Do Toon Fans REALLY Hate The Cockney Mafia?

Last updated : 25 September 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise are hardly the glowing example of London pride, I must admit.

And if they happen to be confronted in a Scotwood chip shop by a Geordie with a grudge ... the pair deserve all they get.

Let's look at the London-born heroes who have lit up St James' Park.

We give you ...

NEWCASTLE'S TOP TEN LONDONERS ....

1992/2002 Robert Lee 368/12 56
Made 298 league appearances for Charlton before moving to Newcastle for £700,000. England international who has been a superb servant to Newcastle. Was going to sign for Middlesbrough but Keegan told him Newcastle was nearer to London. The little liar! Signed for Derby County soon after Warren Barton but couldn't save them from relegation.

1971/76 Malcolm Macdonald 228/0 121
Born in Fulham, he joined his local side after playing for Tonbridge as full-back. Supermac was worshipped at Newcastle. Not particularly tall at 5ft 8", but so strong and so hard to knock off the ball. His record speaks for itself. England international, who once scored 5 goals in one game (v Cyprus). Cost United £180,000 from Luton. He played in both Wembley finals of the 1970s. Manager Gordon Lee sold him to Arsenal for £333,333 and the Toon Army have never forgiven him.

1995/97 Les Ferdinand 81/2 50
Big Les arrived with Warren Barton and David Ginola in the summer of 1995 and was part of the side that lit up the Premiership. Big, strong and a nightmare to mark, he carried on the reputation of superb Newcastle number 9s. But when Alan Shearer arrived that particular shirt was taken off him, much to the player's disgust. England international who came from QPR and joined Spurs.

1995/2002 Warren Barton 193/27 5
Born in Islington, one of the Wimbledon wild bunch. Signed for £4m from Wimbledon and was the most expensive defender in the country at the time. Went through a very difficult spell but won the fans over in the end. Transfered to Derby County for a nominal fee. England international when he played in the abandoned game against the Irish Republic in Dublin. Never played again, although the Rothman's Yearbook insist he was capped as a Newcastle player. He wasn't.

1953/55 Ivor Broadis 51/0 18
Signed from Man City for £17,000, he was already an England international. Had a ferocious shot. He didn't make the team for the 1955 FA Cup final and moved back to Carlisle Utd where he had once been player-manager. The next current England international we signed after Ivor was Warren Barton 40 years later!

1986/88 Paul Goddard 70/0 23
Came from West Ham in the November of 1986 when United were rock bottom of the First Division. His signing transformed the team and the season. He scored in 7 consecutive matches at one point of the season and United rose to 17th in the table. The fans loved him, but like Ginola, he said he wanted to return home. His home was London and ended up at Derby County! Ginola's was France and he ended up at Spurs!

1995/98 Shaka Hislop 71/0 0
Shaka was signed from Reading (£1,575,000) when they failed in the play-off final against Bolton. He got his Premiership dream and made his debut in the opening game of the season against Coventry. A crowd favourite without doubt. Went to West Ham.

1997/99 Stuart Pearce 51/1 1
Didn't spend a lot of time at SJP but had a great affection for the crowd. He chose Newcastle Utd for his testimonial when he was a Forest player, and after the game ran to the Toon fans shouting "You're the best ... number one!". Sadly he is famous for missing the penalty against Germany that cost us a place in the World Cup final. An England institution. League Cup winner in 1989 and 1990, FA Cup finalist in 1991 (all with Nottm Forest). Went to West Ham.

1983/88 Glenn Roeder 215/0 10
Came from QPR as a tough central defender and went on to captain United. Very popular figure who always gave 100%. Joined Watford and later became an agent for Gazza. Graeme Souness brought him back to the club in 2005 as coach and he took over as caretaker manager when Souness was sacked, and later became manager.

2003- Steve Taylor (Still at the club)
Don't tell anyone, cos he loves been known as a Geordie, but he was born in Greenwich (23-1-86) and joined Newcastle as a youngster and went on to win caps for England at school, youth, Under-20 and Under-21 level. Looks to be a star of the future and has already had Liverpool checking him out. Had loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers, but is very much part of the first team scene now.