1915 Norman Wisdom born, London. 

Toon sympathiser of long-standing who attributed his liking for the club to the influence of a Geordie he met in the army.

Norman passed away in October 2010 after years of ailing health, rumours of his death in December 2008 (Sky news running a pre-prepared obituary) a tad premature.

1938 Dave Hollins born, Bangor, Wales. (1961-67)  

Goalkeeper who began his career at minor league club Merrow (in Surrey) and whose father was a custodian for Wolves.

Signed from Brighton and Hove Albion (where he once conceded nine goals in a game), whose debut came in a 2-1 win over Spurs at White Hart Lane in March 1961, saving a penalty from Danny Blanchflower.

However, United were still relegated that season and Dave won the first of his 11 full international caps for Wales in 1962 against Brazil as a Division Two player.

Possibly his finest game was a 0-0 draw at Roker Park in March 1963, when Hollins saved a spot kick from Stan Anderson and then heroically denied George Herd, Nick Sharkey and Johnny Crossan.

Moving to Mansfield Town in 1966, Dave was loaned to Nottingham Forest and later playing for Aldershot Town and Romford.

After ending his playing career he worked as a painter and decorator in the Guildford area, relocating to Sussex where he continued to play indoor bowls.

2022 saw the publication of a biography "Eric and Dave", profiling Hollins and his lifelong friend Eric Gill - who was Dave's predecessor as Brighton goalkeeper.

PS: Dave skippered United against Chelsea in 1965, leading the side out alongside brother John who captained the Blues.

1951 Billy Yeats born, Hebburn
(1971-72)

Striker whose prowess for North Shields saw him pursued by the mackems, Leicester City, Hartlepool United and Reading before he signed for Newcastle during April 1971. 

Billy made a scoring debut for Newcastle's reserve side against Wolves in August 1971 and netted a total of nine goals in Central League games.

However, he failed to impress boss Joe Harvey and when first team striking cover was required, United chose to complete a loan deal for Luton Town's Viv Busby.

Made available for transfer, there was talk of a move to Workington in early 1972 and a friendly match was arranged at Borough Park that January for Yeats to play against the hosts for a Newcastle XI. 

However, nothing came of that and instead, he joined York City for £2,000 that March.

Moving on to Darlington the following year, Billy walked out on the Quakers following a dispute with the manager in February 1975, signing for North Shields later that year. 

His death was reported in December 2013.

1953 Alan Shoulder born, Bishop Auckland. (1978-82)

Although it was only in December 1978, the tale of Alan Shoulder's belated introduction to professional football seems to have come from another age.

A 25 year-old pitman (working at Horden Colliery after previous shifts at Fishburn and East Hetton), Shoulder also played for both Blyth Spartans and Coundon club, having previously been at Bishop Auckland.

Standing at just 5"5', Alan's rise came about as a consequence of Blyth's run to the FA Cup Fifth Round in the previous 1977/78 campaign.

Watched by Newcastle boss Bill McGarry on the recommendation of Jackie Milburn in an FA Cup First Round replay at home to York City, Alan scored twice as Blyth lost 3-5.

Summoned to SJP, Shoulder agreed a deal on the Monday, signed in a £20,000 transfer on the Tuesday, trained with his new team mates on the Wednesday and debuted against Stoke on the Saturday.

Partnering Peter Withe, he scored his first goal at Fulham in his second game and went on to become a crowd favourite.

Injury and a loss of form disrupted the latter part of Alan's time at Gallowgate, the majority of his appearances in the 1981/82 season coming from the bench.

Making a free transfer switch to Carlisle United in June 1982 amid interest from Darlington, Shoulder had a successful spell under the guidance of manager Bob Stokoe and player/coach Tommy Craig.

Netting on his SJP return in 1983 as the Cumbrians drew 2-2, Alan repeated the feat at Brunton Park later that year as Carlisle beat the Magpies 3-1. He then missed a penalty at Gallowgate in April 1983 as Newcastle won 5-1 to make promotion a near-certainty. 

Leaving Carlisle in 1985 with 33 goals from 122 games, a switch to Hartlepool United followed until his retirement in 1988.

Returning to the non-league with Ferryhill Athletic, Alan managed or coached at Gretna, Blyth Spartans, Crook Town, Blue Star, Coundon, Stanley United, Bishop Auckland, Willington and West Auckland.

