1895 Andy Smailes born, Radcliffe, Northumberland. (1919-22)

Inside right signed from Blyth Spartans at a cost of £300, having begun his playing career with Ashington.

Debuting for Newcastle in a 1-2 defeat at Sheffield United in December 1919, Smailes marked his SJP debut with a goal in a 2-1 victory over the Blades a week later.

Enjoying his best season in 1920/21 when netting 18 league goals - one less than top scorer Neil Harris - Smailes fell from favour and played his final game in a 0-2 loss away to Sheffield United in September 1922.

Signing for Sheffield Wednesday in a £1,500 deal the following month, Smailes moved on again 12 months later to Bristol City.
 Rotherham August 1929

Joining Rotherham as a centre half in August 1929, he switched from player to trainer in 1934 and was Millers boss from 1952 to 1958 - narrowly failing to gain promotion to the First Division on goal average in 1955.

Managing Scarborough between 1959 and 1961, Andy's passing was recorded in the Somerset town of Shepton Mallet during October 1978. 

1975 Laurent Robert born, Saint-Benoit, 
La Réunion. (2001-05)

French international left winger who began his career with Montpelier and was signed from Paris St.Germain in August 2001 at a cost of £9.5m. 

Introduced to the SJP crowd ahead of the Intertoto tie with 1860 Munich, Laurent's first outing was in Robert Lee's testimonial against Athletic Bilbao, before a debut in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea, with Bobby Robson saying,  "I think we have signed a gem". 

Robert's first goal came in his third game for the club and was a memorable effort to cap a 4-1 win at the smoggies. Three more strikes then followed in four-goal victories (4-3 at home to Man United, 4-0 at Bolton and 4-1 at home to Ipswich in the League Cup), before sealing our famous Highbury victory as we topped the table. 

Five more goals and various assists followed that season as United finished fourth, going one place better in the following campaign - although Laurent enjoyed a less prolific season in front of goal.

A dozen netbusters followed in what proved to be Sir Bobby's last full campaign in charge, including two stupendous efforts in a home win over Spurs in December 2003.

However, those goals and other wonderful free kick conversions were becoming less and less representative of Robert's input, while writing a regular comment column on his own website (often critical of the club) hardly endeared him to colleagues and fans.

Grappling on the training pitch with Andy Griffin and storming into the SJP press room to confront a reporter showed some of the gallic fire in his belly, but an awful display on the night we exited from the UEFA Cup in Marseille showed up his unreliability.

The final season of Robert's SJP career was something of a long goodbye, his attitude never likely to prove popular with the newly-installed Graeme Souness.

This had come to a head by the time United played the second leg of their UEFA Cup Quarter Final away to Sporting Lisbon.

Robert watching from the stand as his side threw away a lead having being dropped following pre-match comments in the press criticising club performances, tactics and transfers - claiming (correctly) that United had gone backwards in twelve months.

With no communication between him and Souness a parting was inevitable and following a farewell bow against Chelsea when he left the SJP pitch clad only in grey underpants, his bags were packed.

Pantaloon

Joining Portsmouth on a season-long loan, the departure of French boss Alain Perrin soon sent that into a tailspin - after just one goal and a public refusal to be among the substitute in a game at the mackems.

Nominally a Newcastle player again in late 2005, he was released from his deal and joined Portuguese side Benfica in 2006.

After just one year in Lisbon though, he was sold on to Spanish side Levante and after an
equally uninspiring spell in La Liga returned to England with Derby County in 2008.

However, Robert played just four times for the Rams and could do nothing to halt their headlong slide into the Championship.

His next stop was Canada, signing for MLS side Toronto after a successful trial, playing under his former United coach John Carver.

That lasted barely five months though before the winger was on the move again, linking up with his one-time Magpies team mate Nicos Dabizas at Greek side Larissa.

Back in France by 2009 Robert tried to keep fit by training with former club PSG - along with fellow free agent, Fabrice Pancrate.

And when the latter was offered a trial at SJP, Robert encouraged him to go - before urging United to let him return, when a deal was agreed for Pancrate. Chris Hughton mysteriously lost his number though....

Hanging up his boots, Laurent returned to former club Montpellier during 2014 as a coach, assisting their youth and women's teams.

1990 James Marwood born St. Albans.
(2006-09)

Reserve and Academy midfielder who made his second string debut off the bench in March 2007 against Sheffield United at Chesterfield's former Saltergate home.

The son of former Hull City, Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday & United winger Brian, James failed to win a professional deal at SJP and was released in 2009, having suffered numerous injury setbacks.

After trials at both Darlington and Carlisle, he signed for Blyth Spartans and later joined Gateshead, via a stint at Northern League side, Team Northumbria.

Loaned to AFC Halifax during the 2011/12 season, James later returned to the International Stadium and agreed a new contract with the Tynesiders in 2012.

Marwood helped Gateshead secure a third -place finish in the Conference and a place in the promotion playoff final in May 2014. 

Beaten 1-2 by Cambridge United at Wembley SPFL side St.Mirren took advantage of his free agent status and he debuted against Motherwell the following August.

Life in Paisley failed to work out for Marwood though and he left in January 2015 after failing to score in 15 league and cup games.

Joining Forest Green Rovers for the rest of that season, he subsequently returned to Gateshead but was released in May 2016. 

Turning to coaching and completing his UEFA B licence, James moved to the USA with San Diego-based PDL side SoCal Surf Soccer. 

1991 Max Johnson born, Norwich.
(2007-10)