Tyneside literally went crazy the day England skipper Kevin Keegan flew into Newcastle Airport to sign for the Magpies. Pressmen, radio and camera crews had a field day. It was a big national story. They chased him all over the north east in a vehicle procession that was more like the Wacky Races.

Supporters couldn’t believe it. From being in the football wilderness, United were catapulted into the spotlight. His £100,000 transfer from Southampton was a massive scoop and dramatically transformed Arthur Cox’s team into a winning formula – one that eventually took the club back to the First Division.

Keegan made all the difference. His captaincy, skill and charisma turned average players into good ones, indeed in two instances, international ones. He brought other stars to the St. James’ Park camp as well and also turned the despondent supporters into an excited and expectant mass. So much so that queues for season-tickets stretched around the streets of Gallowgate within 24 hours of his arrival.

His record in a black’n'white shirt was to be first class. After a marvellous start of three goals in his first three games, Kevin went on to net 49 goals in 85 appearances and importantly had much to do with the rapid development of Chris Waddle and Peter Beardsley as superstars in their own right.

The son of a Geordie miner from Hetton, but brought up near Doncaster, Keegan made a name for himself under the guidance of Bill Shankly at Anfield after being introduced to the Football League by Fourth Division Scunthorpe United during 1968. More a self made player than one with tremendous natural ability, Keegan developed into a 90 minute action man. He was utterly determined with superb positioning and awareness of the ball while his finishing became deadly.

Once paired with big John Toshack in the Liverpool side, Kevin was rated the most complete forward of his generation. He won domestic and European honours at Anfield – including an FA Cup winners medal against Newcastle in 1974, a day when he demolished United. For a player of only 5′8″ tall, Keegan was good in the air too, using his stocky frame to launch himself in challenges with bigger defenders.After scoring 100 goals in 321 appearances for the Reds, he took the decision to sample European soccer in June 1977, joining SV Hamburg for £500,000. It was gamble, but Keegan was a rousing success in the Bundesliga and in the process became English football’s first soccer millionaire. Voted European Footballer of the Year in both 1978 and 1979, Keegan also became something of a pop star in Germany and almost qualified for a gold disc for one of his songs.

Tynesider Lawrie McMenemy was the man who landed Keegan once the striker decided to return to the Football League in the summer of 1980 – a surprise move, Keegan joining one of the lesser lights of the game. Kevin was a hit again.

He grabbed 37 goals for the Saints over two seasons and saw them reach a high placing in the First Division. He also picked up the PFA Player of the Year award. Appearing 63 times for Engalnd, Keegan was the ideal candidate for the national captaincy, possessing a friendly and likable personality. he became one of soccer’s greatest ambassadors at home and abroad and justly deserved the OBE in 1982 just before heading for Tyneside.

Joining Newcastle in August of that year with the financial backing of sponsors Newcastle Breweries who used the superstar extensively in public relations, the former England player may have pocketed a fortune, but as any United fan will admit, earned every penny of it.

The two years he spent as King of Tyneside were something special for supporters of the club – especially a new generation of fans who had not tasted success in any form. There was an aura of excitement in everything to do with Newcastle United. Chairman Stan Seymour said,”The signing of Kevin Keegan is just the impetus Tyneside needed to set local football alight again”.

And he was just that. By the time Keegan had departed Arthur Cox noted, “No other player in the world could have had such a dramatic effect on the club and its supporters”.

Importantly Kevin Keegan could communicate with the grassroots and rarely refused an opportunity to meet ordinary fans. He attended hundreds of functions and gatherings during his period in the North East and colleague Jeff Clarke said, “he never lost the common touch and that’s what made him great”.

Kevin ended his glory-filled 16 year career of more than 700 appearances and almost 300 goals in a black’n'white shirt immediately after promotion was secured. The 33 year-old said, “My only regret is that I didn’t come to Newcastle a little earlier”.

Afterwards he lived abroad for most of the year – in Marbella on the Costa del Sol – working in various promotional activities. Keegan had come a long way since the days he kicked a ball around for the the Peglers Brass Works in Doncaster. For sheer instant and explosive impact, Kevin Keegan was without doubt United’s greatest ever signing.

And a decade later Kevin Keegan proved to be a master signing as a manager too. Persuaded to take the job – his first as a boss – when the Magpies were facing relegation to Division Three in 1992. Keegan the manager again had a dramatic effect on the club. He saved the day, built a stylish team that lifted the First Division Championship and then challenged for the Premiership Title.

Thank you for All the Great Moments King Kev! You’re Always Be In The Heart and Soul Of All Toon Army!

A willing midfielder who can pass the ball accurately and looks comfortable in ball possession, he was one of the Geordies faithful favorite for his commitment for the club.

