Robert LEE

 According to legend, Kevin Keegan told Robert Lee two important things when persuading him to join Newcastle United. Firstly, he would transform Lee into an England International and, secondly, that Newcastle was closer to London than Middlesbrough. One of these statements was quite plainly untrue. When Charlton's financial situation forced them to sell Lee, only two clubs matched the £700, 000 asking price - Middlesbrough and Newcastle. 'Boro, managed by former Charlton boss Lennie Lawrence, were offering a better contract and Premier League football, whilst Newcastle were in the First Division, having only escaped relegation on the final day of the previous season - it seemed like a straightforward choice. However, like many of Rob's age, Kevin Keegan had been his boyhood hero and the manager was key to securing his signature. Rob Lee joined a club that was about to be swept, on a wave of euphoria, to the Premier League.

Newcastle had won their first 7 league games of the 1992/93 season, going on to extend that run to 11 with Lee in the side, before a shock 1-0 home defeat to Grimsby Town; the only St. James Park match Newcastle lost all season. Rob made his Newcastle debut in the League Cup, ironically against Middlesbrough in a 0-0 home draw, with his league debut coming in a 1-0 win at Peterborough. During that first season, Lee played mainly on the right wing, as indeed he had during his time at Charlton, but he also played, on occasion, up front or in the position he would make his own - central midfield. Rob's first goal in a black and white shirt came during a League Cup tie at Chelsea, although his header was unable to prevent a 2-1 defeat. His first league goal came when he gleefully converted a rebounded Gavin Peacock penalty in November's 2-0 win over Watford. As the New Year arrived, all was rosy at St. James Park as Newcastle comfortably led Division One.

However, sandwiched between a Lee double strike in January's victory over Peterborough and another double at Tranmere at the end of February, Newcastle failed to win 6 consecutive league games. The Tranmere game saw Rob embark on a scoring spree of 6 goals in 7 games. It would have been 7 in 7, but for a refereeing decision that Lee described as the worst he had seen in his career. Brentford keeper Graham Benstead intercepted a Newcastle through ball, 20 yards outside of his own area, before punting it up field. The ball landed at Rob's feet who, from 70 yards, returned it with interest into the unguarded goal - the referee called play back for offside against Brentford! Newcastle ended the season in the same winning fashion they had started it and, in their final match, they put on a grand show at St. James Park to put Leicester City to the sword. Rob scored the second goal as Newcastle raced into a 6-0 half-time lead, with Andy Cole and David Kelly sharing the other 6 as the game ended 7-1. Newcastle United won Division One with a club record 96 points, scoring 92 goals in the process. Rob himself scored 10 times in 36 league games, finishing the season as Newcastle's third leading scorer. (Gordon Tait)

 Having convincingly won Division One, confidence for the 1993/94 season was high on Tyneside, yet for many of the squad this would be their first taste of top flight football, though not for Robert Lee who had played well over 100 times for Charlton at the highest level. Newcastle started the season with unfortunate defeats to Tottenham and Coventry, but any fears of a forthcoming struggle were allayed when they deservedly drew 1-1 at Old Trafford. Robert's influence on the first team started to grow when Liam O'Brien's departure, coupled with the acquisition of Ruel Fox, allowed him to play in central midfield. Lee settled into the position as if he were a veteran, his passing and perfectly timed runs were ideally suited to this level. Newcastle's players were enjoying their work as their brand of fluid, attacking football meant that they were soon dubbed 'The Entertainers' and - according to the media - everyone's second favourite team.

Lee was putting in some excellent performances; yet, it was March before he registered his first Premier League goal, grabbing two in Newcastle's 7-1 thrashing of Swindon. A run of only 2 defeats in Newcastle's final 12 games followed, and a final day 2-0 home win over Arsenal sealed a remarkable 3rd place finish for the newly promoted Magpies; ensuring Tyneside's first European football since 1977. Lee missed just one match all season and despite the long wait for his first, he ended with 7 goals in 41 games. Robert started the following season in the same vein he had ended the last, as his goalscoring run continued. Filling in for the injured Peter Beardsley, Lee scored twice against Coventry in the second game of the season. He simply couldn't stop scoring and memorably helped himself to a hat-trick of headers against Royal Antwerp in Belgium as Newcastle romped to a 10-2 aggregate UEFA Cup victory. By the time United played Atletico Bilbao in October, Lee had registered 11 goals in all competitions and - as Keegan had promised - become an England International.

