Mike HOOPER

Goalkeeper Mike Hooper joined Newcastle from Liverpool in August 1993 for a fee of £550,000. While at Anfield, Hooper had proved a capable deputy to the legendary Bruce Grobbelaar, but had found his opportunities in the first team few and far between. Hooper's chance of usurping the Zimbabwean diminished again when Liverpool signed the young England keeper David James, and when Kevin Keegan offered a fresh start in the northeast Hooper naturally jumped at the chance. Mike's Newcastle career started reasonably well, with perhaps the sweetest moment being a comprehensive 3-0 victory over his former club on live television at St James' Park. This was the year after Newcastle's promotion back to the top flight, and they played some glorious football, sweeping to the top of the table by November. Sky Sports christened Keegan's team "the Entertainers".

Hooper's run in the team lasted from September through until February, but by the end of the spell he was becoming increasingly erratic, and as the team's form slipped he began to find himself the target of abuse from a vocal minority. An FA Cup defeat at First Division Luton Town, where Hooper was at least partially at fault, and a 4-2 league reverse at Wimbledon proved the final straws, and Mike was dropped in favour of fans favourite Pavel Srnicek. The following season saw Hooper increasingly struggle with his weight, and his opportunities in the side were limited to brief runs when Srnicek was injured or suspended. Nevertheless, he managed to sign off in style in his final Newcastle game; coming off the bench to save a Jurgen Klinsmann penalty in a memorable 3-3 draw between Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur. In autumn 1995 the Magpies signed £1.5m Shaka Hislop to compete with Srnicek, and Hooper's days were numbered. He was eventually loaned out to Sunderland, but never made the Black Cats first team and retired not long later. (Martin Rowntree)