Steve Harper

In an increasingly cosmopolitan era, Steve Harper became one of the few local-born players in the Newcastle United squad.

The club's current longest-serving player, he had limited first team opportunities mainly due to the outstanding form of keeper Shay Given until the Ireland international left in 2009.

Lively and alert, he is a good shot stopper and is comfortable when fielding high balls into the box.

A cartilage operation during the summer slowed his 2000 pre-season preparation but he started the new campaign on the bench.

However, his only early-season action came in the Worthington Cup ties and it was not until Shay Given was injured at Derby County shortly before Christmas that he came into the reckoning.

He had a fine game in the Boxing Day win over Leeds United and indeed kept Given out of the team for a short while until he himself went down with a foot injury, and on his recovery he returned to a place on the bench.

A qualified referee, Steve has also studied for a Social Sciences degree with the Open University.

Steve's contract at Newcastle United was extended to June 2009 in September 2006 then to June 2012 in January 2009.

After two decades at St James' Park, he joined Hull City in July 2013 with a one-year contract that was extended to June 2015 in May 2014.

In a Premier League game at Southampton on 11 April 2015, at 40 years and 28 days, Steve became Hull City's oldest-ever player.

Their previous record holder was Eddie Burbanks who was aged 40 years and 15 years when he made his final appearance for the Tigers against Leicester City on 16 April 1953.

Steve set the new club record at 40 years and 71 days when he made his final City appearance against Manchester United at the KC Stadium on 24 May 2015, the game that confirmed the Tigers' relegation to the League Chamionship which also meant that Newcastle United remained in the Premier League.

He joined Sunderland in January 2016 with a contract to June 2016.