Here at The Mag we invited a number of regular/irregular contributors to give us their Newcastle United heroes and villains.
Our thanks to Toon Man for taking up the challenge.
Toon Man has looked back at his Newcastle United heroes and villains across the various decades when he has been supporting NUFC.
In the long, passionate, often bittersweet story of Newcastle United, the black-and-white stripes have always represented more than a kit. They stand for a city, a people, a fierce loyalty that elevates ordinary men into legends and casts others into lasting infamy.
For the Toon Army, heroes are those who understand the weight of the shirt—who play with heart, skill, and a certain Geordie swagger. Villains are those who betray that trust, through indifference, incompetence, or worse.
Let us walk the decades since the 1970s, sampling a few of each, not as exhaustive lists but as illustrations of what the stands at St. James’ Park have cherished and condemned.
The 1970s: Supermac’s Thunder and Boardroom Shadows
Hero: Malcolm Macdonald— “Supermac”—was the decade’s defining hero. Signed in 1971, the powerful, flamboyant centre-forward scored with a swagger that matched the crowd’s roar. His goals carried Newcastle to the 1974 FA Cup final (a painful Wembley loss to Liverpool) and lit up the Gallowgate. He embodied the club’s attacking tradition and became an idol for a generation.
Cult hero: Manager Joe Harvey, architect of the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup triumph that still echoes as the club’s last major European silverware of that era, remained a respected figure in the early years of the decade for the stability and pride he brought.
Villain: Gordon Lee’s decision to sell Macdonald in 1976 still rankles as a short-sighted betrayal of a genuine star. The club’s eventual slide toward relegation later in the decade felt like a failure of ambition, leaving fans with the sense that those in charge did not fully grasp the hunger of the support.
Not so obvious Villain: Richard Dinnis was a complete catastrophe! Schoolteacher turned manager – completely out of his depth. But only there due to Gordon Lee’s betrayal.
The 1980s: Keegan’s Resurrection and the Sale of the Family Silver
Hero: Kevin Keegan’s arrival as a player in 1982 remains one of the most electrifying moments in modern club history. The former European Footballer of the Year galvanised the Second Division side, inspired promotion in 1984, and restored belief.
Three Cult Heroes – (I can’t separate): Our local talent! Chris Waddle’s mesmeric wing play, Peter Beardsley’s clever movement and goals, and the teenage spark of Paul Gascoigne. These were heroes who felt like extensions of the city themselves skillful, passionate, and recognisably Geordie.
Villain: The Board: Waddle to Tottenham, Beardsley to Liverpool, and eventually Gascoigne to Spurs represented a hollowing out. The board’s willingness to cash in on home-grown excellence while the team drifted back toward relegation left a scar. Ambition appeared secondary to balance sheets and the faithful never forgot.
Not so obvious Villain: Willie McFaul – he okay’d the selling of Gazza.
© 1988 The Mag. All rights reserved.
The 1990s: The Entertainers and a Manager’s Folly
Kevin Keegan returned as manager and became the decade’s central hero. Taking a side staring at the third tier, he engineered promotion and then built the “Entertainers”—a free-flowing, attacking machine that eventually challenged Manchester United for the Premier League title in 1995-96. David Ginola’s elegance, Andy Cole’s predatory finishing (before his controversial sale), Les Ferdinand’s power, and the eventual homecoming of Alan Shearer in 1996 for a world-record fee, completed a side that captured the imagination of a nation.
Hero: Sir John Hall – Brought the club from the ashes with the hiring of Keegan, the purchase of Shearer and the other “entertainers” plus the renovation of SJP. He and The Magpie Group are owed so much but seldom get credit (Sir Bobby getting the boot and the selling to Mike Ashley blemished their record. But, in the 1990s, they almost got us a title).
Cult Hero: Faustino Asprilla is my cult hero among a plethora of contenders. Fur coat. Hat-trick v Barcelona, other unforgettable moments. Loved him!
Villain: Ruud Gullit toward the end of the decade. The Dutchman, for all his pedigree, dropped Shearer and alienated the support with results and attitude that felt disconnected from the club’s soul. The sense of a special era slipping away was palpable.
Not so obvious Villain: Controversial – but I think it’s KK. He left at the worst possible time without warning causing irreparable harm – plus it broke my heart.
The 2000s: Sir Bobby’s Dignity and the Onset of Disillusion
Hero: Sir Bobby Robson stands as the decade’s great hero. Taking over a side in freefall in 1999, the gentleman of the game restored pride, guided Newcastle into the Champions League, and extracted the best from Shearer in his later years.
Cult Hero: Chris Hughton – he righted a sinking ship and managed an exciting and organised team, only to have the FCB fire him for his efforts.
Villain: Michael Owen’s big-money arrival brought more injury frustration than glory. I think I may hate him more than my not so obvious villain – hence the ranking).
Issue 230 – 20 October 2008
Not-so-obvious Villain: Mike Ashley purchased the club. What began with some initial goodwill soon soured into the long winter of perceived underinvestment, commercial prioritisation over competitive ambition, and a growing gulf between ownership and the stands. His firing of Chris Hughes was criminal. As was the first relegation he oversaw.
The 2010s: Cult Figures Amid the Ashley Storm
In a decade of struggle and another Ashley relegation, heroes emerged in unexpected places. Lots of tough watches but Rafa and various B/W heroes created some magic.
Hero: Rafael Benítez, who stayed after the 2016 relegation and delivered an immediate Championship title and return to the Premier League, was embraced as a manager who understood the supporters’ longing for competence and respect.
Cult Hero: Matt Ritchie – he was my favourite with his leadership, energy, and kicks of the corner flag. Great servant and a better person. Plus – he gave Steve Bruce a rightly deserved public comeuppance!
Villain: Mike Ashley remained the overarching villain—symbol of an era many fans experienced as neglectful and transactional. Blood sucking leech on the entire city.
The 2020s: Renewal and the Weight of Expectation
The takeover in late 2021 ended the Ashley years and ushered in new hope. Eddie Howe has been the clear managerial hero, transforming a relegation-threatened side into Champions League competitors through organisation, culture, and smart recruitment.
Hero: Amanda Staveley – got the club purchase across the line and was positive in her communication and relationship with the fans. What Amanda did for our club and the city cannot be understated!
Cult Hero: Jacob Murphy – I admit he’s usually a very average player, but he does two things I love: (1) He gets the ball in the box quickly and with accuracy and (2) He makes me laugh. His antics are so refreshing as they are mostly harmless but can get under an opponent’s skin. Remember waving goodbye to Southampton defender Caleta-Carr? Priceless!
Villain: The underwhelming Steve Bruce. Dean Wormer got it wrong…I guess you can get ahead being “Fat, Drunk, and Stupid” (“Animal House” reference for you bairns).
Not so obvious Villain: Richard Masters, he’s been a big reason in my opinion why the elite six get to cheat under the guise of “fair play” and club “financial health”. Tell me how a club with no debt and rich owners that want to invest can spend less than a club that is a billion in debt?
Across these decades, the pattern is clear. Newcastle heroes are those who give themselves to the cause and recognise the unique intensity of the support. Villains are those who treat the club as a business transaction or a temporary stage. The Toon Army’s memory is long, its affection fierce, and its judgment exacting. In the end, the black-and-white story continues, written match by match, decade by decade, in the hearts of those who never stop believing.