1932 Ken Prior born, Newcastle.
(1952-54 & 1956-57)

Outside left Ken caught the eye with Northumberland boys and Cambois Juniors, landing a trial at United thanks to the intervention of Jackie Milburn.

Impressing enough to be signed as an amateur, Ken rapidly rose to the first team, debuting at home to Middlesbrough in April 1952. 

On standby for the FA Cup side that year, he was denied an opportunity when first-choice Bobby Mitchell opted to play on with heavy strapping on his leg.

What was to Ken's eighth and final senior game came in October 1952 and with no prospect of further action, he joined Millwall during May 1954.

The move seemed to do him good and both Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle looked to sign him - family ties seeing Ken agree to another stint at SJP in 1956.

The substantial presence of 'Mitch' was still ahead of him though and he only added a further two competitive appearances to his tally before leaving for Berwick Rangers in January 1957 with fellow Magpie Alan Bartle.

Ken struggled with a knee injury at Shielfield and left at the end of the following season.

Reverting to playing part-time with North Shields while working as an electrician, Prior later served Horden before moving on to Ashington in 1965.

Appointed as Colliers player-manager two years later, Prior remained in charge at Portland Park until stepping down during January 1972 and joining the club board.

Subsequently managing Alnwick Town, Ken's friendship with Jack Charlton saw Ken scout for Middlesbrough during the 1970s.

Ken passed away at the age of 88 during November 2020.

1952 Gordon Hodgson born, Newcastle.
(1970-74)

Midfielder Gordon joined United as a schoolboy in 1970, a product of Montagu and North Fenham Boys club.

Blooded at the age of 17 in a 4-0 Central League win at Preston North End in February 1971, Hodgson signed a professional contract at SJP that summer.

The England youth international was included in the Newcastle party for a 0-5 loss at Liverpool during March 1972, making his senior bow in a 0-1 defeat away to Nottingham Forest a month later.

Receiving infrequent call-ups to the first team during the 1972/73 campaign, Gordon made just two appearances the following season - the last of which was a 1-2 reverse at Manchester city during March 1974.

A non-playing member of United's squad for the FA Cup Final loss to Liverpool at Wembley two months later, Hodgson left Gallowgate days later to join Mansfield Town, managed by ex-Magpie coach, Dave Smith.

Helping to Stags to the Fourth Division Championship in 1975 and the Third Division title two years later, Gordon was sold to Oxford United in 1978.

Subsequently with Peterborough United a career change came in 1982 when he joined the police force, combining that for a time with playing for non-league Kings Lynn Town and March Town.

Gordon died in April 1999 and a minute's silence was observed at Field Mill before the Mansfield Town v Southend United game.

1955 Richard Money born, Lowestoft.
(2008-09)

Defender who appeared for Lowesoft Town, Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Fulham, Derby County (loan), Luton Town, Portsmouth and Scunthorpe in a 17 year playing career.

Beginning his managerial career at the Iron, Money subsequently held coaching roles at Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Coventry City before taking charge of AIK Stockholm during 2003.

Later moves saw him manage fellow Swedes Vasteras and Aussies Newcastle Jets before returning to England with League One Walsall during 2006.

Appointed Academy Director at Newcastle United in June 2008, Richard remained in post until October 2009 when released in order to become Luton Town manager.

Scouting for Norwich City following his departure from Kenilworth Road in 2011, next came a four year stint at Cambridge United that included a Football League return.

Spells as Academy Director at Atlanta United (USA) and Norwich City were then followed by returns to management with Solihull Moors and then Hartlepool United.

However, that latter stint lasted just 44 days before Money switched to a Director of Football role in January 2019 - only to then quit barely a week later!

Money later worked for several player and sports management agencies.

1964 John Cornwell born, Bethnal Green.
(1987-88)

As a 16 year old West Ham apprentice, John received a warm reception when he visited SJP, along with his boyhood pal Tony Cottee.

The pair were in the North East corner of the ground supporting the Hammers when the infamous 1980 firebomb incident took place.

That didn't stop him from joining us in a £50K move from Frank Clark's Leyton Orient some seven years later, debuting at number 11 in a 2-1 home win over Southampton.

Appearing in midfield, central defence and at left back during his time @ SJP, John netted once, with a low shot at the Leazes end against Charlton in November 1987.

His final game though was a 2-1 home win over Wimbledon that got new boss Jim Smith off to a good start - moving on to Swindon Town as The Bald Eagle overhauled his squad in a vain attempt to avoid relegation.

Cornwell later appeared for Cardiff City, Northampton Town, Brentford & Southend.

And it was while at the Shrimpers that he was party to one of our darkest days - a 0-4 loss at Roots Hall on New Years Day 1992 that left us bottom of the old Division Two.

After hanging up his boots in 1994 he moved into the pub trade, occasionally popping up in the Newcastle Masters indoor football team.

1980 Scott Parker born, Lambeth.
(2005-07)

Midfielder who came through the ranks at Charlton and made his first team debut in 1997, remaining with Addicks until a £10m transfer to Chelsea in 2004 (he also had a spell on loan at Norwich back in 2000).

