1880 Albert Gosnell born, Colchester.
(1904-10 player, 1919-21 trainer)

Gosnell was signed from Chatham and debuted in a 3-0 home victory over Middlesbrough in November 1904, inheriting the winger's shirt from Bobby Templeton. 

Netting his first goal two weeks later against Bury at SJP, Albert was a regular starter in both the 1905 & 1907 Championship-winning sides - also playing in United's FA Cup Final losses at Crystal Palace in 1905 & 1906.

Winning a single England cap in 1908, what proved to be Gosnell's final outing for Newcastle was a 3-4 home defeat by Manchester United in February 1910.

Moving on to Spurs, Albert later featured both for Darlington and Port Vale, before making a return to Newcastle during 1919 as an assistant trainer.

Leaving SJP for the second time in 1921 when appointed Norwich City Manager, Gosnell subsequently worked as Colchester Town trainer and became a licensee in Norwich. He died in January 1972.

1903 Edmund "Eli" Wood born, Stirchley, Birmingham. (1928-30)

Having played for Redditch, Northampton Town and Birmingham City, United paid £750 to sign Ed from Rhyl Athletic in 1928.

However, the centre half had an inauspicious debut in defence in a 2-7 home defeat at the hands of Burnley in August 1928. 

After two further first team appearances, Wood found himself replaced when United turned to Burnley's Jack Hill.

Featuring only occasionally from that point onwards, Eli's final senior game came in a 1-1 home draw with Birmingham in April 1930.

He later returned for a third spell with Rhyl after appearing for Wellington Town and Runcorn.

Becoming a fireman in Northampton after hanging up his boots, Wood's death was recorded there during June 1986.

1950 Keith Dyson born, Blackhill, Durham.
(1967-71)

Striker who came through the youth setup at Gallowgate and signed his first professional contract in August 1968.  

Making his senior team debut in a 2-2 home draw with Spurs the following month, Keith's first goal came in his third game - against Nottingham Forest at Meadow Lane (The City Ground was closed due to fire damage). 

That season also saw Dyson make four appearances in the Fairs Cup campaign, while he netted against both Dundee United and Anderlecht as we attempted to defend our European crown in 1969/70. 

Keith departed for Blackpool in October 1971, after Seasiders boss Bob Stokoe insisted on him being part of the deal that took Tony Green from Bloomfield Road to Tyneside.

Forced into retirement with knee problems in 1976, Dyson was awarded a testimonial against Stoke City in December of that year. 

He made a comeback some three years later with Lancaster City, also serving as their manager - joined there by his former Tangerine colleague, Alan Suddick. 

Keith later lived in Slaley.

1945 David Elliott born, Tantobie, Durham. (1966-71)

Midfielder signed from the mackems at a cost of £10,000, having come through the ranks at Roker Park - although he had begun his career with Gateshead. 

Arriving at SJP, along with fellow new boys John McNamee and Tommy Robson, Dave
made his debut on the last day of 1966 with United rock bottom of Division One.

That game ended in a 0-4 loss to Spurs at White Hart Lane, but his efforts helped United to maintain top flight status.

Making three appearances in the successful 1968/69 Fairs Cup campaign (and one the following season), Dave's final outing in a Newcastle shirt came at home to Ipswich Town in November 1970. 

Moving on to Southend United the following January, he had spells as player-manager of Newport County and Bangor City (twice) - leading the latter to the 1984 FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium (where they drew 1-1 before losing a replay to Northwich Victoria).

Elliott then coached at Cardiff City and took charge of Caernarfon Town. His self-named sports shop can still be found on the main street in Bangor, North Wales.

1964 Michael Dudley Hooper born, Bristol.
(1993-96)  

Signed from Liverpool for £550K to replace the departed Tommy Wright, Mike took over as our first-choice goalkeeper initially, but a number of errors saw Pavel Srnicek return.  

Kevin Keegan took issue with the stick that Hooper took from some sections of the SJP crowd, even threatening to resign over it.

However, he also sought to augment his goalkeeper options, firstly with a move for Brad Friedel that stalled over work permit problems and then by signing Shaka Hislop.

Hooper went on loan to the mackems in the 1995/96 but never played a game for them.

Never conforming to the stereotype of footballers, Hooper holds an English Language Degree and is a self-confessed 'twitcher'.

Refusing requests for interviews since his retirement in 1996, Hooper reportedly worked as a Bettaware salesman and pub doorman in the Durham City area.

One post-match incident involving Hoops is recalled here.

1994 Miguel Almiron born, Asuncion, Paraguay. (2019-25)

Arriving for a then-record transfer fee claimed to be £20.7m on the final day of the January 2019 window, "Miggy" had built his reputation in two seasons in the USA at Atlanta United that included a MLS Cup success.

