1943 Christopher Robin Anthony "Kit" Napier born, Dunblane, Scotland. 
(1965-66)

Striker who had brief spells at both Blackpool and Preston North End, before hitting form at Workington and signing for Newcastle for £18,000 in November 1965.

Debuting on the wing in a 2-0 home win over Blackpool shortly after signing, that would be the only time Kit finished on the winning side for United, his final senior outing a 0-2 loss at Roker Park during January 1966.

Having failed to make the step up from Division Three to the top flight, Napier agreed to drop back down two leagues in September 1966, Newcastle selling him to Brighton & Hove Albion for £8,500.

Kit would enjoy six seasons at the Goldstone Ground, finishing top scorer for five of them and playing over 250 games.

He's recalled as a cult figure by Seagulls loyalists, once scoring direct from a corner and also netting with an effort not unlike Dion Dublin's infamous robbing of Shay Given.

That saw him chosen appear on one of Albion's Hall of Fame display panels installed at the Amex Stadium in 2011.  

Electing to remain in third tier football with Blackburn Rovers after helping Brighton to promotion in 1972, Kit later emigrated to South Africa where he played for Durban United and worked in the motor trade.

Kit's death was reported in April 2019 in South Africa, aged 75.

1958 Kenny Sansom born, Camberwell, London. (1988-89)

An England international left back who began his career with Crystal Palace, Kenny arrived at United having lost his place in the Arsenal side to Nigel Winterburn.

In addition to the experience of 86 full caps and over 300 appearances for the Gunners in an eight year period though, Sansom also brought gambling and alcohol addictions with him to Tyneside, plus numerous creditors.  

Signed by Jim Smith along with fellow full back Ray Ranson in a desperate attempt to halt our slide out of the top-flight in the 1988/89, the pair made their debuts in a 2-1 Boxing Day victory at Sheffield Wednesday.

However that proved to be a rare high point for United and Sansom that season and following our relegation, he showed an unexpected turn of pace to leg it back to London and sign for QPR. 

Later spells at Coventry City, Everton, Brentford, Watford, Croydon, Chertsey and Slough Town then followed before "Mr Chablis" packed in playing and descended further into alcoholism.

Attending the Sporting Chance Clinic after encouragement from fellow former Gunner Tony Adams turned his life around - albeit with the legacy of diabetes from his past.

Sansom subsequently re-invented himself as a TV football pundit, matchday host at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and an after dinner speaker - with a noticeable absence of bookings from the Tyneside area.

Kenny disappeared from our screens before media reports in August 2013 revealed him to be homeless and sleeping rough as a result of his continued heavy drinking.  

The publicity attracted by his plight led to intervention from the PFA and a matchday hosting job at Crystal Palace as Sansom attempted to conquer his addiction. 

However, he would continue to make media headlines for the wrong reasons, 2020 seeing him hospitalised following a serious assault in a pub beer garden.

1971 Elena Marcelino born, Gijon, Spain.
(1999-2002)

Spanish international centre half signed by Ruud Gullit for £5.8m in June 1999 from Real Mallorca, intended to play alongside fellow new defensive arrival, Alain Goma.

Debuting on the same night as Kieron Dyer against Dutch minnows SV Deurne, Elena's competitive bow lasted just 45 minutes before he limped off with a thigh strain, as Newcastle lost 0-1 at home to Aston Villa and Alan Shearer was dismissed.

However, things rapidly descended into farce for "El Sicknote", whose miserable tally of appearances was due to an array of injuries  - infamously including a snapped finger tendon that kept him out for two months.

An exasperated Sir Bobby Robson never picked him again after a 0-2 loss at Charlton in February 2001 when the player barely broke into a trot - although yet again the player later claimed he'd been forced into playing when injured - a familiar refrain.

Marcelino's contract was eventually paid up by NUFC in 2003 and he left amid claims that Robson had deliberately tried to undermine his career because he'd been signed by Gullit - along with more than a suggestion of racism from the manager. 

He also memorably said of his former employers: "They called me a thieving Spaniard and a bloody gypsy who was robbing the club's cash."

