Robert LEE

 After the misery of losing out on the 1995/96 Premier League title, it would have been easy for everyone connected with Newcastle United to feel sorry for themselves; the world record signing of Alan Shearer put paid to any such thoughts. The players were in ebullient mood as they prepared to open their season in the Charity Shield. Manchester United, however, eager to secure an early psychological advantage over their rivals, doled out a 4-0 thrashing. The first of four Newcastle defeats Lee would endure at Wembley. After opening their league campaign with a defeat at Everton, a run of 11 consecutive victories catapulted United once more to the top of the Premier League. During this run Rob scored his first of the season, against Middlesbrough, and was in the team that memorably beat Manchester United 5-0. Shortly after hitting top spot, however, Newcastle's form disappeared; they lost in the League Cup and went 7 league games without a win.

United were 6th in the league by the time Tottenham visited on December 27th, however, a stunning performance gave the fans a perfect Christmas present. Rob scored twice as Spurs were lucky to keep the score to 7-1. When the FA Cup 3rd round came Newcastle were drawn against Charlton, but an emotional return was far from Rob Lee's mind. Amid rumours that Keegan had resigned, Newcastle were understandably below par and relieved to escape The Valley with a 1-1 draw - Rob kept United in the competition as he scored, what would prove to be, the final goal of Keegan's reign. Kevin Keegan did offer his resignation 3 days later, on January 8th 1997; the board accepted. Keegan had helped transform Robert Lee into an England International and, in his ex-manager's eyes, the best midfielder in England. Kenny Dalglish quickly replaced Keegan and steadied the good ship Newcastle United. The Magpies again finished 2nd, this time qualifying for the Champions League, by virtue of just 3 defeats in 17 games under Dalglish; Lee scored twice more before the end of the season as he finished with 5 goals. The summer brought Rob one of his career's proudest achievements when he became Newcastle captain. The club were also busy in the transfer market; Ferdinand, Ginola and Robbie Elliot left - Ian Rush, John Barnes, Stuart Pearce, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Alessandro Pistone arrived, none of whom would go on to prove very successful acquisitions. Newcastle's season, however, was dealt an enormous blow before it began.

On the very day Les Ferdinand left, Alan Shearer damaged ankle ligaments in a friendly at Goodison Park ­ within hours Newcastle lost the partnership that had scored 49 goals between them. Despite this, they qualified for the Champions League proper, thanks to victory over Dinamo Zagreb, and Faustino Asprilla inspired them to a 3-2 victory over Barcelona. Without Shearer's goals, however, Newcastle were never going to mount a challenge in the league. To make matters worse, as Rob and the team's attacking ambitions became stifled their defensive flaws became more prevalent. Lee scored 4 times during the season, including his obligatory goal against Coventry, when, from 30 yards, he flashed a shot into Steve Ogrizovic's top corner. Newcastle totalled a miserable 35 league goals ­ with John Barnes top scorer on seven - and finished in a hugely disappointing 13th place. Yet, there remained a chance to redeem their season, as United made it to the FA Cup Final for the first time in 24 years. Rob had missed the semi-final through injury but returned to lead Newcastle at Wembley. However, a tactical change borne of Dalglish's fear of Marc Overmars' pace played into Arsenal's hands - Newcastle played poorly and lost 2-0. Although Lee had had a disappointing club season, he would be delighted to spend the summer in France, with Glenn Hoddle's World Cup squad. (Gordon Tait)

 Robert Lee started the 1998/99 season with high hopes and a new three-year contract in his back pocket. Yet, the ink on his new deal was barely dry before he entered his darkest period as a footballer. Newcastle's two opening draws suggested to the board a repeat of last term's unacceptable performances and Kenny Dalglish was sacked. Initially, Dalglish's replacement, Ruud Gullit, sought advice from his captain, but it would not last. The Dutchman soon made it clear that Rob, aged 33, was too old to play every game and started selecting him as a substitute. Whilst Rob was in and out of the team, the captaincy passed between Alan Shearer and Lee, until a 4-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Everton. Rob was in the starting line-up but Gullit retained Shearer as captain - both players were furious. It was suspected Gullit was attempting to drive a wedge between Shearer and Lee. When Rob did play he found that he was being pushed to the periphery of proceedings, as Gullit used him as a wide midfielder. During the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, Lee was selected to keep David Ginola quiet, a job he relished and his impressive performance saw Ginola substituted having made little impact on the game.

