1905 John Dowsey born, Willington
(1924-26)

Winger/inside forward who began his playing career with Hunwick Villa before signing for United as an amateur in March 1924 and turning professional within three months.

John was a regular scorer for the reserve side in the North Eastern League, debuting for the seniors in a 3-1 home victory over Spurs in November 1925.   

Two further appearances followed but by the following May, Jack had moved on to West Ham. He played just once for them however and joined Carlisle United in August 1927.

Dowsey's next move took him to the mackems in 1928, Notts County a year later and then Northampton Town in 1931.

1934 found him playing for Nuneaton, having converted to a centre half by then. 

John was later landlord of the Red Lion in Costock near Loughborough and sadly took his own life during October 1942. 

1943 Trevor Hockey born, Keighley, Yorkshire. (1963-65)

Having played both rugby codes at school, Trevor took up the round ball game seriously as a teenager and was selected for the West Riding U19 XI on the right wing.

Signing amateur forms with Bradford City in 1958, Hockey turned professional two years later on his 17th birthday and was soon playing in the Bantams first team.

Swapping Valley Parade for the City Ground in 1961, two years at Nottingham Forest led to Newcastle paying 25K for his services.  

After a forgettable debut in a 0-4 home loss to Cardiff City in November 1963, Trevor kept his place until the festive season but afterwards was used more sparingly.

Appearing more regularly in the promotion season of 1964/65, Hockey netted his first United goal in December at home to Pompey and promptly got his second the following week against Northampton Town.

Almost an ever-present for the opening months of our top-flight return, Trevor netted in a home defeat by Manchester United but lost his place and left soon after for Birmingham City in November 1965.

Six seasons at St.Andrews saw him become something of cult figure in a central midfield role, even releasing a single ("Happy 'Cos I'm Blue") and completing the notable feat of playing on all 92 Football League grounds.

A switch to Sheffield United in 1971 was followed by the first of nine Welsh caps,  later moves taking him to Norwich City and Aston Villa before rejoining Bradford City.

Hockey was installed as player-manager of Irish side Athlone Town in 1976 before moving to the USA, playing for the San Diego Jaws and becoming player/coach at San Jose Earthquakes and Las Vegas Quicksilvers.

Returning to England in 1977 and taking the manager's post at non-league Stalybridge Celtic, he moved on to similar role with Keighley Town in 1980.

Trevor sadly collapsed and died suddenly in April 1987 after playing five-a-side at Marley Stadium in Keighley, West Yorkshire. He was a month shy of his 44th birthday.

Possessor of the widest range of barnets sported by any Toon player, Trevor's clean cut, flat top look had mutated into a Beatle mop by the time he was at St. Andrew's.

He then sprouted sideburns that developed into a full grown beard and then something of a biblical, hippy-like reincarnation (man).  

1973 James Crawford born, Chicago, USA. (1995-98)

Although born on the other side of the Atlantic, midfielder Jimmy was brought up in the Republic of Ireland and was signed from junior football in Dublin by Bohemians.

Winning the FAI Young Player of the Year award for 1993/94, Crawford was invited to Tyneside for trials in 1994, also spending some time with Aston Villa. 

Signing for 75,000 the following year, he received an U21 call-up for the Republic of Ireland and debuted for Newcastle from the bench in a home League Cup victory over Bristol City in October 1995.

With no Magpies reserve league side at that time, Jimmy was farmed out to Rotherham United the following season and played eleven times for the Millers.

1997/98 pre-season preparations saw him back with Newcastle's first team, scoring against Derry City to his great delight in a tournament at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.

However, a hamstring injury sidelined him while Kevin Keegan gave way to Kenny Dalglish at SJP - although the latter handed him two Premier League substitute outings: in the second Anfield 3-4 loss and a 4-0 home victory over Coventry City. 

Afflicted by injuries again the following season, Crawford was loaned to Dundee United but played just once for them, against Hibernian in February 1998.

Within a month Newcastle had accepted a 50K bid from Reading, a move which saw Jimmy reunited with former Magpies coach Tommy Burns and striker Paul Brayson, who also moved at the same time.

In two injury-hit years with the Royals, Jim made 20 appearances and scored once, in a win over Bristol City (fellow ex-Mag Brian Tinnion netting for City in the same game).

