Brian Kilcline (1991/92 to 1993/94)

Brian Kilcline was described by Kevin Keegan as one of the most important signings he ever made at Newcastle and when “Killer” left for Swindon he said United would probably have been relegated in 1992 but for the player's contribution.

And when he signed he said: “Helping Newcastle stay up would give me as much satisfaction as anything I’ve achieved in my career”.

He was brought in initially on a month’s loan in mid-February and although Keegan made it clear from the start that he wanted a permanent deal it almost didn’t happen. The Magpies were in serious financial trouble and although Hall had promised Keegan £1million to spend on players it was beginning to look like the money couldn’t be provided. This prompted the infamous Keegan walkout followed by some of the Board providing the finance themselves.

At 6'2" Brian Kilcline was an imposing and uncompromising defender, powerful in the air and tough in the tackle. His added strength helped to stiffen up United’s shaky defence and prevent other teams from intimidating them. He would also provide more options at set-pieces.

But Keegan knew that Kilcline could offer more than just his physical attributes. He wrote the following in his autobiography. “Brian was not one of my best players, but he was one of my best-ever signings because of his ability to lead by example. Not many footballers have that quality. He gave me everything he had in every match. It was that sort of character, spirit and leadership that we required as we went into our last two games of the 1991-2 season.”

He stood-in as skipper when he made his debut in the home game against Barnsley and when Kevin Scott turned down the one-year contract offered to him in the summer Keegan named Kilcline as the new captain.

Although he led United out for the first few games of the 1992/93 promotion campaign he then suffered a hip injury. With Scott accepting a three-year contract and Steve Howey performing really well in his new role alongside him and Kilcline would rarely start. But rather than mope around or cause trouble he helped Howey’s development and continued to be an inspirational and positive force in the dressing room.

When he left for Swindon in January 1994 Terry McDermott said: “Nobody has done more to turn this club around in the last two years than he has”.

Despite his “killer” nickname he was a gentle giant off the pitch, except when he had his ponytail cut off whilst he was asleep by some unnamed United pranksters. His hair was and is his pride and joy and he went absolutely beserk.