My favourite Newcastle United central defenders | OneFootball

As Newcastle fans, we all love our Number 9s, ace goalscorers and flair players.

So I thought I would compile a small dossier on the sometimes unsung heroes.

Here’s an article on my favourite Newcastle United central defenders.

Bobby Moncur and Pat Howard were the first central defensive pairing I can remember.

Moncur is quite rightly seen as a Toon legend, he also proudly captained the Scotland national team that featured greats likes Denis Law and Billy Bremner.

Pat Howard was a no nonsense Yorkshireman and a very decent player. I wrote an article (‘I really liked Pat Howard’) on the Mag a couple of years ago.

Irving Nattrass is one of the most cultured and underrated United players in the last half century. He was extremely versatile and could play at right-back, central defence (or deployed as a sweeper) and even in midfield if required.

Scottish international John Blackley had a short spell at Gallowgate in the late 1970s, and was as reliable as they come.

I always had a soft spot for Steve Carney, another ‘Mr Versatility’ in the Nattrass mould. Steve could not half handle the tough aspects of the game too.

Still in my teens when United were promoted in 1984, our fans were treat to the partnership of Glenn Roeder and Jeff Clarke.

Glenn was an excellent skipper and the scorer of some important goals. No one will ever forget the ‘Roeder Shuffle’.

Jeff Clarke is probably the best free transfer in United’s history and we got him off the mackems.

A few fans had doubts about Big Jeff because he looked too handsome to be a centre half. We needn’t have worried, he was a class act.

Peter Jackson was a hell of a buy when Willie McFaul swooped to bring him to the Magpies from Bradford City.

Alongside Glenn Roeder, Jacko was an integral part of the United team that valiantly staved off relegation in 1986/87.

Bjorn Kristensen was stylish and versatile. He had a canny long range shot on him and the fans took to the big Dane during his spell on Tyneside.

Brian ‘Killer’ Kilcline was the catalyst for Newcastle’s amazing escape from looming disaster in 1992.

With United hurtling towards the Third Division, King Kev needed a strong leader, and he couldn’t have chosen a bigger or better man for the job.

Kevin Scott and Steve Howey were more than a canny pair of Newcastle United central defenders and Steve went on to play for England.

Darren Peacock and Philippe Albert complemented each other perfectly. Peacock was a natural defender and sound reader of the game. Fan favourite Albert on the other hand, liked to casually forage forward and had an eye for the spectacular.

Sir Bobby Robson brought in a couple of very good loanees, Cristovao Helder and Sylvian Distin, in the early noughties.

Nikos Dabizas and Andy O’Brien were a fine pairing when United had an excellent season in 2001/02.

Sir Bobby Robson brought Jonathan Woodgate to the club from Leeds in January 2003. A player of profound ability and undoubted class, Woodgate’s short spell at the club would unfortunately be defined by cruel injuries.

Fabrizio Coloccini and Mike Williamson forged a very good working relationship, when the Honorable Chris Hughton’s United side blitzed the Championship in 2009/10.

We have recently been treat to some more splendid central defenders.

Jamaal Lascelles has been a fine servant for Newcastle United since he arrived at the club from Nottingham Forest.

Rafa Benitez brought in both Florian Lejeune and Fabian Schar.

Florian was class and in the opinion of many, very unlucky. Fab of course is now a part of the United team who have created history this season.

Newcastle beat off competition from AC Milan in 2022 to land Sven Botman. I can’t wait till we see the big Dutchman fit and raring to go again in the black and white stripes.

And so I come to Geordie ‘Man of the Year’. His name is Big Dan Burn and he comes from Blyth.

This upstanding pillar of our community is currently living the dream. I was so happy for Dan, after he accomplished at Wembley what every little Geordie lad dreams about.

I may have unintentionally left some canny players out but I definitely didn’t falter in leaving out some really awful ones.

There are a few of you who go back a bit further than me, so use the comments section if you saw the likes of John McGrath, John McNamee, Ollie Burton etc. Even further back and the likes of Frank Brennan and Bob Stokoe for that matter.