AN additional four legends have been confirmed for the upcoming Gateshead v Newcastle Legends match on 7 April at the International Stadium.
Heed legends Keith McNall and Rob Jones will be joined by former Magpies Lee Bowyer and Brian Kilcline for the fundraising match.
Tickets available now at gateshead-fc.com/event/
McNall was a prolific striker for the Heed in the mid-80s and early 90s, scoring over 100 goals for the club.
The Gateshead man twice helped the Tynesiders gain promotion to the Conference in 1986 and 1990 and was the club’s top scorer for the season on four separate occasions, a feat only bettered by Bob Topping (five).
Another player who has claimed the title of Gateshead’s top scorer for a season is defender Rob Jones.
The towering centre-half netted an impressive 12 goals during the 2002/03 season which unfortunately saw Gateshead relegated to the Northern Premier Division One.
Jones made 87 appearances in total for the Tynesiders during the early stages of his career, scoring 19 goals.
He then went on to forge a very respectable career in the Football League and Scottish Premier League with the likes of Hibernian, Scunthorpe United, Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers and Hartlepool United, where he ended his playing career in 2017.
Former Leeds United and England midfielder Bowyer joined Newcastle on a free-transfer in 2003 and went on to make 98 appearances for the club over three seasons, scoring 11 goals.
The 42-year-old retired from professional football at Ipswich Town in 2012 – one year after lifting the League Cup with Birmingham City.
He is now managing at League One side Charlton Athletic.
“It will be great to pull on the black and white stripes of Newcastle again,” admitted the Addicks boss.
“I was up there for Steve Harper’s benefit game and got a great reception and am looking forward to meeting the fans and giving Gateshead a good game.”
Defender ‘Killer’ Kilcline was Kevin Keegan’s first signing as Newcastle United manager when he first took charge of the Magpies in 1992.
The 1987 FA Cup winning captain with Coventry City also captained the United side as they avoided relegation to the third tier for what would have been the first time in the club’s history.
The following season, he helped the Magpies earn promotion to the Premier League.
“I am looking forward to visiting Tyneside again,” Kilcline said.
“I had a great time there as a player and made some good friends.
“It is a great cause that we are reuniting for.”
There will also be a legends dinner after the game at the Gateshead Newcastle Hilton which all players will attend and the guest speaker on the night will be Tino Asprilla. Tickets for that event can be purchased on Groupon or from www.newcastlelegends.com
Legends confirmed so far…
Gateshead: Ben Clark, Micky Cummins, John Oster, James Marwood, Paul Thompson, Liam Hatch, James Curtis, Steve Bowey, Rob Ramshaw, Jamie Chandler, Rob Jones, Keith McNall
Newcastle: Steve Watson, Peter Beardsley, Steve Howey, Ruel Fox, Rob Lee, Darren Peacock, John Beresford, Tino Asprilla, Milan Srníček, Lee Clark, Paul Robinson, Brian Kilcline, Lee Bowyer