Although not in reguler first team choice, Clark has turn fown numerous offers from other club during his first 7 years with Newcastle United. It was simply because he wants to remain faithful for his hometown club.

It was long before the arrival of David Batty in 1996.

During the 1996-1997 season, Lee Clark found himself loosing his place to Batty and only made into the bench as substitute. He was still 24 years-old. Following the departure of Kevin Keegan in January 1997, Lee Clark being transfered to sunderland in the summer.

Although he’s wearing the different color with the Toon arc rival, Lee still a Geordie inside out, and his famous T-Shirt action while still playing for sunderland need no more prove that his heart still left at St. James’ Park.

He continued his journey to Fulham before making a return at the start of the 2005/06 season under Graeme Souness.

He was drafted into the coaching staff by Glenn Roeder when he replaced Souness, and as well as having first team duties he also took charge of Newcastle’s Reserve side.

Lee Clark recently reunited with Glenn Roeder as his assistant manager at Norwich City, having signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Canaries side.

Left to right: Bobby, Joe Harvey, Malcolm Mcdonald
“The supreme sweeper and a most valuable asset both to Newcastle United and Scotland”
Joe Harvey, 1971

Bobby Moncur was one of the greatest captains ever to play for Newcastle United. He was a strong-tackling centre-back, commanding in the air and with an exceptional reading of the game. However, he will probably be remembered most for the hat-trick of goals he scored in the 1969 Fairs Cup Final against Ujpesti Dosza which won the trophy for United. Moncur himself was surprised by the amazing reaction to this European triumph:

“At the time I didn’t realise how important Europe was to the fans. It was only afterwards when I looked back at events and thought of the fever it brought to the area. I suppose supporters had been waiting for something to happen for a long time and the Fairs Cup was it”.

Moncur was born in 1945 and spent his early days in Perth, Scotland but later moved to Kirkliston just outside Edinburgh. Bob actually initially played at centre-forward and left-back and won Scottish international youth caps in these positions. Preston North End were the first senior club to take an interest in Moncur but Newcastle eventually came in for him and he moved to St. James’ Park.

He signed as an apprentice professional in October 1960 and began training with the likes of Ivor Allchurch and Len White, hardened professionals. Bobby played an impotant role in United’s Youth Cup run in 1962 and scored the winner in the final vs Wolves.

He made his full League debut as an 18-year-old the following season in a Division Two clash against Luton Town. However, Moncur proved to be something of a slow developer and was nearly sold to Norwich City for a mere £25,000. This deal fell through and made Bobby more determined than ever to improve his game. He eventually established himself in the No 6 shirt and Sir Matt Busby, the legendary Manchester United boss, was later to rate Moncur as the best in the business.

Moncur was to form a solid partnership with John McNamee in the 1967/68 season, sweeping up behind the tall centre-half. He was made captain of the side for the first time in February 1968 vs Arsenal and United went on to qualify for Europe at the end of the season.

His progress was also noted by Scotland and he was selected to play for their Under 23 side. Bob handled the responsibility of being United captain with immense pride and indeed only his boss, Joe Harvey, has captained the Magpies more than him. Moncur and Harvey made a good working team.

Bob won his first full Scotland cap in May 1968 against Holland and was taken to his nation’s heart after a gutsy display in 1970 vs England at Hampden Park in front of 134,000 fans. After only six games he was awarded the captaincy of his country to go with that of United. This gave him great satisfaction.

He led the Magpies to Wembley in 1974 but the defeat by Liverpool remains his greatest disappointment. Yet as he remembered, “The homecoming we received we’ll never forget…it will stay as my fondest memory”.

Moncur never played for United again after that FA Cup final defeat and he joined neighbours Sunderland for £30,000 after 346 appearances for Newcastle. He helped the Rokermen to promotion in 1976 and was voted their player of the season.

Bobby then dabbled in management with Carlisle United but proved unsuccessful and returned to his native Edinburgh to take charge of Hearts. He gained promotion for the Jambos as Division One champions but the club were relegated the following season.

He went on to manage Plymouth and later Whitley Bay and Hartlepool before finally quitting the game for good in December 1989. Bobby Moncur was a fine United captain and the Magpies will do well to find a skipper with such spirit and dedication as he.

Bobby Moncur Fact Files

After the Second World War, Newcastle searching the North East for promising young players, and coming up with talent like Jackie Milburn, Tommy Walker and Bobby Cowell. The search led to build the best Newcastle team ever.

They collected the FA Cup three times in five years in the 1950s. As one of the only three players to play in all three FA Cup winning sides during the 50s, Bobby was a one-club man. A brilliant right-back who was unlucky never to have been capped in England team. He gets knee injured in a pre-season friendly in Germany before retired on the aged of 33.

