Since the club's earliest days, the rapport between Newcastle's fervent supporters and United's centre-forward has been one of the great tales of soccer: one full of incident, controversy and fabulous goalscoring feats. Much rests on the shoulders of the club's centre-forward. He carries the dreams of thousands and the hopes of a whole Geordie nation. Featured here are all the great names from Peddie, Appleyard and Shepherd, to Wee Hughie Gallacher and the 'Smiling Assassin', Albert Stubbins. Then it's onwards with 'Wor' Jackie Milburn - a legend in himself - Len White, the mighty Wyn Davies and a brash cockney, Malcolm Macdonald - 'Supermac' to all. Also included are modern-day icons Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer - perhaps the biggest No. 9 hero of them all. They have been a mixed bunch: some tall, lean and fast; some small, tricky and highly skilled. Others have been graceful, a few have roved along the forward line, while there have been robust, aggressive characters on view too.
Some have been masterful in the air, while several struck the ball with terrific power; others have possessed the art of placement and, a few, the ultimate poacher's instinct in front of goal. But all have had the same mission: to score goals - and, whatever their style, if they donned the centre-forward shirt for Newcastle United, they have been treated as gods.