1874 James Lockey born, Newcastle.
(1895-99)

Full back who finished on the losing side in all three of his first team appearances and later moved on to Grimsby Town.

1936 James Irving Fell born, Cleethorpes.
(1962-63) 

Winger Fell began his career at non-league Waltham, moving to hometown club Grimsby Town during January 1957 for the princely sum of £5!

March 1961 saw Jimmy join Everton in an £18,500 deal but he failed to reproduce his Mariners form as a Toffee, dropping back into Division Two when Newcastle agreed a £3,000 transfer a year later - with defender George Heslop also moving to Goodison.

Debuting soon after his arrival in a 0-3 loss to Boro at Ayresome Park, Fell finished as joint top scorer with Barrie Thomas on 16 goals in the 1962/63 season. 

However Jimmy could have held that title in his own right, had he not missed a spot kick against former club Grimsby during a 0-0 midweek draw at SJP that March.

And within 24 hours, a box of fresh fish had arrived by train on Tyneside, labelled to Jimmy, "from all your friends in Grimsby"!

After a fallout with Fell though, manager Joe Harvey moved him on to Walsall in August 1963, having recruited Colin Taylor from The Saddlers three months earlier.

After one season at Fellows Park, Jimmy relocated again, this time to Lincoln City. 

Also serving Boston United and Skegness, he later worked at Grimsby Leisure Centre - playing for local Sunday football and cricket teams and remaining a keen fisherman.

Fell's death was reported shortly after his 75th birthday, in February 2011.

1986 James Milner born, Leeds.
(2004-08)

Coming to prominence in a fading Leeds United side after a brief loan spell at Swindon Town, Milner moved to SJP for £5m in July 2004 as the post-relegation fire sale continued apace at Elland Road.

Making his debut at the smoggies, Milner's first Newcastle goal followed against West Bromwich Albion at SJP in September.

By then he was already playing for the third manager of his Magpies career, with Graeme Souness having replaced Sir Bobby Robson via a brief caretaker stint from John Carver.

And it was Souness who was to begin the link with Aston Villa that ultimately saw Milner depart SJP permanently - loaning him to the Midlands club in 2005, as Nobby Solano came the other way (and some bloke named Owen also joined the Magpies).

Souness just didn't rate him, commenting that "we'll never win anything with a team of James Milners" - a flawed argument about signing experienced players that led to the likes of Craig Moore arriving.

Despite the departure of his former Leeds mentor David O'Leary from Villa Park and the installation of Milner advocate Glenn Roeder as United boss, the winger seemed set for a permanent move from SJP in August 2006.

However, in a farcical episode, United agreed a £4m deal with Villa and Milner was dispatched to the Midlands for talks - only to be promptly sent back to Tyneside by Villa after Newcastle changed their mind.

Despite that, Milner had a good season in a black and white shirt and continued to rack up England U21 caps, later breaking the all- time appearance record at that level.

A new four year contract was agreed and signed in advance of the 2007/08 season, with Sam Allardyce going on the record to praise his work rate (doubtless backed up by analysis from his army of analysts).

The arrival of Kevin Keegan as manager wasn't seen as an issue to Milner, but the continuing leadership wrangles at SJP and financial issues made what was an appreciating asset vulnerable.

With the club descending into chaos at the start of the 2008/09 season, Milner handed in a transfer request - although this wasn't revealed until after he'd scored in a League Cup win at Coventry City. 

Villa boss Martin O'Neill was an interested observer at the Ricoh Arena and a clearly upset KK faced the press after the game, having just found out that Newcastle had accepted a £12m bid for Milner.

At the time the United boss said: 

"He's a player, in an ideal world, you would not want to lose, but I just want to make it absolutely clear that at the end of the day, it was my decision to sell him.

"We got an offer that I feel was his value. We are all aware James has had a difficult time - he almost signed for them once before and was dragged back. But he has always behaved impeccably. 

"He's a fantastic professional, and there's no doubt about it, they've got an outstanding player and we have got to move on."

Within days though, the validity of his words were placed into question by the transfer dealings - or lack of them - at Gallowgate.

Having reluctantly swallowed the sale of Milner in order to finance new signings (a rerun of the Andy Cole saga during his previous time in charge), Dennis Wise and his cronies brought in their own choices and KK's wish list ended up in the recycling bin.

A Spanish striker nobody had heard of and a crocked, on-loan Uruguayan arrived and Keegan followed Milner down Barrack Road.

