Newcastle Northern Ireland Team

Page layout based on design by Stuart Nicholls

First figure = total caps and figure in brackets = caps with Newcastle.

subs

Iam McFaul - 6 (5) caps

Born: Coleraine [1st Oct 1943]

The fact that Willie McFaul won only 6 full caps is not a reflection on his own ability it is simply because his career overlapped that of the world class Pat Jennings.

He had already won his first cap (as a sub against England in 1967) before he joined United from Linfield and won five more between 1970 and 1974.

His key strengths were his reflexes, agility and big match temperament.

Also capped at youth and amatuer levels.

Bill McCracken - 16 (8) caps

Born: Belfast [29th Jan 1883]

One of the greatest and most innovative players of his time. It was Bill's tactical mastery that made him a target of fruit and vegetable wielding supporters and forced the authorities to change the offside law in 1925.

He was a controversial personality and his dogmatic and anti-authoritarian standpoint often got him into trouble.

Indeed his meagre total of caps (including one unofficial game) in his 23-year playing career was a result of a dispute with the Irish FA over payments for matches.

He first played for his country in 1902 as a teenager and his last appearance was in 1923 aged 40.

Alf McMichael - 40 (40) caps

Born: Belfast [1st Oct 1927]

Regarded by many as one of the finest left-backs of his time McMichael captained both club and country.

Alf was Northern Ireland's Number 3 throughout the 1950s and played in the 1958 World Cup team.

Calm and assured on the ball with fine positional sense he always seemed to raise his game when up against the toughest of opponents.

Stanley Matthews would once state that he was "one of the finest full-backs" he had ever played against.

David McCreery - 67 (19) caps

Born: Belfast [16th Sep 1957]

Workaholic David was a regular member of his country's team from the late 1970's right through to the end of the 1980s and turned out in the World Cup Finals of 1982 and 1986.

His determination and non-stop running made him a fan's favourite and he played at school, youth and Under 21 levels before his first full cap in 1976 when he was still in his teens.

His 67 caps make him one of the top appearance makers in his country's history.

David Craig - 25 (25) caps

Born: Comber [8th Jun 1944]

Another hugely popular player Comber born Craig spent 18 years on Tyneside.

Classy, consistent and dependable Craig was a perfect full-back and excellent team man and was regarded as one of the best defenders in the game during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

He won his first cap in 1967 and his last in 1975 and would have played a lot more international games if he hadn't been so unlucky with injuries throughout his career.

Also capped at U23 level.

Aaron Hughes - 64 (21) caps

Born: Magharafelt [8th Nov 1979]

Accomplished defender who is at home at centre or full back Hughes made his international debut against Slovakia in 1998 soon after making his full debut for Newcastle.

He captained the green and whites for the first time in 2003 and has retained this role on a regular basis ever since.

He is destined to become one of the highest cap winners in his country's history.

Keith Gillespie - 86 (21) caps

Born: Larne [18th Feb 1975]

Fast, direct winner who could cut inside with great effect Gillespie represented his country at schools, youth and U21 level before making his full debut (aged 20) against Portugal in 1995

Moved to Newcastle as a makeweight in the deal that took Andy Cole to Manchester and was a regular member of the Northern Ireland team for over a decade

Only Pat Jennings, Mal Donaghy and Sammy Mcllroy have made more appearances.

Tommy Cassidy - 24 (20) caps

Born: Belfast [18th Nov 1950]

Started off as a striker but his stature was more suited to a midfield role and he possessed some pretty silky skills for a "big" man.

Tommy made his first international appearance as a sub against England in 1971 a few months after joining the Magpies

Over the next 11 years he made regular appearances culminating with the 1982 World Cup Finals after he had moved to Burnley.

Michael O'Neill - 31 (10) caps

Born: Portadown [5th Jul 1969]

A teenage startlet Newcastle payed Coleraine £100,000 for his services; setting a new record fee for an Irish club.

He was only 18 but he had a great first season on Tyneside and received his first full cap against Greece during the 1987/88 season.

His initial impact led to him being unfairly labelled as "the new George Best"; something he was never going to be able to live up to.

Tommy Casey - 12 (10) caps

Born: Comber [11th Mar 1930]

Like McCreery, Casey was a tireless worker who never stopped running from start to finish.

A tough cookie to boot he was the perfect midfield destroyer and although he was never assured of his place in the Magpies first eleven he was a regular fixture in the Irish side during the latter half of the fifties.

Recommended to United by Bill McCracken, Casey was a member of the Northern Ireland team during the 1958 World Cup Finals.

Ian Stewart - 31 (9)caps

Born: Belfast [10th Sep 1961]

It's fair to say that Stewart's 16 months on Tyneside were not a spectacular success even though he was a regular member of the Irish team and won his last 9 caps during that time.

His direct style coupled with crafty close control had often proved a thorn in United's side when he was at QPR and he looked a decent signing when Willie McFaul followed through Jackie Charlton's deal.

He was a menber of the 1986 World Cup team but that cut no ice with the United fans and there were few tears when he moved to Portsmouth in December 1987.

He was also capped at schools and youth level.

Dick Keith (RB) - 23 caps - Born: Belfast [15th May 1933]

Tommy Wright (GK) - 31 (16) - Born: Belfast [29th Aug 1963]

John Cowan - 1 (1) caps - Born: Belfast [8th Jan 1949]

Eric Ross - 1 (1) caps - Born: Belfast [19th Sep 1944]