Leaving in 2000, Crawford returned to Ireland and signed for Dublin-based Shelbourne, where he remained until 2007.

A transfer to the newly-founded Sporting Fingal club was followed by retirement from playing, after which he acted as coach and caretaker boss of Shamrock Rovers in 2008.

Jim subsequently held the post of FAI Football Development Officer for South Dublin followed by coaching roles with Ireland's U18/U19 and U21 squad.

April 2020 found him taking over as Ireland U21 coach in the wake of Stephen Kenny's elevation to national senior team boss.

1991 Ryan Donaldson born, Newcastle.
(2006-12)

With Newcastle's Academy from the age of nine, Ryan was a regular schoolboy scorer for St.Cuthberts - although he came close to accepting a contract from the mackems before United intervened.

Making his U18 debut at the tail end of the 2005/06 season, striker Ryan's reserve bow at Wigan in January 2007 was followed by a goal against Blackburn two months later - before his 16th birthday.

That club form earned him an England U17 call-up, scoring twice on his debut against Iceland in July 2007 and going on to grab nine strikes in 12 international outings.

Appearing more in midfield in season 2007/08 for the reserve and U18s, Ryan was blooded by Kevin Keegan as a sub against Mallorca in pre-season, before being named on the first team bench at Old Trafford in August 2009.

Debuting for the first team late in a home win over Leicester City in August 2009, a first senior start came in the league cup tie at Peterborough a month later.

Remaining on the first team fringes at SJP, Ryan joined Hartlepool United on loan in January 2011 and then went to Tranmere Rovers the following season, but played just once before injuring a hamstring.

Named as an unused substitute for United's home game against Norwich City in March 2012, Ryan added a fourth Northumberland Senior Cup winner's medal to his collection two months later but was then released. 

Following trials at St.Johnstone and Carlisle United, he joined Gateshead for the 2012/13 season before moving on to Conference rivals Cambridge United.

Ryan enjoyed two successful trips to Wembley with the U's - scoring in both the FA Trophy and playoff finals - the latter against his former side Gateshead.

Remaining at Cambridge, he was released in 2016 following their failure to gain promotion from League Two.

Signing for Plymouth Argyle, he helped the Pilgrims into League One but lost his place after breaking his jaw and moved on once again under freedom of contract in 2017.

A second spell at Hartlepool United followed, returning to Victoria Park following the club's demotion from the Football League. He left in July 2021 and joined Morpeth Town.

Further moves followed; to Blyth Spartans in June 2024 and then Ashington in January 2025.

1992 Samuel Ameobi, born Newcastle
(2008-17)

The third of the Ameobi brothers to play for Newcastle after Shola and Tomi, fellow forward Sammy was recruited from Walker Central Boys Clubs and first appeared in the U18 side during the 2008/09 season.

He also debuted at reserve level and found the Central League Cup to his liking, scoring twice in a 2-1 win at Hartlepool and once against Carlisle. 

However, Sammy's season was curtailed by a knee injury in early 2009 that kept him out of action until 2010.

Featuring at reserve and junior level in the following two seasons, Ameobi answered a call-up for Nigeria U20s in March 2011, for friendly matches staged in the UAE.

His first team debut came two months later at Stamford Bridge, joining his elder brother on the pitch for the closing stages of an entertaining 2-2 draw.

A pre-season goal at Darlington sparking a ridiculous pitch invasion shot Sammy into the limelight early the following season, was swiftly followed by a spectacular winner at Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup.

Some erratic substitute appearances for followed, together with a pair of caps for England U21s in November 2011.

However, 2012 began in poor fashion for him, a season-ending knee injury incurred during a reserve game with Wigan.

The following season saw Sammy make a single Premier League start plus several substitute appearances and four starts in the Europa League.

Loaned to the smoggies in February 2013, Sammy marked his debut with a goal in a 2-1 home win over Cardiff City, but failed to add to that tally in eight other games.

A promising start to the 2013/14 season including a goal in the League Cup at Morecambe was again blighted by injury.

The 2014/15 campaign saw Sammy feature more often - partly due to the departure of Shola - and memorable goals came at Spurs and Hull. However a lack of consistency saw him rotate in and out of the starting lineup.