Not the most talented of players ever to have played for us, it could be argued that Milner failed to live up to the potential he first showed at Leeds - particularly in his continued inconsistency when crossing.

However, the work ethic he showed on the field and exemplary behaviour off it were in stark contrast to some of his fellow Mags.

After beginning the 2009/10 season with his first senior England callup, Milner was in the Villa side beaten 0-2 at SJP and received what we called "mild booing" on his return.

And almost inevitably, he would play his part in our relegation, capping a decent first season for O'Neill's side by playing for Villa against United in the fateful final game.

A high profile move to Manchester City, for a reported £26m followed (with Stephen Ireland heading to Villa in part exchange), but there was no Magpies sell-on clause.

An FA Cup winner with City in 2011, James collected a Premier League medal a year later and 2014 found him adding a second league title and a League Cup to his haul.  

Milner also completed a half century of England caps against Switzerland during September 2014 after taking part in his second World Cup Finals - although Brazil proved to be even more forgettable than South Africa four years earlier. 

Joining Liverpool on a free transfer in June 2015, Milner was in the side that lost 0-2 at SJP in December of that year.

Celebrating the Premier League title with the Reds after the elongated 2019/20 season, he joined Brighton & Hove Albion in June 2023 following his Anfield release.

1986 Steven Blair born, Glasgow, Scotland.
(2002-04)

Midfielder who joined the Magpies after a spell with Glasgow Rangers, appearing at both junior and reserve team level. 

Failing to win a contract at SJP, Steven had an unsuccessful trial with Hull City before returning to his native Scotland.

Following a spell training with Stirling Albion,  he then signed for East Stirlingshire and later played for Arthurlie and Clydebank.

June 2014 saw Blair hit the headlines after pleading guilty to a charge of supplying cocaine valued at over £400K. He received a prison sentence at Glasgow High Court. 

1987 Danny Simpson born, Salford.
(2009-13)

Right back who arrived at SJP on loan from Manchester United in August 2009, debuting in a home win over Sheffield Wednesday and scoring the first senior goal of his career against Peterborough three months later. 

Simpson had previously been borrowed by the mackems, returning to appear for the Red Devils in their 6-0 win over Newcastle at Old Trafford in January 2008.

His next port of call was a three month posting to Ipswich Town, before a further loan at Blackburn Rovers (during which he played in a 2-1 victory at SJP).

Entering the last year of his contract with Fergie's side and with no extension agreed, Simpson agreed to a further loan and joined Chris Hughton's squad.

And with no recall coming despite defensive shortages at his parent club, a permanent move to SJP was completed during the January 2010 transfer window.

Completing the promotion season despite an ankle problem, Danny underwent surgery on a ruptured tendon that sidelined him until late October 2010, when he replaced James Perch in the victory at West Ham.

Going on to establish himself as United's first choice right back - deputising occasionally in the centre of defence - Simpson's place was threatened in the summer of 2012 when a bid was made for Lille's Mathieu Debuchy.

That deal wasn't completed and gave Danny a reprieve, but the French international defender's arrival during January 2013 saw Simpson's future look bleak as he entered the final six months of his contract.

A deadline day move to Wigan Athletic failed to materialise, while Simpson gained some unwanted press attention when footage of him apparently unconscious following a street brawl in Manchester appeared.

Becoming a free agent, Danny joined newly relegated QPR on three-year deal in June 2013 and slotted straight into the side.

His first season at Loftus Road ended in triumph as the R's overcame Derby County 1-0 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium. 

After just a single outing in the Premier League though, Simpson exited from Loftus Road in the closing days of the summer 2014 transfer window, joining top-flight rivals Leicester City for an undisclosed fee.

Part of the squad that avoided relegation that season by winning seven of their last nine games (after managing just four of the previous 29), the following season ended with Danny wearing a Premier League winner's medal round his neck. Incredible.

Released by Leicester at the end of the 2018/19 season, he spent time on trial at West Bromwich Albion before joining fellow Championship side Huddersfield Town. 

The search for a new club then took Danny to Sheffield Wednesday but he failed to win a deal and was instead reunited with former Fox Nigel Pearson at Bristol City in 2021.

Leaving Ashton Gate in 2022 after only a handful of games, Simpson worked in the media before making a playing return with Northern Premier League side Macclesfield in December 2023.

He announced his playing retirement in July 2024.