Rob, however, was injured for the UEFA Cup 1st leg match against Bilbao as Newcastle imploded. With 20 minutes remaining United led 3-0, before the Spaniards scored twice to give themselves every chance in the second leg. Lee was back in the team for the return in Spain and had a golden opportunity to score; unfortunately his shooting boots had deserted him, he ballooned the ball high into the stand as United lost 1-0 and were eliminated on away goals. The result had a devastating effect on Newcastle's league form as they slipped from the top of the table, winning just two of their next 12 games. Newcastle's season started to unravel and in January Kevin Keegan shocked the football world when he sold Andy Cole to Manchester United. Lee failed to regain the electrifying form he had displayed in the early months of the season but, despite only scoring twice in the Premiership after September, still ended the season with 9 goals in 35 league games as Newcastle stuttered to a sixth place finish. (Gordon Tait)

 Despite the pre-season acquisitions of Les Ferdinand, David Ginola, Warren Barton and Shaka Hislop, it was an old hand that got the 1995/96 season under way. For the second year running, Robert Lee scored his first goal of the season against Coventry City; this time it came just seven minutes into Newcastle's opening day 3-0 victory. Once again United and Rob Lee started on fire. Keegan's philosophy of 'attack being the best form of defence', produced some of the best football England has witnessed in recent times - this would be a season to remember. Lee was a mainstay of the midfield that provided opportunities galore for Les Ferdinand, as Newcastle raced into a 12 point league lead. In hindsight, it couldn't possibly last and the first suggestion of what was to come came at Old Trafford on December 27th. Although a 2-0 defeat was a blow, the injury sustained by Keith Gillespie was more serious. Injuries were cruel to Newcastle throughout Lee's time at the club; Gillespie's was a prime example.

The winger was carried off after a heavy 16th minute Gary Neville challenge; he only played eight further games all season. Missing Gillespie upset the midfield balance and the cutting off of one major supply line meant the goals began to dry up. Lee had scored 8 goals in all competitions before Christmas, but his form fell away as winter came and he ended the season with just 9. Les Ferdinand was another who lost his 'goalden' touch - managing just 7 goals after Christmas. Manchester United then cranked up the tension as they went on a relentless run of 15 wins from their last 19 games; whilst Newcastle's results were merely less spectacular than they had been. The balance of power fatefully shifted in March, beginning with Manchester United's visit to Tyneside. Newcastle committed wave after wave of attack toward Peter Schmeichel's goal, but the big Dane was unbeatable. In the 51st minute Manchester United broke, Eric Cantona found he was unmarked in the Newcastle penalty area as he volleyed Andy Cole's cross into the ground, over Pavel Srnicek and into the back of the net. The only goal of the game was greeted by the silent sound of thousands of breaking hearts. Yet, Lee and the Newcastle squad still believed they would win the league.

They remained top until March 23rd, when a 2-0 defeat at Highbury left Newcastle second for the first time in 8 months. United lost only 2 of their last 8 games, but they were high profile, damaging defeats - the legendary 4-3 thriller at Anfield and a 2-1 reverse at Blackburn. With every twist and turn in the title race being televised, Newcastle publicly crumbled under the Manchester United induced pressure. Even Keegan's frustrations boiled over when, after a win over Leeds, he famously ranted live on TV that he would "love it" if Newcastle won the league. Alex Ferguson probably looked on, sipping a nice claret, safe in the knowledge that his work was almost complete. Rob Lee's final goal of the season was the winner at home to Southampton in April, keeping Newcastle's title challenge on track, just. The Magpies retained an outside chance of winning the title up until the final match of the season. A 1-1 draw against Spurs, however, was not enough as Tyneside went into mourning over the loss of, what would have been, their first league title since 1927. To add insult to injury, Lee's dip in form and a late season knock, resulted in him being omitted from England's Euro 96 squad. A season, which had started so magnificently, ended in crushing failure. (Gordon Tait)