Greatest Newcastle United Players Ever – Top 10 Legends
5. Hughie Gallacher [1925-1930]
Gallacher had excellent ball control, guile, and instinct, being able to go past opposing defenders with ease. Although a mere 5′ 5″, he was a huge threat for any defence as he possessed grand strike power. Gallacher could shoot with either foot, dribble with the ball, head, tackle and forage. There were four occasions when he scored five goals in a game. He also created chances for other players.
At Newcastle United, Gallacher made an immediate impact, scoring two goals on his debut four days after signing in the 3–3 home draw against Everton. He scored 15 goals in his first nine games. He ended the season with 23 league goals in 19 games, ending up as the club’s top scorer despite signing halfway through the season.
Gallacher had an excellent goal per game ratio, in 174 games that he played for Newcastle, he managed to score 143 times. His strike rate of over 82% is the most prolific in Newcastle’s history.
4. Peter Beardsley [1983-1987 & 1993-1997]
Beardsley signed for the Magpies in the September of 1983. He was very pacey, incisive, and skilful forward. He was an instant hit with the Newcastle supporters, scoring and setting up spectacular goals. Beardsley went on to celebrate promotion with his teammates, who were captained by Kevin Keegan in his final season as a player.
They finished in the final promotion spot behind winners Chelsea and runners-up Sheffield Wednesday. He scored 20 league goals that season and formed an exciting strike partnership with former England striker Kevin Keegan. Beardsley’s career would have echoes of that enjoyed by Keegan, who retired at the end of that promotion campaign.
In his first season in the First Division, Beardsley scored 17 goals in 38 league games as Newcastle finished in 14th position. During the following campaign, he played in all of Newcastle’s 42 league matches, scoring 19 goals. In one fixture against West Ham United, Beardsley ended the game as a stand-in goalkeeper. The game ended in an 8–1 defeat for Newcastle, with Beardsley conceding the last 3 goals.
Over two spells at the club, Beardsley played a total of 324 games and scored 119 goals.
3. Jimmy Lawrence`[1904-1922]
Lawrence was a formidable stopper and an integral part of United’s great Edwardian side. He spent 14 seasons as United’s first-choice goalkeeper and won three Championship medals during his Tyneside stay.
Durable and consistent, along with John ‘Jock’ Rutherford and Colin Veitch, he was one of only three players to take part in all of United’s Edwardian era successes.
He played with Newcastle for eighteen years after joining the Tyneside club in 1904 and still holds the record for making the most appearances for them – 432 league appearances, 496 matches in total. He is one of the greatest Newcastle United players ever.