All three players have rarely been absent from Gallowgate since the Second World War. Harvey was manager and scout, Milburn viewed activities from the press box and Bobby Cowell has been a devoted fan since retiring in 1956 and is still a popular character in the club’s guest-room.

Cowell’s team-mate, tough-tackling defender and half-back Charlie Crowe, who play alongside him on an FA Cup winners medal in the 1951 victory over Arsenal, talk about their partnerships together.

“Joe Harvey and myself used to do a little bit of kicking. Big Frank Brennan dominated the penalty area and the full backs Bobby Cowell and Bob Corbett, were tremendous.”

Cowell was born in the village of Trimdon Grange near to the university city of Durham in December 1922. From a mining community, Bobby worked down the pit as a teenager getting £4 a week and often watching his local team play football.

His hero wasn’t any famous professional of the time, but a larger than life Trimdon character by the name of ‘Digger’ Dickson. In fact during his teens, Bobby had little time for watching the likes of Sunderland or Newcastle for he was too busy playing himself, for the village team and occasionally for Blackhall Colliery.

During the war Cowell turned out for the Home Guard XI and received his first chance at the big-time with Newcastle. In 1943 he was invited to appear in a trial for United’s reserve side against Shotton. Cowell impressed the watching officials and he signed forms in October of that year.

His first taste of senior football was against Bradford Park Avenue when United lost 1-0. However, by the time wartime soccer had ended in 1946, Cowell’s Football League debut had an altogether different conclusion.

Cowell had to be content with a reserve place for the early peace-time seasons with seniors Benny Craig, Dick Burke and Bob Fraser all ahead. He must wait for as long as three years before finally his got the chance to prove himself worth to be the first team player, when Craig was injured.

The Magpies entertained Newport County in a Second Division match and ran off the field 13-0 victory. Bobby recalled his league baptism, “It was made very easy for me. Newport were never at my end of the field! The Welsh were no world beaters, yet good enough to take revenge later in the season – we went down 4-2″.

The 1955 FA Cup victory over Manchester City was the last game Cowell played in England for Newcastle United. On the summer tour of Europe he was involved in a clash with a German full-back of FC Nurnberg by the name of Uckow. Bobby was left in agony and was carried off with knee ligament trouble.

Cowell said, “Uckow had been given a hard time by Jimmy Scoular and he took it out on me”. The German was sent off for the foul challenge and had, as it turned out, finished the career of one of United’s foremost defenders.

In spite of expert attention the injury put Bobby off the pay-roll at St James’ Park. Cowell was 33 years old and had made, including wartime games, 408 appearances. He was the first post-war Newcastle player to be awarded a testimonial match and 36,000 supported his benefit game in April 1956.

Since then Cowell has been employed on Tyneside in various jobs, from scaffolder to storekeeper, as well as coach to local sides. Residing in Ponteland, Bobby has watched the up and down fortunes of Newcastle United and recalled his days as a spectator with almost as much pleasure as his playing career.

“The run to Wembley in 1974 was exceptional. I was jumping up and down when Supermac hit the second against Burnley just like everyone else at Hillsborough”.

Bobby Cowell was one of those players who consistently got on with the job at hand in an undramatic way, in many ways like his full-back partner, Alf McMichael. He was a footballer rarely rewarded with headlines but, happily in this case, one who was rewarded with three FA Cup medals instead.

It’s hardly to choose who is the greatest player for Newcastle United. Jackie Milburn may have been hero on his era, Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley are also Newcastle United greatest player.

Let me tell you, I was one of those fan who fancy Alan Shearer the most, he is my greatest idol and I have his own signature on a piece of his photograph whishing me all the best.

But, let’s be honest, for those who are live in Shearer era like me, where he is still playing for Newcastle United will see him as the greatest player, that’s true, he is the real great player, one of the world best centre forward.

But, if you ask your father, your uncle or someone who are much older than us, who are live in the era of Jackie Milburn, Bobby Moncur, Malcolm MacDonald, Paul Gascoigne, Chris Waddle, Peter Beardsley or even Kevin Keegan will also said that they are the greatest player for Newcastle United.

So, my point is I think it’s not fair to judge only one player as the greates United player. We have more than one great players, too many to mentioned if we asking each one of Toon Army worldwide.

Peter Beardsley is also the greatest player, and he is not living in a shadow. I was also one of the admirer of his great talented skill.

So, in my opinion, we much better to mention any Newcastle United player as one of the greatest players, and none of them are live in a shadow. No one is forgotten.

We are the Geordies, we are the Toon Army and we always pay the highest respect to those who play well and dedicated all his best for the Black-’N-White, and for them I salute you!!!