Having played for Sporting Gijon and Real Mallorca before his Tyneside sojourn, he joined Second Division side Polideportivo Ejido in Spain for 18 months.

Becoming a TV pundit, he appearing as a Premier League expert (he had watched it as a spectator for almost four seasons...) 

Subsequently scouting for Liverpool during the reign of Rafa Benitez, Marcelino later became a FIFA-registered agent and was involved in Michael Laudrup's appointment as Swansea City manager in 2012.  

1972 Alan Neilson born, Wegburg, Germany. (1990-95)

Defender who was born on a military base in Germany and joined Newcastle, initially as a trialist in 1989 after writing to the club.

Handed his senior debut during one of Jim Smith's last games as managed - a 2-1 win at Watford in March 1991 - his only goal for the club came in a 1-2 defeat at Millwall the following September.

Part of the inexperienced linepup fielded by Ossie Ardiles alongside the likes of Lee Clark and Steve Watson, a first full cap for Wales followed in February 1992.

Neilson remained at the club under Kevin Keegan and provided centre half cover in our first two seasons of Premier League football, before signing for Southampton during the summer of 1995. 

Reunited with KK at Fulham two years later, he struggled with a foot problem and was released by the Cottagers in 2001, joining Grimsby Town.

Later spells at Luton Town, Tamworth and Salisbury City followed before Alan hung up his boots and returning to Luton in 2008. 

Joining the Kenilworth Road coaching staff, Neilson served in a variety of roles that included caretaker manager before his contract ended in the summer of 2013.

By December of that year he was back in work though, following former Hatters boss Richard Money to Cambridge United.

Leaving the U's in 2015, Alan became Development Coach at Norwich City, later taking charge of the club's U23 side.

1989 Ciaran Clark born, Harrow.
(2016-23)

United's seventh close season signing of 2016, defender Clark had spent his entire playing career at Aston Villa before opting to jump ship to another relegated club.

Joining Villa at the age of eleven, he made a senior debut in August 2009 and went on to rack up 159 appearances in all competitions - the last of which came against Newcastle at Villa Park in May 2016.

A respectable goal tally of ten included one against the Magpies at Gallowgate in 2012 and he wore the captain's armband at one stage of his Villans career. 

Representing England at youth level, Clark took advantage of his Irish parentage to play for Ireland, appearing twice at Euro 2016, to take his cap haul to 19.

His first United appearance saw him concede a penalty at home to Reading but he found the net during the 6-0 hammering of QPR at Loftus Road in September 2016.

Further goals followed against Brentford and Bristol City at SJP and he played an integral part in United's Championship success.

Retaining his starting place in the Premier League, an initial pairing with new arrival Florian Lejeune lasted only 35 minutes before the Frenchman was injured - opening the door for Ciaran to renew his partnership with Jamaal Lascelles.

It was a similar scenario at the start of the next season, Lejeune soon sidelined and Clark called upon and adding to his goals total with a header against Arsenal.

A succession of injuries hindered his availability in the latter part of 2018/19 and the following season was a mirror image - in and around the side and scoring the occasional goal but back on the treatment table for an extended period of time.

Amid speculation over his future as he entered the final year of his deal, in the event it was Lejeune who left on loan as Ciaran stayed, ending another prolonged absence when facing Blackburn Rovers in a League Cup tie in September 2020.

The following January saw Clark win a two year contract extension and he featured for Steve Bruce until the manager departed.

His career path under Eddie Howe was rather different, a senseless dismissal against Norwich City in November 2021 seeing him fall out of favour as the team began winning games in his absence.

A substitute appearance in the crucial win at Leeds early in 2022 failed to prevent his de-selection from the 25 man PL squad.

July saw Clark depart on a season-long loan move to Championship side Sheffield United - the conclusion of which would see him enjoy free agent status.

Making ten appearances and netting twice as the Blades gained promotion, Clark wasn't offered a contract.

He joined Stoke City in October 2023 on a one-year deal but only played three times and left at the end of the season.

Attending a PFA-sponsored pre-season training camp in both summer 2024 and 2025, Ciaran remains a free agent. 