Newcastle won 2-0 in extra-time and they were in their second successive FA Cup Final. Rob, against his expectations, was in the team at Wembley; his presence had little effect against Manchester United, however, as Newcastle once again put in a dismal performance and lost 2-0. The 1998/99 season was the first of Rob Lee's career in which he failed to score as Newcastle again finished 13th. During the summer, Gullit felt the older squad members were surplus to requirements; as a result, Robert was excluded from the first team and without a squad number. However, the team got the following campaign off to a dreadful start; they had one point from five games when Sunderland came to St. James Park. After the game Newcastle United were bottom of the league having just lost 2-1 to their fiercest rivals with Alan Shearer sat on the bench - Gullit didn't wait to be sacked. Lee was back for Newcastle's next game - it proved to be a baptism of fire ­ he played for an hour, wearing number 37, as The Magpies lost 5-1 at Old Trafford. When Sir Bobby Robson was appointed as the new manager Lee was returned to his favoured central midfield role and his career entered an Indian summer. St. James Park welcomed its new boss in remarkable style, Newcastle thrashing Sheffield Wednesday 8-0, with Rob, although not scoring, instrumental in the team's terrific performance.

He continued to be a key player throughout the season, sitting in front of the defence to allow Kieron Dyer to make the attacking runs he himself used to. Lee narrowly avoided going a second season without scoring when Newcastle played at Wembley for the third consecutive year. Rob was unmarked in the penalty area as he headed home an Alan Shearer cross to equalise in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. As with Rob's first goal for the club, however, it was not enough to avoid a 2-1 defeat to The Blues. After their poor start Newcastle finished the season 11th, with a relatively unchanged squad, and Rob Lee once again had a future at St. James Park. (Gordon Tait)

 Robert Lee completed his Newcastle United rehabilitation when he regained his number 7 shirt for the 2000/01 season. Once again, Bobby Robson utilised Rob in a defensive midfield role and he spent the first half of the season producing performances the manager described as "England class". However, the knee injury Rob picked up at Derby in December dogged him all season as he, quite literally, limped through to April when he was forced to undergo his first operation as a professional. His season was over, having made just 22 league appearances ­ for the second time in his career he failed to trouble the scorers. Newcastle's 11th placed finish meant they would start the 2001/02 season a month early as they qualified for the Intertoto Cup.

Having swept aside 1860 Munich, United crashed out of the competition to French side Troyes, on away goals, following a remarkable 4-4 draw at St. James Park. Despite the exit, Robson described Rob Lee's performances as "outstanding" and spoke of extending his contract beyond the end of the season. Squeezed between the Intertoto games and the beginning of the season, Rob 'enjoyed' a badly managed testimonial against Atletico Bilbao. Newcastle's players appeared to make little effort in front of a meagre crowd as they lost 1-0, paying scant homage to a player who had served the club since 1992. After two 1-1 draws in their opening league fixtures, United's four goals at Middlesbrough were perfect preparation for their next St. James Park opponents, Manchester United. Fittingly Rob scored what proved to be his final Newcastle goal in a 4-3 victory - a score line (if not result) Newcastle had become synonymous with during Lee's time at the club. Rob picked up the ball in midfield before striking a tame effort straight toward Fabien Barthez. The eccentric Frenchman, however, seemed confused by the shot's lack of pace and made a half-hearted effort to stop it with his left leg, the ball bounced off Barthez's knee and into the roof of the net !

Despite being a first team regular, Lee became increasingly anxious over his future, as the club refused to open contract talks until January. With neither party prepared to compromise their position, Robert handed in a transfer request in October 2001 - it was accepted as Lee's loyal service, once again, appeared to count for little. Rob ended his Newcastle career with a now all too familiar defeat against Manchester United, his final game in a black and white shirt a 3-1 loss at Old Trafford. When Rob Lee signed for Derby County for £250, 000 in February 2002, the last of 'The Entertainers' departed, as the club waved goodbye to the end of an era. The events surrounding Ruud Gullit's time at the club, a poorly handled 'testimonial' and the shabby treatment he received toward the end of his contract, cast a shadow over Lee's nine and a half year stay at Newcastle. Yet, his performances in well over 300 games made him one of Newcastle's longest serving players and one of the best buys in the clubs history. With all the doubts that Lee had over signing for a club in the North East it seems remarkable that this devout Londoner would spend almost a decade at Newcastle United, he certainly wouldn't have believed it had you told him in 1992. (Gordon Tait)