Here at The Mag we invited a number of regular/irregular contributors to give us their Newcastle United heroes and villains.
Our thanks to David Punton for taking up the challenge.
David has looked back at his Newcastle United heroes and villains across the various decades when he has been supporting NUFC.
Newcastle United hero of the 1990s
A sheet metal worker’s son from Gosforth.
He also goes by the name of Alan Shearer. Remember him?
At the time that United broke the transfer record in the summer of 1996 to land Shearer, he was, in my view, the best striker in the world.
It was hard to believe that he opted to come home. He could have joined Fergie at Man Utd and won the lot.
If that’s not a local hero, then I don’t know what it. What followed was a ten year goal scoring odyssey and at times he carried the club.
Newcastle United cult hero of the 1990s
I was actually away at university in 1997 when we played Barcelona at home in the Champions League.
Tino Asprilla was the man of the moment that night, and as I listened to the game on the radio (as I was down the other end of the country and back then only one CL game was on live TV) I could barely believe the drama that unfolded. He destroyed the Catalan giants that night.
Asprilla was already a cult hero for his style of play and, shall we say, colourful lifestyle choices. Didn’t he make his debut at Boro after having a glass of red wine with his lunch?
It was sad when he left and he’s so fondly remembered.
Honourable mention in this category for David Kelly. Immense in what was the First Division. Without Ned, who knows eh?
Newcastle United villain of the 1990s
I don’t dislike Kenny Daglish as a person but he goes down in this bracket because of what he did with Keegan’s team. It seemed bonkers to change it as much as he did.
All we needed was a bit of tinkering in defence. Instead, we became Dad’s Army.
We were given Rush and Barnes in their twilight years, while Ginola fell out with the Scot and asked to leave.
Sorry Kenny but it just didn’t work.
Not so obvious Newcastle United villain of the 1990s
Douglas Hall. A member of the board and son of Sir John. He was with Freddy Shepherd when they got caught in a News of the World sting making comments about women. They also labelled Alan Shearer as “Mary Poppins”. The whole episode just heaped embarrassment on the club.
Newcastle United hero of the 2000s
The Black and White Knight.
Sir Bobby Robson took us on a wonderful five year journey. He saved the club from what looked a certain relegation season. He landed the job he should have taken in 1997. Robson came home.
He saved Shearer’s career. Built a very decent attacking side and delivered the Champions League.
His time at the club is remembered with immense fondness. Such a shame when he got sacked, something which was, in hindsight, an error.
Issue 126 – September 1999
Newcastle United cult hero of the 2000s
Any footballer who can play the trumpet is in there.
Step forward Nobby Solano, the Peruvian playmaker. A magician and someone who Diego Maradona dubbed ‘the little maestro’.
Two spells at the club. His musical talents allied to the fact he was a very good winger, hard as nails too, and a great attitude.
Newcastle United villain of the 2000s
Sorry to be dull here but I have to choose Mike Ashley.
His 2007 takeover initially looked like we’d won the lottery but it quickly unravelled. It was a miserable 14+ years for the bulk of it.
Special mention also in this category for Michael Owen, who, as we now know, hated being at the club and didn’t try when the chips were down.
Not so obvious Newcastle United villain of the 2000s
I always joke, ‘where were you the day Joe Kinnear became Newcastle United manager?’
It was a moment that I recall vividly. I was walking through town and got a text message saying it had just broken on Sky Sports.
Totally out of his depth and had been out the game too long.
He backed that up with a fiery opening press conference packed with expletives and rudeness.
That’s not how it’s done, even if many look back on it and laugh.
He was a terrible appointment and had us on the slide before a health issue saw him depart in early 2009.
I won’t even mention his second stint as director of football.
Newcastle United hero of the 2010s
Rafa Benitez. He stayed amid the Ashley chaos in 2016 and delivered promotion at the first time of asking.
Okay, so some of the football at times honked, but you can’t really argue with his record and Mike Ashley had him working with one arm tied behind his back.
He’d actually started to build something before his patience snapped and he understandably walked out in the summer of 2019.
He gave us that final day of the Championship season in May 2017 when he pipped Brighton to top spot amid high drama.
Newcastle United cult hero of the 2010s
Leadership was vital after we went down in 2009.
Kevin Nolan is the man who gave us that. He stayed on and was simply magnificent in getting us promoted in 2010.
He was pretty damned good in the Premier League too, with that hat-trick against the mackems writing his name into local folklore.
Kev loved the area and his nights out. Him and Andy Carroll made a great pairing, on and off the pitch.
Newcastle United villain of the 2010s
Mike Ashley – again.
In this decade Ashley gave us a second relegation since he got his name above the door.
It was the same owner who a few years earlier renamed St James Park and gave us the optics of the name plate crowbarred off the wall. It was cultural vandalism. Repeated bonus rows with the players and we became a selling club with the annual goal of finishing 17th.
Issue 240 – 24 October 2009
Newcastle United not so obvious villain of the 2010s
Brought in to run the club by Ashley, his experience appeared to be running casinos.
The polar opposite of what we saw with Amanda Staveley.
Newcastle United hero of the 2020s
I’ll let others say Eddie Howe!
I’m going for Big Dan Burn.
A Geordie with a winning goal in a cup final at Wembley. A thumping header to boot.
He’s been a mainstay for us. A colossal player. A leader.
Burn’s meteoric rise, from ASDA trolley warden to top flight footballer is an inspiration.
Newcastle United cult hero of the 2020s
Keen to throw in the name of Miggy Almiron here.
Newcastle United villain of the 2020s
Alexander Isak.
An object lesson in how not to leave a football club.
In a recent BBC interview he made no mention of his time here or how he helped the club win a trophy.
Not so obvious Newcastle United villain of the 2020s
Dare I say this final one is slightly vague.
The not so obvious villain of the 2020s is whoever the person is who allowed Elliot Anderson to be sold and who was involved in hastening Amanda Staveley’s departure.