1991 Paul Dummett born, Newcastle.
(2008-24)

Defender who first played for United's junior sides aged nine and broke into the U18s in the early weeks of the 2008/09 season.

A reserve debut followed in a 2-1 victory over the mackems at Eppleton in January 2009, scoring his first goal at that level against Huddersfield Town in April 2010.

Having played for the first team in the pre-season game at Darlington in July 2011, Dummy then joined the reserve tour of Holland - only to be hastily called up as cover for the senior side in the USA.

That meant him jetting over Amsterdam to Columbus in time for him to play 36 minutes at centre half in the 3-0 win over Crew. 

Paul then made a brief appearance from the bench in the friendly defeat at Leeds United, before a first competitive squad selection saw him named as an unused substitute for a 4-3 Carling Cup win at Nottingham Forest.

Loaned to Gateshead in March 2012, the following season saw a temporary switch to SPL St. Mirren before a return to Tyneside for a senior bow in Newcastle's FA Cup loss at Brighton in January 2013.

Paul returned to the Paisley club and collected a League Cup winners' medal after a 3-2 victory over Hearts at Hampden Park.

A Premier League debut from the bench in a 0-4 loss at Manchester City in August 2013,  the start of a season that saw him sharing left back duties for the first team with Davide Santon and Massadio Haidara.

If the high point was scoring his first senior goal with a crafty run and finish against Liverpool, then a red card within five minutes of taking to the field in the return at Anfield was a low - although it was later rescinded. 

Scoring the winner at Crystal Palace in the Capital One Cup in September 2014, he was sidelined through injury from the following January, coming back for the final four games to help United avoid relegation.

Missing the opening months of the following season, Dummy returned to be a regular selection at left back under both Steve McClaren and Rafa Benitez.

Remaining at Gallowgate after relegation he began the 2016/17 season in the side, with Massadio Haidara still sidelined and new arrival Achraf Lazaar used sparingly.

44 starts and one sub appearance made Paul United's most frequent performer during the promotion season, although he failed to add to his club goal tally.

Remaining on the bench at Bristol City denied him a full set of games, while a red card at Nottingham Forest that was rescinded saw him avoid serving a suspension.

Selected for United's top-flight return, Paul lasted just seven minutes though before injury forced him off against Spurs and sidelined him for four months.

Regaining his place and seeing off the challenge of loan acquisition Antonio Barreca in the latter part of the 2018/19 season, Dummy then battled for the left back spot with Jetro Willems following the arrival of Steve Bruce.

In classic Magpies style though, both were seriously injured in successive league games during January 2020 - a hamstrung Dummett omitted from the PL squad for the second half of that season, while Danny Rose was hastily borrowed from Spurs.

Since then his spells in the first team were brief due to a series of injuries, although he impressed Eddie Howe enough to earn a 12 month contract extension in May 2022 and another the following year.

He was released by the club in Summer 2024, having signed off at SJP with an 89th minute substitute outing against Spurs that April and a similarly brief outing in the season closer at Brentford.

Dummett joined Wigan Athletic in November 2024 but only played three times before signing a short-term contract at Carlisle United where he also only played three times and failed to prevent their relegation from League Two.

Recognised by Wales at both U18 and U19 level, Dummy's first U21 cap was against Austria in November 2010.

And after a place on the bench for the seniors against Serbia in September 2013, a first full cap came against the Dutch in June 2014.

Further fitness problems then delayed his second cap until November 2015, when he again came off the bench against Holland - this time at Cardiff's ground.

Making himself unavailable for selection while Chris Coleman was in charge, a reversal of that decision followed the installation of Ryan Giggs as national team boss.

Returning in a Nations Cup home tie against Ireland during September 2018, Paul then started a game for the first time when facing Denmark in Cardiff two months later. 

His fifth cap then came against Trinidad & Tobago at Wrexham in March 2019, with an omission from the squad for games during the following September confirmed by Giggs to be the player's own choice in order to try and maintain his fitness for club football.

Those five caps totalled 140 minutes.

1993 Marcus Maddison born, Trimdon.
(2010-12)