10 Hardest Men That Ever Played For Newcastle United
1. Brian 'Killer' Kilcline
It was 1992 and the club was struggling to stay afloat at the wrong of the old Division Two. Kevin Keegan had recently been installed as manager and identified a brittle back four as the reason why Newcastle were hurtling towards the third tier of English football, knowing just the warrior to add the required grit to his soft-centred side.
Has there ever been a more imposing figure to pull on a black and white shirt than 'Killer' Kilcline? At 6ft 3 inches tall he loomed menacingly over quivering strikers, while his rugged caveman beard and flowing blonde ponytail gave him the appearance of a veteran American biker desperate for his next bar fight. Not a man we'd want to want to mess with. Preferring to head the ball rather than volley it - he'd often stoop low for balls barely a metre off the ground risking a whack in the face - he was renowned for his aerial strength and uncompromising force in the tackle rarely coming out the loser in a 50-50. A genuine 90's no-nonsense bruiser.
Kilcline's influence in transforming a meek side into one that was difficult to beat is still hailed as a turning point in the club's fortunes to this very day, while Keegan continues to regard him as his most important signing.
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