However despite earning his first England cap and being voted PFA Young Player of the Year, Scott was only an occasional starter at Stamford Bridge and broke a bone in his foot against Norwich City in December 2004.

That proved to be his final act in a Chelsea shirt and his next first team game was for Newcastle, following a £6.5m transfer in the summer of 2005.

Parker made his United bow in the home leg of the Intertoto Cup tie against Deportivo La Coruna; marking Michael Owen's debut at home to Fulham two months later by being sent off for two bookable offences.

Scoring his first goal at Cheltenham in the FA Cup the following January with an unorthodox effort that went in off his midriff, a rather better strike saw him mark his return to the Valley in March 2006 - although Newcastle lost 1-3.

A bout of glandular fever curtailed Scott's appearances for that season and the next campaign would prove to be his last. 

Making public comments about Toon fans having unrealistic expectations hardly endeared club captain Parker to those supporters; trading insults with fans in the East Stand during a home loss to Sheffield United similarly ill-advised.

With Glenn Roeder sacked and Sam Allardyce installed, Parker made a £7m move to West Ham in June 2007.

However, he later denied press reports (and a scandalous re-writing of history by Allardyce) that he'd angled for a move back to London due to family pressures:

"I went to Newcastle and contrary to what people say about not settling in the North East, me and my family absolutely loved it up there. Then a new manager comes in,  has different ideas and sells me."

Despite tumbling into the Championship with West Ham, he was voted as the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year and regained his place back in the England team before moving to Spurs at the end of the 2011 summer transfer window.

After half a century of appearances at White Hart Lane, Parker moved to Fulham in August 2013 for an undisclosed fee.

Enduring relegation in his first season, Scott remained a regular at Craven Cottage and made over 120 appearances before hanging up his boots in June 2017. 

Joining Spurs as U18 Academy coach and club ambassador, he was then tempted to make a return to Fulham as first team coach 12 months later.

Caretaker manager for the final months of Fulham's relegation campaign in 2019, Scott took the post permanently on a two year deal, gaining promotion via the play-offs.

However, Fulham were relegated again in May 2021 and Parker left to take over at Championship side AFC Bournemouth, replacing SJP old boy Jonathan Woodgate.

He successfully managed the Cherries back to the Premier League as runners-up to his old club Fulham and they won their first game of the following season.

However, heavy defeats to Manchester City (0-4), Arsenal (0-3) and Liverpool (0-9) and a verbal swipe at the club's transfer policy saw him exit in late August 2022.

At the end of 2022 Scott was made manager of Club Brugge, but dismissed after just two wins in 12 games.

He was appointed manager of Burnley after Vincent Company left Turf Moor for Bayern Munich and despite selling a boatload of players, Parker guided the Clarets back to the Premier League after setting new records for goals conceded (just 16 in 46 matches).

But their stay in the top flight was brief and Parker left the club in April 2026 shortly after their relegation was confirmed.

PS: Scott's spot in club history is assured, as according to UEFA at least, he - not Bob Moncur - is the last player to have captained Newcastle to European glory.

That was of course our 2006/07 Intertoto Cup "victory" - a feat achieved by being the last of the eleven teams progressing into the UEFA Cup still to be involved. 

A trophy presentation duly took place well before kick-off against AZ Alkmaar at SJP in March 2007. Few fans witnessed a low-key ceremony that saw an overjoyed Parker and a randomly-selected Toon fan accept what looked like a sample from a tile warehouse.

PS: we couldn't let his birthday pass without adding a still from a McDonalds TV ad that featured a fresh-faced young master Parker playing keepy-uppy in his back garden.

1980 Karl Colley born, Sheffield.
(2001-02)

6ft 4in central defender who signed a three year deal with Newcastle's Academy following his release by Sheffield Wednesday.

Suffering from homesickness and depression though, Colley lasted only a year at SJP before securing a permanent move to his boyhood heroes, Sheffield United.

Failing to make his senior debut for Blades, Karl joined Ilkeston Town before appearing in the Conference for both Kettering Town and Halifax Town in 2002/03 and 2003/04.

Later with Frickley Athletic, Hucknall Town, Bradford Park Avenue, Barrow, Grimsby Town, Scarborough, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Retford United, Sheffield FC, Alfreton Town, Lincoln United, Sutton Town, Belper Town, Buxton and Goole Town, he hit the headlines at the latter during January 2014.

Dismissed when captaining Goole against Coalville Town, Colley took exception to catcalls from visiting fans and on the anniversary of Eric Cantona lamping a Crystal Palace follower, leapt into the crowd and aimed punches at a fan.

The incident was caught on video and Goole immediately sacked him with an FA charge resulting in a fine and playing ban.

Colley made a playing return with Sheffield Sunday League side Hackenthorpe FC before a first managerial appointment at Shirebrook Town in October 2016.

By the following April however he'd left, continuing to turn out for Sunday League side High Noon FC.

Off the field, Karl was convicted on football-related charges three times between 2009 and 2011. He later became a support and recovery worker in Sheffield.

1992 Liam Alexander Henderson born, Ashington. (2009-12)