One of our own: Sean Longstaff's Magpies journey | OneFootball

2006 - Rising through the youth ranks

After playing for local boys club, North Shields Juniors, Longstaff joined Newcastle's Academy in 2006 and progressed through the Magpies' youth set-up before making his Under-18s debut in April 2014.

Longstaff recorded six goals and three assists in 11 Premier League 2 outings for Newcastle's Under-23s side before joining Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock for the remainder of the 2016/17 season, scoring a 90th minute winner on his Killie debut.

Offered a third year in his full-time scholarship at the Little Benton Academy, Longstaff joined League One Blackpool for the duration of the 2017/18 season, registering nine goals and six assists in 45 outings for the Seasiders.

17th July 2018 - First Magpies goal

Longstaff travelled with Newcastle's first-team squad, managed by Rafael Benítez, to a pre-season training camp in the Republic of Ireland ahead of the 2018/19 campaign and made a positive impact in his first appearance for the club at senior level, scoring in a 2-0 win against St. Patrick's Athletic in Dublin.

Twenty years old at the time, Longstaff was one of just two players to play the full 90 minutes and opened the scoring before half-time, with Christian Atsu doubling the visitors' lead at Richmond Park in what would prove to be a breakthrough campaign for the young central midfielder.

29th August 2018 - Competitive Magpies debut

Longstaff fulfilled a childhood dream in featuring for Newcastle United in a competitive fixture for the first time after starting in United's Carabao Cup tie away at Nottingham Forest in the 2018/19 season.

Named on the bench in Newcastle's Premier League defeat against Chelsea at St. James' Park three days prior, Longstaff was one of seven changes for the second round encounter at the City Ground, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 defeat against the Tricky Trees.

“The result is what you play the game for, to win, and we’ve lost tonight so it puts a downer on it,” he said. “But hopefully in a week’s time, a month’s time or even 25 years from now when I look back on my career, I’ll say, ‘I made my debut for Newcastle United on this night’.

“But it matters now, and we’re disappointed. It’s a brilliant night for me to be able to play in the game, but we just couldn’t get the win to put the cherry on top.”

26th December 2018 - Premier League debut

After penning a new four-year contract with the club, Longstaff was then handed his Premier League debut in a 4-0 away defeat against Liverpool on Boxing Day, replacing Brazilian winger Kenedy with less than 20 minutes remaining to make his English top-flight bow at Anfield.

“To be able to make your Premier League debut for Newcastle, in a game you’ve always wanted to play in, in one of the biggest stadiums in the world and one of the most iconic is unbelievable," he told newcastleunited.com.

“I think if you asked anyone where they’d want to make their Premier League debut, they’d say either their home club or probably an Anfield or Old Trafford."

15th January 2019 - First Magpies goal

Beginning the new year with a first Premier League start against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Longstaff continued to impress for the Magpies after scoring his first goal for his hometown club in a 4-2 extra-time victory against Blackburn Rovers in an FA Cup third round replay.

The midfielder netted inside 56 seconds at Ewood Park - the quickest goal by a Newcastle player in the competition since Jackie Milburn's 45 second header in the 1955 final, subsequently receiving a congratulatory tweet from the club's all-time leading goalscorer, Alan Shearer.

"I'm over the moon," Longstaff said. "Obviously playing games is great, and making your debut, but I think when (you) score your first goal that is probably the moment you've dreamt of the most: scoring for Newcastle United.

"Whatever happens in my career, I can always say I've scored for my boyhood team, for Newcastle United, so I'm over the moon and it helps that we won the game as well."

26th February 2019 - First Premier League goal

Another personal accolade was ticked off as Longstaff netted his maiden Premier League goal during a 2-0 win against Burnley at St. James' Park.

After Fabian Schär opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort, Longstaff extended the hosts' lead with a low drive in front of the Leazes End.

His impressive displays in the middle of the park alongside Isaac Hayden resulted in a nomination for February's Premier League Player of the Month award.

2nd April 2019 - Newcastle United Foundation Ambassador

As well as shining on the pitch, Longstaff was named as an ambassador for the Newcastle United Foundation in April 2019 as well as supporting the charity's partnership with Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Newcastle United Foundation engages with nearly 70,000 children, young people and adults every year through education, health, employability and football projects across Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland and North Tyneside.

Longstaff, who was also named as Newcastle United's PFA Community Champion for 2018/19, said: "The Foundation does such amazing work throughout our communities and, as someone who has grown up in Newcastle, I wanted to get more involved in supporting all the good things they are doing to make a difference to disadvantaged children and young people in our region."

6th October 2019 - Brothers in Arms

It wasn't just Sean who progressed through the Magpies' Academy ranks as a youngster as brother Matty also replicated a similar pathway to his older brother.

Matty was handed his Premier League debut in a 1-0 victory against Manchester United and scored a memorable winner in front of the Gallowgate End, which won the Premier League Goal of the Month award, whilst playing alongside his brother in the middle of the park.

