promoted Hull City during the close season, Steve returned to SJP in September for a testimonial match against AC Milan Glorie, an assortment of former players and colleagues gathering before 50,000 fans in a charity fundraiser.

Steve was on the bench for the Tigers at SJP ten days later and again when United visited Humberside in March 2014.

Deputising for Allan McGregor in a 5-3 FA Cup Semi-Final win over Sheffield United later that season, Harper remained on the  bench at Wembley as Hull were beaten 3-2 by Arsenal in the Final. 

However, he did make enough senior team starts to trigger an automatic one year contract extension at the KC Stadium.

March 2015 then found him turning 40 as one of the unused Hull substitutes for a 0-0 draw away at Leicester City.

Harps was released by the Tigers two months later, joining the mackems as cover the following January.

However, he failed to make a single senior appearance for the red and whites before leaving at the end of that season.

Returning to SJP as an Academy coach in August 2016, Steve continued to work as a media pundit and referee's assessor also studying for a Sport Directorship qualification at Manchester Metropolitan University.

In March 2019, Northern Ireland boss and ex-Magpie, Michael O'Neill appointed Steve to his coaching staff while still retaining his role working with NUFC Academy goalkeepers.

Harper followed fellow old boys Willie McFaul, Dave Beasant and Tommy Wright in holding that international post.

Stepping down from his role at Newcastle's Academy that May, by November 2019 he was back at SJP, joining Steve Bruce's staff - although not as specific first team goalkeeping coach.

Switching to a position liaising between the senior and development squads, 2021 brought a further change of role - taking interim charge of the Academy - a position that was made permanent that July.

In September 2023 Steve suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage - a rare stroke caused by bleeding on the surface of the brain. Happily, he made a full recovery.

PS: July 2007 saw Steve reprise his previous outfield role when appearing as a late sub in a home friendly against Celtic. 

Wearing a hastily-printed number 13 shirt, Harper replaced Nicky Butt after 80 minutes - with United having used all of their subs except him and Krul.

1990 Tamas Kadar born Veszprém, Hungary. (2008-12)

Left-sided defender who was signed from  Zalaegerszegi in his native Hungary after a short trial in December 2007 (also training with Bolton Wanderers while in England).

Although scouted while Sam Allardyce was in charge at SJP, Kevin Keegan had taken over by the time Tamas made his competitive debut for the club in a reserve win at the smoggies in January 2008.   

Previously capped by the Magyars at U19 and U21 level, Tamas was called into the senior squad in May 2008, but failed to play after aggravating a knee problem in training (he finally made a full international debut against Lithuania in 2011).

After his bid for fitness was hindered by a hamstring strain, Tamas returned to reserve action in November 2008, playing for a spell in the left back position. 

Forcing his way into the first team squad, another injury blow came when he sustained a broken leg in a reserve match against the mackems in January 2009. 

That sidelined Tamas for the rest of the season, but he resumed playing in when United began their pre-season programme away at Shamrock Rovers in July 2009. 

A competitive senior debut at home to Huddersfield Town in the Carling Cup then followed a month later and a Championship bow as a late substitute against Leicester City on the last day of August.

The 2010/11 season saw two Carling Cup appearances for Tamas before a loan spell was agreed with Lee Clark's Huddersfield Town in January 2011.

After just two games at left back for the League One side however, injury forced Kadar back to Tyneside for treatment.

2011/12 saw Tamas on the fringes of the first team squad again but despite injuries and suspensions he wasn't selected and became a free agent in summer 2012.

After leaving United, Kadar had a brief trial at Portsmouth, before joining Dutch club Roda JC after a successful trial. 

Loaned to Hungarians Diósgyőri VTK in 2013 a permanent transfer later followed but by January 2015 Tamas was on the move again - joining Poles Lech Poznan. 

Another January transfer window switch came in 2017, signing a four year deal at Ukrainianside Dynamo Kiev.

2020 saw Kadar was off to pastures new, joining Shandong Luneng Taishan in China. A subsequent loan switch then took him to fellow Super League side Tianjin Tigers. 

Returning to Hungary in early 2022 with Ujpest, further moves took him to Paksi and then MTK in his home country. 

1991 Facundo Ferreyra born, Lomas de Zamora, Argentina. (2014-15)