The 10 Greatest Newcastle United Goals of the Premier League Era

Newcastle United have been blessed with some supreme goalscorers over the last 20 years, from Peter Beardsley and Alan Shearer to Papiss Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa.

Since the Premier League began in 1992, the Magpies have netted their fair share of memorable goals both at home and in Europe, and every Toon fan has their favourite.

Some are 30-yard blockbusters, others the product of a dazzling run and finish; behind every strike lies a story.

Here we take a swipe at picking our top 10 Newcastle goals since the restructure of England’s top flight. And if your favourite is missing, please let us know in the comments section. 

10. Laurent Robert vs. Tottenham Hotspur, December 2003

In truth, Laurent Robert didn’t really score ordinary goals during his five years with Newcastle United, and several of them wouldn’t have been out of place on this list.

But the strike that has made it was one of pure ambition and opportunism.

Not content with putting his side up 1-0 at St. James’ Park with a sublime dipping volley, the Frenchman saved his best until after the break, picking up a cross-field pass before striding forward and unleashing a stunning left-foot drive from 35 yards out.

The winger wasn’t finished, going on to create two more for Alan Shearer in a game that finished 4-0 to the Magpies. 

9. Cheick Tiote vs. Arsenal, February 2011

Not only was this a great strike from Cheick Tiote, it also went down as one of the most memorable goals in Newcastle’s modern history and one that completed a remarkable recovery.

United were 4-0 down at halftime against Arsenal, and most fans inside St. James’ Park assumed the second half would be nothing more than a damage limitation exercise.

Far from it.

Two penalties from Joey Barton and goal from Leon Best set up a hectic finale, and when the ball fell to Tiote outside the box in stoppage time, his precise volley sealed the greatest comeback in Premier League history.   

8. Duncan Ferguson vs. Manchester United, February 2000

Duncan Ferguson’s time on Tyneside was all too brief, but the Scotsman made his mark in the black and white of Newcastle, especially against Manchester United.

With the game goalless, Robert Lee lifted a hopeful ball towards Alan Shearer on the edge of the penalty area.

The striker got ahead of his marker, and when his knock-down found Ferguson on the edge of the box, the former Everton man hooked a stunning volley beyond Mark Bosnich into the back of the net.

Shearer grabbed a brace after the break to make the final score 3-0 to the Magpies.

7. Peter Beardsley vs. Tottenham Hotspur, December 1993

Geordie legend Peter Beardsley was no stranger to scoring great goals for his beloved Newcastle United, and this superb piece of individual skill was no exception.

With time running out at White Hart Lane, Beardsley had already made his mark on this fixture, putting the Magpies in front soon after the break before Nick Barmby equalised for Spurs from the spot.

As the clock struck 90, the little forward embarked on a searing run into the box, typically riding the challenges of three Tottenham defenders before finding space to lash the ball past Erik Thorstvedt into the roof of the net from 10 yards out.

6. Alan Shearer vs. Aston Villa, November 2001

Alan Shearer was noted for scoring every type of goal during his time at Newcastle, from three-yard headers to 33-yard screamers. But even by his high standards, this strike against Aston Villa was something very special.

When Robert Lee picked up possession inside the Villa half, his options appeared to be limited, and there seemed little danger as far as the visitors were concerned.

But from nowhere, Lee played a glorious 40-yard pass to Shearer, who volleyed the ball first time beyond Peter Schmeichel from a tight angle.

The world-class goal even drew comparisons with Dutch legend Marco Van Basten.

5. Hatem Ben Arfa vs. Bolton, April 2012

During the run-in to the 2011-12 campaign, this tight affair between Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers looked like it could be heading towards a stalemate.

Luckily for the Magpies, Hatem Ben Arfa had other ideas.

Picking the ball up from deep inside his own half, the French international spun away from the challenge of Sam Ricketts and set off towards goal.

With options ahead of him, many inside St. James’ Park expected the playmaker to release one of his teammates, but he continued his run through the heart of Bolton’s defence before calmly slotting the ball past Adam Bogdan to score a truly brilliant solo effort.

4. David Ginola vs. Ferencvaros, October 1996

Ranked by many as one of the greatest Newcastle goals of all time, this was David Ginola at his flamboyant best.

The Magpies were in cruise control against Ferencvaros in the second round of the UEFA Cup, having lost the fist leg 3-2 but strolling to a 2-0 lead in the return at St James’.

From a Keith Gillespie corner at the Gallowgate End, the ball was partially cleared to the waiting Ginola on the edge of the penalty area.

In the blink of an eye, the Frenchman chested the ball down, flicked it over the oncoming defender with his right foot, then unleashed an unstoppable, 25-yard volley with his left.   

3. Philippe Albert vs. Manchester United, October 1996

On an unforgettable afternoon at St. James’ Park, Newcastle had rivals Manchester United right where they wanted them, leading 4-0 thanks to goals from Darren Peacock, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer.

But this famous clash wasn’t over, and defender Philippe Albert had a trick up his sleeve that would etch him into Geordie folklore.

With the clock on 83 minutes and the tie over as a contest, the Belgian picked up a pass and strode purposefully towards the penalty area.

After a quick glance, and to the astonishment of teammates and fans alike, he chipped the ball over a static Peter Schmeichel from 25 yards out to round off a memorable match.

2. Alan Shearer vs. Everton, December 2002

A goal that typified Alan Shearer’s approach to playing and scoring goals for Newcastle United.

Trailing 1-0 at home to a resilient Everton side, the game seemed to be slipping away from the Magpies, but on 86 minutes, the legendary forward conjured an astonishing strike from absolutely nothing.

A hopeful ball forward found the head of Shola Ameobi, and as his flick-on dropped, Shearer launched a rocket of a volley from outside the box that dipped over Richard Wright at breakneck speed.

The shot had power, pace and precision, so much so that Shearer himself would later declare the goal as his own personal favourite.

1. Papiss Cisse vs. Chelsea, May 2012

There are goals that come and go, quickly fading from memory as the next game approaches. There are goals that linger, to be celebrated and debated long after the final whistle.

Then there is Papiss Cisse’s goal for Newcastle United against Chelsea in May 2012.

With the game well into stoppage time, Shola Ameobi’s knock-down from a throw in found Cisse on the edge of the penalty area with three blue shirts around him.

With no options inside the box, the Senegal striker produced an astonishing shot, which bent outwards before flying over the grasp of Petr Cech and into the far right-hand corner.

The strike unsurprisingly won the Premier League’s Goal of the Season award.