“I think I was shouting, ‘shoot!’, but when it went in it’s a feeling you can’t really explain,” Sean told newcastleunited.com. “I paused for a little second and I thought I was going to burst out crying or something. I’m just so proud of him. He deserves that moment today and I’m over the moon for him."

25th May 2022 - Three more years

Following the club's takeover in October 2021, Newcastle managed to avoid relegation from the Premier League despite failing to win any of their first 14 league games and languishing in the relegation zone.

United, though, secured 12 wins in their final 18 games to secure an impressive 11th place finish and Longstaff, nearing a century of Newcastle appearances at the time, was rewarded with a new three-year contract at the end of the season.

31st January 2023 - The local hero

Arguably one of Longstaff's greatest games in a black and white shirt, the midfielder played a pivotal role in Newcastle's passage into a first domestic cup final since 1999 after netting both goals in a 2-1 win against Southampton in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

After a 1-0 away win in the first leg against the Saints, Eddie Howe's side got off to the perfect start at a raucous St. James' Park as Longstaff rifled a low effort into the net inside five minutes, his first ever goal in front of the Gallowgate End, before doubling his and Newcastle's tally before the half-hour mark of the last-four tie.

26th February 2023 - Cup finalist

The Magpies' hopes of ending a 68-year wait for a domestic trophy would go on following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United in the 2023 Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Longstaff started the highly-anticipated game against the Red Devils, proudly walking out onto the famous pitch in front of over 87,000 spectators, which included a tremendous backing from the United supporters, but first-half goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford meant Newcastle left empty-handed.

Fortunately, the club's silverware drought would reach its climax two years later.

22nd May 2023 - Champions League bound

Newcastle secured UEFA Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years during the 2022/23 campaign, with Longstaff proving a mainstay in the Magpies' midfield, starting 28 of the opening 33 Premier League matches.

Despite missing five of United's final six league fixtures with a foot injury, Longstaff did feature in a goalless draw against Leicester City in May which, ultimately, clinched a top-four finish and saw a return to Europe's elite club competition, playing the full 90 minutes at St. James' Park.

19th September 2023 - Champions League debut

Drawn against AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund in the group stages of the Champions League, Longstaff made his first appearance in the star-studded tournament following a goalless stalemate against AC Milan.

A dogged display at the iconic San Siro saw Howe's side gain a commendable point, with Longstaff going agonisingly close to netting a late winner and securing the club's first away win in a European fixture since 2013.

6th October 2023 - An un-four-gettable night

Champions League football returned to St. James' Park for the first time in two decades as Newcastle faced PSG on Tyneside in October 2023 and it proved to be a night for the history books following an incredible 4-1 triumph against the French heavyweights.

After the hosts netted twice in the first-half, following goals from Miguel Almirón and Geordie defender Dan Burn, Longstaff extended United's lead shortly after the break and, despite Lucas Hernández's effort reducing the deficit, Schär's emphatic stoppage-time strike sealed a terrific victory.

1st November 2023 - Skipper success

Two days after his 26th birthday, Longstaff was handed the captain's armband for his boyhood club as Newcastle exacted revenge on Man United after knocking the Carabao Cup holders out of the competition at the fourth round stage following a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford.

Also making his 150th appearance for the Magpies, goals from Miguel Almirón, Lewis Hall and Joe Willock capped off a proud night for Longstaff, who went close to scoring in the closing stages of the cup tie as Newcastle secured a first away win against the Red Devils since 2013.

6th January 2024 - Derby day delight

After nearly eight years since the last Tyne-Wear derby, Newcastle were drawn against local rivals Sunderland in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

United claimed a 3-0 win against their North east neighbours at the Stadium of Light following Dan Ballard's own goal and Alexander Isak's second-half brace in front of 6,000 travelling away supporters.

Following Newcastle's first Tyne-Wear derby win since 2011, with the achievement marked with a celebratory team photo on the pitch after the full-time whistle, Longstaff labelled the cup triumph as "one of the best days I've had playing football".

28th August 2024 - The road to glory

Newcastle were handed a difficult draw in last season's Carabao Cup second round - an away tie against Nottingham Forest - but the Magpies prevailed via penalties to book their place in round three.

After Joe Willock's close-range strike inside 18 seconds was cancelled out by Jota Silva, the contest was settled by a penalty shoot-out and despite Joelinton missing from 12 yards, failed conversions by Forest duo Ibrahim Sangaré and Taiwo Awoniyi left Longstaff to convert the winning spot-kick, almost six years on from making his competitive Magpies bow at the same venue.

16th March 2023 - History maker

A day that will live long in the memory, Newcastle delivered their first piece of major silverware for the first time since 1969 after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

The United squad etched their names in the club's history books, with Longstaff winning the first trophy of his career before, later that month, completing an open top bus parade with his Newcastle teammates and coaching staff to mark the club's cup triumph, with hundreds of thousands of fans lining the streets as they embarked through the city centre before celebrating on the Town Moor.

Everyone at Newcastle United thanks Sean for his outstanding service to the club and wishes him the very best of luck for the future.