Newcastle United are looking to record promotion from the Sky Bet Championship for the second time in seven years after winning the division in 2009/2010.
The72 takes a look back at the 2009/2010 promotion winning side to see just what happened to the members of that squad after their success at St James’ Park.
Manager: Chris Hughton – The popular former Magpies boss could be set to achieve a Premier League dream of his own by guiding promotion rivals Brighton & Hove Albion into the division for the first time.
Goalkeeper: Steve Harper – Mr Newcastle United made 45 appearances for the club during the club’s title winning season. Harper joined Hull City in summer 2013 after leaving St James’ Park before ending his playing career with a short stint at Sunderland.
Defender: Fabricio Coloccini – The fuzzy-haired Argentine defender spent six years on Tyneside and was named in the 2009/2010 Championship PFA Team of the Year. Coloccini left United last summer and joined Argentine club San Lorenzo.
Defender: Jose Enrique – Spanish full back Enrique made 129 appearances for The Magpies in four seasons with the club. The defender joined Liverpool in August 2011 and spent five years at Anfield before returning home to join Real Zaragoza last September.
Defender: Mike Williamson – Newcastle United signed Williamson in the January 2010 transfer window and the player helped provide defensive stability in the title run in. Williamson’s stay on Tyneside was arguably longer than expected with the player remaining at St James’ Park until October 2015 when he joined current club Wolverhampton Wanderers on a loan deal which was later made permanent.
Defender: Danny Simpson – Manchester United defender Simpson moved to St James’ Park on loan deal at the start of the 2009/2010 campaign and the arrangement was made permanent after the player impressed manager Hughton. Simpson spent three years with The Magpies before joining QPR in summer 2013. After a short spell at Loftus Road, the player moved to current club Leicester City where he won the Premier League title last season.
Midfielder: Kevin Nolan – Tough tackling midfielder Nolan signed for The Magpies in January 2009 from Bolton Wanderers. Nolan was named the Championship Player of the Year for the 2009/2010 season and the player went on to score an impressive 30 goals in just 91 appearances for United from midfield. Nolan left St James’ Park in summer 2011 to join West Ham United and the midfielder helped The Hammers to gain promotion from the same division the following season. Nolan joined Leyton Orient as a player-manager during the second half of last season while he is currently employed in the same capacity at Notts County.
Midfielder: Joey Barton – Colourful midfielder Barton spent four years with Newcastle United between 2007 and 2011. After falling out with club legend Alan Shearer at the end of the 2008/2009 campaign, Barton returned to the side during Hughton’s tenure in charge but missed most of the 2009/2010 season with injury. Barton made just 15 appearances for The Magpies as they won promotion and left the club 12 months later. The midfielder has spent time with QPR, Marseille, Burnley and Rangers in recent years before returning to Turf Moor in January on a short term deal.
Midfielder: Fabrice Pancrate – French midfielder Pancrate’s career at St James’ Park will not live long in the memory. The PSG midfielder joined The Magpies in November 2009 but made little impact in United’s promotion push with many doubting his ability. The player was released after just six months on Tyneside. Pancrate ended his career with Nantes before being handed a two-month jail sentence for non payment of maintenance to his former spouse following a divorce.
Midfielder: Alan Smith – Former Leeds United star Alan Smith spent four-and-a-half years on Tyneside after signing for The Magpies in a £6 million deal from Manchester United. Smith was a key player in United’s charge to the Premier League with the player making 35 appearances for the club during the 2009/2010 campaign. In January 2012, the midfielder joined MK Dons on a loan deal which was later made permanent and Smith now plays his football at Notts County under former Magpies teammate Kevin Nolan.
Striker: Leon Best – Eyebrows were raised when Newcastle United signed Best on a three-and-a-half year deal from Coventry City in February 2010 and the player failed to score in 13 appearances for the club in the title run in. Best’s time at St James’ Park was far from the best with the striker netting just 10 goals in 46 appearances and the player has since played for a whole host of clubs including Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, Brighton & Hove Albion, Rotherham United, and current club Ipswich Town.
Striker: Shola Ameobi – Nigerian striker Ameobi is something of a legend at St James’ Park and played his part in the club’s promotion by averaging a goal just under every three games. So often the subject of supporters’ jokes and banter, inside Ameobi’s body there was a good footballer who loved Newcastle United. The player spent 17 years on the books at United, a real achievement and the striker bagged 79 goals in 397 senior appearances for the club. Since leaving Newcastle United in summer 2014, Ameobi has played for Turkish club Gaziantep BB, Crystal Palace, Bolton Wanderers and Fleetwood Town before linking up with former teammate Kevin Nolan at Notts County in February on a short term deal.
With just eight matches of the current campaign left to play, Newcastle United are seven points clear of the Play Off places and another chapter of the club’s rich history is set to be written in the coming weeks.
*Newcastle United starting 11 is the side which beat Peterborough United 3-2 at London Road on 3 April 2010, the last starting line-up prior to promotion being secured.