With his future in question as his contract neared expiry, a new two year deal was agreed in tandem with a season-long loan to Championship side Cardiff City as Steve McClaren arrived at SJP.

However, that failed to be a springboard for Sammy's career and he was unable to retain a regular starting place as the Bluebirds missed out on the playoffs.

Returning to Tyneside for the final year of his deal, Ameobi found himself omitted from Rafa's senior squad and in the reserves.

Loaned to Bolton Wanderers for six months in August 2016, he made 24 appearances for the Trotters, scoring four times and making a good impression.

Back at United in January 2017, Sammy ended a 20 month gap between games for the club when appearing from the bench in a home win over Rotherham United. 

Three further substitute outings followed and Ameobi remained with the senior squad for the remainder of the Championship-winning season before leaving as a free agent.

To nobody's great surprise he then agreed a permanent return to Bolton Wanderers, putting pen to paper on a 12 month deal.

The financial mismanagement of the Trotters led to Sammy and his colleagues taking the unprecedented step of refusing to play after non-payment of wages in April 2019.

The final year of his contract at Bolton was cancelled and Sammy signed a one-year deal with Nottingham Forest which was extended.

He left the City Ground in June 2021 and joined Middlesbrough but was released the following June without making a senior competitive appearance due to injury.

Sammy was found guilty of motoring offences at Chester Magistrates during January 2025, initially identified via his personalised number plate. 

That came while living near Manchester with his wife and son, having returned to work on an unspecified apprenticeship for limited wages.

1999 Ludwig Francillette, born Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe (2019-21)

Towering central defender who arrived on Tyneside as a trialist in 2019 and won a place in the U23 squad, having also spent time in Scotland with St. Mirren.

Appearing for French minor league side AS Quetigny following his release by Dijon, Ludwig was spotted by United in a game staged in Paris by an agency to showcase semi-professional and amateur players. 

sighted in pre-season in a kickabout at Hibernian's training ground, his competitive U23 bow wasat Hull City that October.

And a first goal for the club arrived during a 1-1 draw with Benfica at Whitley Park the following month, a powerful header.

Francillette trained with the first team ahead of United's FA Cup tie against Rochdale in 2020, but fellow U23s Tom Allan, Elias Sorensen and Lewis Cass got the nod instead for bench duty.

Released by the club in Summer 2021, Ludwig joined League Two side Crawley Town in August and scored his first senior goal against Newport County in April 2022.

He left Crawley Town and joined National League side Eastleigh in July 2023, moving on to Morecambe in August 2025.

Internationally, he represented Guadeloupe as a youngster.

2006 Lewis Miley born, Stanley.
(2021-present)

The younger brother of fellow Newcastle midfielder Jamie, Lewis joined the club's Academy aged seven and debuted for the U18s against Burnley in August 2021 - with Jamie in the same line-up.

Winning his first England cap for the U17s in August 2022, within days he'd been blooded at reserve level during an EFL Trophy tie away to Doncaster Rovers.

A hectic few months followed during which Lewis scored his first U21 goals, made two senior appearances in friendly matches and won the Jack Hixon Sport Newcastle award for most promising local youngster.

Introduced late on in United's 5-0 friendly win over Al-Hilal in Riyadh, Miley then had another brief runout in the home victory over Rayo Vallecano days later.

An unused substitute for United's Premier League trip to Bournemouth in February, his 17th birthday in May 2023 brought confirmation of a first professional deal.

His first competitive start came against Manchester City that September and he became Newcastle's youngest ever European player against Borussia Dortmund at 17 years and 191 days.

Lewis also holds the record for the club's  youngest ever Premier League scorer, after netting in the 3-0 home victory over Fulham that December.

Having signed his first professional deal on his 17th birthday in May 2023, he put pen to paper on a long-term contract contract the following January.

The 2024/25 campaign included a maiden England U21 appearance against Spain but he was an unused substitute as Newcastle were victorious in the Carabao Cup Final.

Lewis started regularly in the 2025/26 season in both midfield and at full back,
scoring Premier League, Carabao Cup and Champions League goals during a 19-day spell before Christmas.

However injury then saw him sidelined for 10 weeks, returning in April 2026.