1908 William Noble Imrie born, Methil, Scotland. (1934-38)

Halfback who began his career with East Fife Juniors, moving on to Dunnikier Juniors, St. Johnstone and Blackburn Rovers before moving to Gallowgate.

Captaining Newcastle during his time in Toon, Bill's debut came in a 0-4 defeat away to Sheffield United in March 1934 and failed to finish on the winning side in any of his first eight appearance for the club.

However he put that right in some style on the occasion of his ninth, when he netted a hat trick in a 5-1 win at home to Wolves.

Bill later appeared for Swansea and Swindon Town, working as a butcher in Gateshead after his retirement.

However, he was killed in action during WW2 in 1945 while serving with the RAF.

1931 William John Wright born, Blackpool. (1958-59)

Not to be confused with the Billy Wright of Wolves and Beverley Sisters fame, this one was an outside left who began his playing career as a teenager at Blackpool.

Moving on to Leicester City in August 1955 , a £7,500 deal took him to SJP ahead of the 1958/59 season and he debuted against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road - the Tangerines winning 3-0.

Billy's first Newcastle goal came days later in a win at Everton, when he wore number 9. After sitting out the next two games, he then returned to net twice in an amazing 5-6 defeat at Chelsea.

After just two more outings though, an injury layoff saw Wright lose his place in the side and he opted to move on the following summer, signing for Plymouth Argyle.

Later transfers took him to Hull City (briefly) and Millwall before he moved into non-league circles with Tonbridge and Bexley United.

Working as a teacher and later a gardener, Billy lived in Blackheath. He passed away in April 2020.

1944 Len Walker born, Darlington.  
(1963-64) 

Defender signed from Spennymoor United who was only to feature twice at first team level during his time at SJP. 

Len's debut came in a 3-0 home win in the League Cup against Preston North End in September 1963 and he kept his place in the side for the following Saturday's Division Two visit to Leyton Orient.

However, that ended in a 0-1 loss and Walker failed to be selected again, moving on to Aldershot, where he made some 450 starts between 1964 and 1976. 

mackem-loving Len had also played cricket for Bishop Auckland and Mainsforth and returned to his hometown when he joined Darlington in 1976.

Moving into coaching at Feetham two years later, Len was quickly appointed manager, having played the final games of his career back at his first club, Spennymoor United. 

However, the Quakers sacked him in June 1979 after just eight months - and three weeks after they said that his job was safe.

Len then became the first manager to take his former club to an industrial tribunal, with the two parties eventually reaching an out of court settlement.

Appointed Aldershot boss in 1981 (where he signed a young Steve Claridge), Len remained at the Recreation Ground until 1984. 

Replaced by Ron "Chopper" Harris, he was tempted back after seven months and was in charge of the 'Shots until March 1991 - a year before the club resigned from the Football League due to financial problems.

Len next appeared at Fulham as assistant manager and then youth development officer. He later scouted for Everton from his Hampshire base. 

1951 Kenny Dalglish born, Dalmarnock, Scotland. (Mgr 1997-98)

Appointed in succession to Kevin Keegan in January 1997, Kenny took charge of the side in an FA Cup replay against Charlton Athletic at SJP, that United won 2-1.

His first league game in charge saw United take a two-goal lead at Southampton, only to concede two late goals and draw.

Taking over a Keegan side who lay in fourth, he ended up with a second-placed finish that year, leading United into the Champions League the following season as a result. 

However, the pre-season loss of Alan Shearer to injury coupled with the sale of Les Ferdinand to satisfy PLC demands was to undermine Kenny's progress.

While the Tino Asprilla-inspired home victory over Barcelona is well-remembered, a "Dads Army" transfer policy that brought in John Barnes, Ian Rush & Stuart Pearce was less welcome.

And when Kenny did move to address the problem by spending money, he came back with Andreas bloody Andersson - the pick of over 100 strikers he'd had scouted.

Despite all this, his team made it through to the FA Cup Final and a public spat with opponents Stevenage that famously led Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman to enquire "is Kenny Dalglish a big girl's blouse?"

Had he won silverware then the flirtation with relegation and 13th-placed finish would have been forgotten and Geordie hero status bestowed. 

Employing a defensive formation at Wembley against Arsenal however was poorly received, overlooking Steve Watson and only belatedly moving to bolster his attack when going 0-2 down.

Regardless of that though, he was allowed to embark on a squad overhaul that saw the arrivals of George Georgiadis, Lionel Perez, Stephane Guivarc'h, Carl Serrant, Garry Brady, Laurent Charvet, Didi Hamann and Nobby Solano - a mixed bag indeed.

Hints of behind the scenes discord came at a weekend pre-season tournament at the smoggies, when Kenny reacted angrily to press claims that Newcastle were in the process of selling Keith Gillespie to Boro.

Within a couple of weeks Dalglish was gone, after an opening day 0-0 draw at SJP with Charlton (with Barnes appearing as a half time sub but lasting less than 25 minutes) was followed by a 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

Sacked by United after the board were alarmed by crowd grumbles and seduced by the lure of Ruud Gullit, by rights Dalglish should have been perfect for SJP: marrying the swashbuckling of KK's side with some defensive steel and common sense.

