1906 John McCurley born, Kelty, Scotland. (1927-30)

Newcastle's efforts to strengthen their side in the first half of the 1927/28 season took them to Glasgow and Third Lanark's inside left "Jock" McCurley.

The 21 year old was also coveted by Chelsea, Huddersfield Town, Manchester United, Boro, Notts County and The Wednesday (later Sheffield Wednesday).

However the Magpies got their man for £2,500 after seeing him score twice against Arbroath in December 1927.

"Jock" made his bow in a 1-4 FA Cup loss at Blackburn Rovers soon after, marking his home debut a month later with a goal during a 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers - playing several reserve games during the intervening period.

Making the bulk of his first team appearances in the 1928/29 campaign, McCurley played less the following season as United declined from 10th to 19th and avoided relegation by a single point.

Returning to Scotland with East Fife, Jock subsequently played for Cowdenbeath.

He was living in the Morpeth area at the time of his death in 1969.

1948 Death of Jack Carr, 71. 
(1897-1912)

1960 Pat Heard born, Hull. (1984-85)

Midfielder who began his career as an apprentice at Everton, appearing for their first team briefly before signing for Aston Villa at the age of 19.

A former England youth international, Pat's medal-winning but non-playing subs role for Villa in the 1982 European Cup Final victory over Bayern Munich is a football quiz staple.

Joining Sheffield Wednesday in January 1983, he followed Manager Jack Charlton to SJP the following season in a part-exchange deal that saw John Ryan and £50K go to the Owls. 

Pat debuted at home in a 1-1 draw against West Ham in September 1984 netting against Ipswich Town at Gallowgate a week later.

Described by Charlton as "not a spectacular player, but one who will definitely strengthen our team," Heard was never a fan favourite and few tears were shed when he followed Jackie out of the exit door during August 1985, joining the Smoggies. 

Later moves took him on to hometown club Hull City, Rotherham United, Cardiff City and finally back to The Tigers before retiring in 1993 after a stint out in Brunei.

Heard later worked as an FA Coach, publican and also appeared under the name of "Patrick Stewart, stage hypnotist & illusionist" - a somewhat kinder re-branding than "fat turd", as some Newcastle fans referred to him.

More recently he appeared as a local radio and TV pundit in the West Midlands and reportedly qualified as a driving instructor.

1988 Fraser Forster born, Hexham.
(2004-12)

Goalkeeper who was still a schoolboy when he came off the bench to replace Adam Bartlett for our U18s in December 2004.
 
A reserve debut followed in February 2006 and Fraser was on the bench in the UEFA Cup at Eintracht Frankfurt later that year.

Featuring in the matchday squad for several Premier League games without being called into action, he appeared in pre-season against both Hartlepool and Real Mallorca ahead of the 2008/09 season.

A loan move to Stockport County in October 2008 then saw him make his competitive debut, in a 0-1 reverse at Bury in the Football League Trophy.

Beginning the following season on loan at Bristol Rovers, Fraser then switched over to Norwich City and quickly established himself as their first-choice custodian.

With the security of a new contract at SJP he stayed with the Canaries until the end of the season, playing a significant part in their promotion from League One. 

Behind both Steve Harper and Tim Krul in the pecking order for the 2010/11 season, it had inevitable that Fraser would return to Carrow Road on loan.

However Celtic outbid them and he kept a clean sheet on his debut in August 2010, in a 1-0 success at Motherwell.  

Despite a red card in an Old Firm game at Ibrox, Fraser became a popular and pivotal figure for Neil Lennon's side, ending the season with a Scottish FA Cup winner's medal against Motherwell.

Returning to Tyneside, Fraser appeared for United in pre-season games at Darlington and Orlando (on the club's USA tour).

However it was a game at Elland Road that shaped Forster's future, his first touch of the ball seeing him mishandle a free kick and give Leeds their opening goal in a 3-2 friendly victory.

