In April 2020, myself and my brother, David created our individual lists of ranking our top 100 NUFC matches since August 1992.
This series of articles goes through the top 30 from our combined list. The criteria for the rankings in our lists were subjectively about drama, significance, excitement, result and occasion.
30) Newcastle United 4 - 1 Preston North End - Championship (24/04/2017)
Rob: 34th
Dave: 33rd
A special Monday night for Newcastle fans as the comprehensive win over Preston confirmed their immediate return to Premier League football.
The Magpies got off to the perfect start as Ayoze Perez bundled the ball in from close range but the celebrations ground to a halt when Josh Hugill glanced his header past Rob Elliot, who was making his first Newcastle appearance after over a year out with injury.
Rafa Benitez's side regained the lead just before half time after Christian Atsu fired home from close range. Dominance was maintained in the second half and Preston's Paul Gallagher was sent off for a handball on the goal line - some eagle-eyed fans would have claimed revenge after Gallagher, in December 2003, playing for Blackburn Rovers scored with his arm in a 1-0 loss for Newcastle. Matt Ritchie converted the penalty to leave Preston with a mountain to climb.
Soon after, the celebrations well and truly began after Perez scored his second of the game, converting from close range after Jonjo Shelvey's corner struck the post. Once the full time whistle blew, Benitez pocketed his glasses and Newcastle United were back in the big time.
29) Newcastle United 1 - 0 Anzhi Makhachkala (1-0 agg.) - Europa League Round of 16 2nd Leg (14/03/2013)
Rob: 18th
Dave: 46th
A tense match between two teams in unfamiliar territory, as far as European football was concerned, was played out and the game went to the last touch of the tie.
The week before, the first leg of the tie only conjured up a goalless draw so it was still all to play for at St. James' Park. Early efforts from Samuel Eto'o and Sylvain Marveaux missed the target and it was Eto'o that came closest in the first half to open the scoring but he fired past Rob Elliot into the side netting.
The second half was much more livlier than the first. Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez fouled Cheick Tiote and Massadio Haidara in quick succession, both fouls received a yellow card which left Guus Hiddink's side in a difficult position.
Steven Taylor came agonisingly close from close range but the defender failed to connect. Papiss Cisse glancing header was excellently saved. At the other end, Yuri Zhirkov's free kick rattled the crossbar in the 88th minute. With extra time looking inevitable, in the final minute of added time, Sylvain Marveaux pivked out a free Cisse in the Anzhi box and the striker didn't disappoint as his header provoked wild celebrations as it hit the back of the net.
It was the final touch of the game and Newcastle, for the first time since 2005, we in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
28) Newcastle United 3 - 0 Barnsley - Championship (07/05/2017)
Rob: 40th
Dave: 23rd
Celebrations erupted once again at St. James' Park in 2017 but it was thanks to Aston Villa's Jack Grealish's goal against Brighton that provoked the elation.
Newcastle went into the game knowing that they needed to beat Barnsley and hope that Brighton failed to beat Aston Villa in the midlands. Goals from Ayoze Perez, Chancel Mbemba and a late one from Dwight Gayle ensured that Newcastle fulfilled their part of the task.
When the news filtered through that ten-man Aston Villa had got the draw thanks to Jack Grealish's late equialiser against Brighton, the Championship trophy was on its way to St James' Park.
27) Plymouth Argyle 0 - 2 Newcastle United - Championship (19/04/2017)
Rob: 37th
Dave: 17th
Another match that secured the title of the second tier. On this occasion, the Magpies managed to bag the title with time to spare.
First half goals from Andy Carroll and Wayne Routledge were enough to compound the damage on Plymouth as the result unfortunately sent them down to League One. After the final whistle, the travelling Newcastle fans invaded the pitch in celebration and hats off to Plymouth as they played Newcastle songs including Blaydon Races through their speaker system.
Another note was that this match occurred during the Icelandic ash cloud which grounded all flights in Europe which meant that Newcastle fans had to take an incredibly long trip by car, coach or train.
26) Newcastle United 3 - 0 Manchester United - Premier League (12/02/2000)
Rob: 24th
Dave: 29th
A real highlight of the 1999/2000 season as Newcastle were adjusting to life under new manager, Bobby Robson.
Duncan Ferguson broke the deadlock halfway through the first half as he hit a half volley whilst his body was turning in order to get the right direction on the ball. Halfway through the second half, venomous midfielder, Roy Keane was sent for two bookable offences.
With the one man advantage at hand, Newcastle made the most of it as Alan Shearer converted two late goals to wrap up the points and send Alex Ferguson's team back to Salford empty handed.
Honourable mentions
90) Newcastle United 4 - 1 Ipswich Town - League Cup 4th Round (27/11/2001)
89) Newcastle United 2 - 1 Aston Villa - Premier League (05/02/2012)
88) West Ham United 2 - 3 Newcastle United - Premier League (23/12/2017)
87) Newcastle United 3 - 0 Southampton - Premier League (10/03/2018)
86) Newcastle United 2 - 1 Leeds United - Premier League (25/11/1995)
85) Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 4 Newcastle United - Premier League (30/03/2008)
84) Newcastle United 4 - 0 Ferencvaros (6-3 agg.) - UEFA Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg (29/10/1996)
83) West Bromwich Albion 1 - 3 Newcastle United - Premier League (25/03/2012)
82) Newcastle United 2 - 0 Sunderland - Premier League (20/04/2008)
81) Newcastle United 4 - 3 Aston Villa - Premier League (30/09/1996)