Unfortunately it didn't manifest itself in that way and the positive work Kenny did on Tyneside - restoring the reserve side and signing messrs Tomasson, Dabizas, Speed & Solano - was only evident after he'd exited.

After an outstanding career at Celtic and Liverpool, Dalglish replaced Joe Fagan as Liverpool manager in 1985 and played on until 1990, although only appearing four times in those final three seasons.

He had won the title three times as manager at Anfield and the FA Cup twice including a double in 1986.

His success continued at Blackburn Rovers and after steering them to promotion in 1992 he won the Premier League in 1995, with Alan Shearer hitting 34 league goals.

After leaving Tyneside he resurfaced at Celtic in 1999 but his appointment of John Barnes as head coach was ill-fated and despite a League Cup triumph in 2000 Dalglish departed amid acrimony.

Out of the game (save for some very poor punditry work) until Reds boss Rafael Benitez added him to the Anfield staff in July 2009, Dalglish remained at the club during the brief reign of Roy Hodgson.

Strong crowd support led to a return to the dugout as caretaker boss when Hodgson was shown the door in May 2011 and Kenny had a galvanising effect in the short term.

Handed a three year contract that summer, he completed only 12 months before his sacking however - enjoying League Cup Final success over Cardiff City but guiding Liverpool to an eighth place Premier League finish - their worst since back in 1994.

His mis-handling of the Luis Suarez racism affair and a combined £70m spent on Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing also counted against him. 

Our own favourite Kenny tale remains this:

18th October 1997. KD "stars" in a British Telecom TV advert aimed at highlighting their cheap weekend call offer.

The premise is that miserly jock Kenny rings all of the Newcastle supporters one by one, to thank them for their support at the game on the day of the advert.

Unfortunately, on the particular day the ad first aired, both he and his players were ridiculed by travelling Toon fans after a 1-4 loss at Leeds United.

Hardly the best piece of TV scheduling...

KD: "I'm just off to make a few calls" 
AS: "Start with the Samaritans"

1997 Freddie Woodman born, Croydon.
(2011-22)

Goalkeeper who followed his father Andy to Tyneside in August 2011 after Woodman senior became Magpies goalkeeping coach.  

Leaving Crystal Palace for SJP(amid claims of interest from Arsenal and both Manchester clubs), Freddie's U18 bow came in a 0-4 home loss to Spurs in August 2012. 

Before then though he'd sampled reserve team football, enjoying a 15 minute cameo during a friendly against York City back in October 2011, when aged just 14.

A first professional contract followed in March 2014 - debuting for the U21s against Arsenal the following month.

Included in the Newcastle party who played pre-season games in New Zealand but not given any pitch time, Woodman then spent a month on loan at League Two Hartlepool United without being called off the bench.

Injuries to Tim Krul and Robbie Elliot during December 2014 saw third-choice custodian Jak Alnwick drafted into the seniors - Freddie named as a substitute.

Continuing in the reserves, Freddie also featured in the FA Youth Cup, giving more notice of his penalty prowess with two saves in a shootout win on wearside.

A first team debut followed in United's pre-season opener at Gateshead in July 2015, with further pitch time against both Sacramento and Portland Timbers during a North American tour.

Woodman then agreed a six month loan to League Two side Crawley Town, as his father left SJP for Palace.

Playing 12 games, he was recalled after Tim Krul suffered a long-term injury and warmed the bench while Rob Elliot deputised.

January 2017 saw Freddie loaned to Kilmarnock with Sean Longstaff and Callum Roberts, making 15 appearances and earning some excellent write-ups.

Back on Tyneside for a quartet of senior team pre-season outings, the loan departure of Matz Sels saw Woodman retained as third-choice 'keeper, providing bench cover to Elliot with Karl Darlow.

And after further Premier League bench duty Freddie's competitive senior bow for United came in a 3-1 FA Cup home win over Luton Town in January 2018.

The arrival of Martin Dubravka on loan late that month then saw Woodman return to Scotland on loan with Aberdeen.

Understudying Dubravka in the 2018/19 season and making three FA Cup starts, a further loan the following season took him to Championship side Swansea City.

An ever-present in the first 42 games, a hip injury then ended his season and Freddie missed City's failed playoff bid.

A further season-long loan to the Liberty Stadium began in August 2020 - after Freddie signed a new three year deal at SJP (with the option of a fourth year).

He returned to Tyneside having made 95 appearances for Swansea and started the 2021/22 season as United's first team 'keeper due to injury and COVID.

Woodman played the opening four league games but some high profile errors saw Karl Darlow return when fit.

Freddie was loaned out to Championship side Bournemouth in January 2022 but only made a single FA Cup appearance.

His time on Tyneside ended in June 2022 and he signed a three-year deal for Championship club Preston North End.

He joined Liverpool in June 2025, debuting in a 0-3 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup that October - his sole appearance to date.

Internationally, Freddie's first England U16 cap came in 2014, winning the U17 European Championship Finals a year later.

The first of six U21 caps followed in 2016 and he was part of the side that won the U20 World Cup in 2017 - saving a penalty in the final to help beat Venezuela.

September 2017 saw Freddie called up to train with the England seniors - coached by his godfather, Gareth Southgate.

However, that proved to be a one-off.