Barry Venison (1992/93 to 1994/95)

Although Barry Venison was no longer automatically a first-choice at Liverpool it was testament to the pulling power of Kevin Keegan that he was willing to reject a new four-year contract on Merseyside and sign for a team which had been out of the top flight for four seasons and had just narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier.

After captaining Sunderland at Wembley in the Milk Cup final of 1985 at twenty-years-old he earned a move to Liverpool where he collected two League title medals and an FA Cup winners medal. But during an injury-hit 1991/92 he was finding it hard to get a game and the chance to return to the North East and take part in Keegan revolution was too hard to turn down.

Venison was a tremendous capture. For only £250,000 Keegan got a player still in his prime with vast top-flight experience and proven leadership qualities. A winner who was a consummate professional and was determined to maintain his standards.

By his own admission he was not a particularly skilled player and put his success down to “drive, determination and focus”, something he had in common with his new manager.

He read the game well, was full-blooded in the tackle and had the technical ability to push forward and take part in the quick passing interchanges which marked Keegan’s style in the early years.

He arrived at Newcastle as a right-back and that is the position he filled during the promotion season when he was in superb form. His calm, assured play and his organisational ability stiffened United's back four considerably.

Following promotion it was no surprise that Keegan appointed Venison captain. He had been an inspiration to the team and Keegan knew there was no doubt he was the right man for the job. Of course he was also the “snappiest dresser” in the Newcastle changing-room.

During 1993/94 Barry played many games in central defence due to Steve Howey’s injury problems. To his credit he looked equally at home there and was arguably the most consistent performer over the whole season. Indeed the change possibly made it easier for him to marshal the defence.

However, Venison blotted his copybook when Keegan took the players to Bournemouth in February inbetween the FA Cup defeat at Luton and the Premier League loss at Wimbledon. Barry and two other unnamed players went to a wine bar rather than a team ten-pin bowling event and as well as all players being fined Keegan relieved him from the captaincy. He was voted third behind Peter Beardsley and Andy Cole in the North-East Football Writers' Association Player of the Year awards.

In his third campaign Barry demonstrated his versatility once more as Keegan utilised him in a midfield holding role. He adapted seamlessly and performed so impressively that England manager Terry Venables awarded him his first full England cap in that role.

Venison also scored the only goal of his United career with an unstoppable long-distance strike against Aston Villa and this time the North-East Football Writers' Association made him their Player of the Year.

Venison took great pride in his fitness which meant that not only could he continue to perform at the highest level he was able to go on developing new skills at an age when many players are starting to feel theirs.

At the end of the 1994/95 season Venison joined former Liverpool manager Graham Souness at Galatasaray in Turkey. It was a chance to experience playing abroad as well as almost certainly boosting his bank balance.

Some had wondered how a former Sunderland skipper would fit in on Tyneside, but his enthusiasm, drive and never-say-die spirit demonstrated total commitment to United's cause. He was hugely influential in the dramatic transformation of the Magpies during his three seasons at the club and pound for pound was one of the best signings of recent times.