The Paraguayan international winger/forward was the second player from that country to join United, after fellow Asuncion native Diego Gavilan in 2000.

Beginning his playing career at Cerro Porteno, Almiron left Paraguay in 2015 for Argentinean side Atletico Lanus, helping them to clinch the Premera Division.

Although not finding the net in England, Miggy's initial impact was tangible and his popularity on Tyneside was almost instant.

Part of a front trio with Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon, they helped United to 21 points from the last 13 games, comfortably avoiding relegation.

However, under Steve Bruce, the pressure of not scoring seemed to affect his game until breaking his duck at the 27th time of asking with a late winner at home to Crystal Palace before Christmas.

Three goals in as many games - one in each of the Rochdale FA Cup ties and one at Wolves - put Miggy one behind top scorer Jonjo Shelvey and he ended the season in pole position with eight.

Five more followed before his 27th birthday with a memorable match-winning brace against Southampton - United finishing an epic 3-2 victory with nine men.

Miggy's start to the 2022/23 season was remarkable, finding the net nine times and receiving numerous awards for his goals and performances as United made it into the top four and then the final of the League Cup.

There were strong rumours of a move to Saudi side Al-Shabab FC in the January 2024 transfer window but he remained on Tyneside.

However, he left the club in January 2025 and re-joined Atlanta in the MLS for a reported fee of around £11m.

1997 Adam Armstrong born, Newcastle. (2012-18)

Involved with the Magpies since the age of nine, striker Adam made his U18 debut in a 0-4 home loss to Spurs in August 2012.

Netting the following week in a 1-2 defeat at Southampton, within a month he'd made an international bow for England U16s.

Scoring six goals in his first U18 season the next season saw promotion to United's U21 squad and a goal in each of his first three league outings.

For England he was also prolific, with seven goals in just five U17 games - although he was denied one other cap when called into Newcastle's first team squad for the League Cup tie at Morecambe in August 2013.

He failed to make the bench that night, but was named among the substitutes in the Premier League for the first time at Norwich City the following January.

That followed further goal feats: a brace in the Youth Cup at Barnsley, two against the mackems and two in the U21 Cup against Leicester City helping to 20 for the season.

Celebrating his 17th birthday with his first professional contract at United, just a month later Adam experienced a memorable week culminating in a senior club debut.

Collecting the Wor Jackie trophy at the Sport Newcastle awards, he scored against Chelsea at SJP in the FA Youth Cup 24 hours later and was picked by England U17s.

Armstrong came off the bench in the closing stages of a 0-1 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage in March 2014, becoming the club's youngest-ever player in the Premier League in the process.

After three more subs outings that season, Adam was on the plane for United's pre-season trip to New Zealand and netted against Australians Sydney in Dunedin.

A first competitive senior start then came in a 3-2 League Cup victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in September 2014.
 
Leaving SJP in July 2015 on a six month loan to League One Coventry City, a fine scoring of 13 goals saw his loan extended.

Notching a 34 minute hat-trick at Crewe in the opening game of 2016, Arma managed 20 goals in 40 Sky Blue outings but after a pair of substitute appearances for Newcastle in the Championship was loaned to Barnsley.

That proved less productive with just six goals in 35 games for the League One Tykes, although his season ended on a high note as an England U20 World Cup winner.

The 2017/18 campaign saw a half season switch to second tier Bolton Wanderers, where he hit three goals in 23 games.

A resurgence followed a loan to Blackburn Rovers in January 2018, a reunion with ex-Coventry boss Tony Mowbray bringing nine goals and Championship promotion. 

Sold to Rovers for £1.75m in June as he debuted for England U21s, Adam faced Newcastle in the FA Cup the following January and inevitably scored - although United won the 3rd Round replay.

Remaining a regular scorer in the second tier - and in a race with fellow ex-Mag Ivan Toney for the Golden Boot in the 2020/21 season, speculation over a move to the Premier League coincided with his 24th birthday.

He lost out to Toney for the Golden Boot but earned a transfer to Southampton in August 2021, reported for around £15m.

Armstrong faced his old club in the two-legged League Cup semi-final in 2023 and looked to have equalised in the first leg at St. Mary's before VAR ruled it out for handball.

He remained with the Saints after they tumbled into the Championship at the end of the season and then helped them gain promotion.

Armstrong scored 24 goals in the 2023/24 season, including two in the play-off semi-final second leg against West Bromwich Albion and then the only goal of the game in the final at Wembley.

Reunited with former boss Mowbray when joining West Bromwich Albion on loan in January 2025, Adam scored on his debut in a 2-1 Championship home victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

He returned to Southampton and scored 11 more times for the Saints, including a purple patch of seven goals in six games before joining relegation-doomed Wolves in the Premier League in January 2026.