A brief stint in charge of Brandon United then came in 2005 in tandem with fellow former Magpie Steve Howey.

Sent off aged 47 for fighting while playing for Stanley United against Dunston Fed, Shoulder appeared in the Northern League for Willington at the ripe old age of 50.

Away from football, Shoulder worked in the family egg business at Leasingthorne, near Bishop Auckland.

His death was reported in early February 2025, days before his 72nd birthday.

1982 Kevin Gall born, Merthyr, Wales.
(1997-2001)

Welsh youth international striker who had been with Cardiff City as a schoolboy and cost the Magpies £50,000 in compensation when he moved to Tyneside.

Impressing at U17 and U19 level, Gall came to prominence in the FA Youth Cup during the 1999/00 season and broke into the Magpies reserve side.

A memorable appearance came in a victory over the mackems at Kingston Park in April 2000, when Kevin produced an acrobatic scissors kick soon after arriving as a sub.

A month later, he scored again as Newcastle Blue Star were beaten 4-1 in the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup at Kingston Park.

However, Gall failed to establish himself in the second string the following season, with the likes of Shola Ameobi, James Coppinger and Pablo Bonvin ahead of him.

Following his release from SJP in March 2001, Kevin joined Bristol Rovers after impressing the Pirates during FA exit trials at Lilleshall.

Dropping to the Conference with Yeovil Town in 2003, Gall's prolific scoring helped the Glovers into the Football League that season and they went on to win the League Two title at the first attempt.

Moving on to Carlisle United in the summer of 2006, Kevin spent three years at Brunton Park but was in and out of the team and loaned out at various times to Darlington, Lincoln City and Port Vale.

Having had an unsuccessful try-out with John Carver's Toronto MLS side, summer 2009 saw Gall a free agent and after a trial with former club Yeovil, had spells at both Darlington and York City.

Later appearing for Wrexham, Workington, Guiseley and Stockport Sports, 2011 saw Kevin found the pass2pro youth football scouting initiative. 

1992 Death of Alan Davies, 30. (1985-87) An inquest later recorded a suicide verdict. 

1997 Callum Williams born, Bishop Auckland (2013-18)  

Central defender with Wallsend Boys Club before signing for Newcastle as part of the 2013 Academy intake.

Debuting at U18 level during a 0-6 home defeat by Manchester City the following October, Callum had just made one more substitute appearance when the call came from the reserves in February 2014.

And he showed his maturity despite his side losing 0-2 to Leicester City at Whitley Park - the first of nine U21 games in a season that ended with a Northumberland Senior Cup winners medal.

Playing regularly for the reserves, Callum was loaned to National League Gateshead in August 2017 and after a brief spell back he returned there on loan in January 2018.

However, he managed just a trio of games for the Tynesiders second time round, returning to Newcastle and leaving at the conclusion of the season.

July 2018 then saw Callum join non-league outfit Spennymoor Town before moving on to Morpeth Town in November 2019.

He left the Highwaymen in June 2021 to "develop his business interests".

1998 Stefan Broccoli born, Peterborough (2014-17)

United completed the signing of midfielder Stefan following a successful trial in 2013, coming after his release by Arsenal.

Stefan - who has an Italian grandfather - then made a scoring debut for the U18s in a 1-2 loss at Norwich City in April 2014.

Sidelined through injury at the start of the 2014/15 season, Stefan was promoted to the U21s for a series of friendlies.

And after netting at Consett in October 2014, he notched a 14 minute hat trick against Wallsend Boys Club days later.

Introduced from the bench in a Senior Cup tie against Team Northumbria in November 2014, Stefan netted and then made his league bow as a substitute in a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers a month later.

Returning to the U18 side, injury sidelined Broccoli until late 2015 when he had a brief runout in a kickabout against Berwick Rangers - and soon found the net.

However, fitness problems continued to dog Stefan and he managed only a handful of further reserve appearances - the last coming in a Premier League Cup tie against Swansea City in September 2016.

Released in summer 2017, Broccoli joined non-league St. Neots Town, later playing for Italian lower league sides Scandicci, VF Colligiana (loan), Ghiviborgo, Miniato Basso and Lornano Badesse.

Returning to the UK with Spalding United, on a free in July 2021, he then signed for Cambridge City in July 2023 but had departed by the following summer.