The following weekend saw him replace Tim Krul at half time in a home friendly against Fiorentina, but that was called off on 63 minutes due to the heavy rain that made conditions farcical.

Within a fortnight Forster was back at Celtic on loan, making his second Hoops debut in a Europa League tie with FC Sion. 

Under contract at SJP until 2014, a £2.5m transfer to Parkhead came in July 2012, by which time he owned an SPL winner's medal.

October 2012 then saw Fraser receive a first international call-up, joining Roy Hodgson's senior England squad and sitting on the bench for World up Qualifiers against San Marino and Poland.

A first international cap came in a friendly against Chile in November 2013 and in February 2014 he beat several clean sheet records, by not conceding for 13 games playing for Celtic.

That shutout sequence finally ended when Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes beat Forster, ending an amazing 1,256 minute run.

Ending his time in Scotland during August 2014, Southampton paid £10m for his services - with the insertion of a sell-on clause netting the Magpies £2.5m.

In only his fifth competitive outing for the Saints, Fraser had virtually nothing to do in a 4-0 home win over Newcastle - only marginally more tested in January 2015 when Southampton won 2-1 at SJP.

A broken kneecap that kept him out for ten months but a return to first team action in January 2016 saw him set a Saints record of six consecutive shut-outs.

Despite signing a new five year deal ahead of the 2017/18 season, Fraser lost his place in the side after a 0-5 loss to Spurs on Boxing Day that year and was relegated to bench duty from then on.

Returning for a solitary outing in May 2019, he was persuaded to rejoin former boss Neil Lennon on loan at Celtic the following season.

Rumoured to be rejoining Celtic, Fraser stayed a Saint and after Alex McCarthy tested positive for COVID, made a memorable return in January 2021 with a clean sheet against Champions Liverpool.

He was on the bench for their visit to Tyneside in the 2021/22 season, facing the Magpies in the return game at St. Mary's Stadium when memorably beaten by Bruno Guimaraes' back-heel.

An unexpected switch to Tottenham Hotspur came in June 2022 and following an injury to Hugo Lloris, Fraser had a spell in the first team in February 2023.

1992 Michael Richardson born, Newcastle.
(2010-14)

Midfielder who made a belated start to life at Newcastle, playing for Walker Central and working as an apprentice electrician for Newcastle City Council before a successful Toon trial in 2010.

Appearing for the U18s and reserves, Michael operated as a box to box midfielder but also deputised at full back.

An unused substitute for a Premier League visit to Fulham in February 2011, Michael went on loan to League One side Leyton Orient.

Debuting at Walsall in August 2011, his first senior start was eventful; scoring at Southend in a League Cup tie before missing a penalty in a shootout.

Sidelined through injury after reurning to Tyneside, a further loan to League Two Gillingham followed in March 2013.

Following trials at Birmingham City and St. Mirren, Michael spent the first half of the 2013/14 season on loan at League Two Accrington Stanley.

Back on Tyneside his final outing in a Toon shirt saw him net at SJP during a 4-0 win over Blyth Spartans in the Northumberland Senior Cup Final.

Beginning the following season on trial at Hibernian, Blyth was Michael's next destination, coming off the bench during memorable FA Cup ties against Hartlepool United and Birmingham City.

Signing for Northern League South Shields in 2016, he appeared as a substitute in their 4-0 FA Vase Final win over Cleethorpes at Wembley Stadium in 2017.

Released by the Mariners in 2018, Richardson joined Hebburn Town, scoring at Wembley in May 2021 as they beat Consett 3-2 in the FA Vase Final.

Off the field, Michael gained his UEFA A Licence and coached at both New College Durham and Newcastle United Foundation.
 
January 2021 found him back at United when appointed as kitman, working with the reserves and senior side.

He also continued playing at non-league level with Newcastle Blue Star and West Allotment Celtic.

1993 Dan Taylor born, Newcastle.
(2009-12)