Ferdinand, or Sir Les, was nothing short of a revelation in the two years he spent in black and white, notching 50 goals in just 84 games and is still considered one of the greatest centre forwards to pull on a Toon shirt. Opening his account on his debut in a 3-0 walloping of Coventry on the opening day of the 1995/96 campaign with the hallowed number nine on his back, it was the start of a beautiful albeit short-lived love affair between the Paddington-born striker and his adopted public. 29 goals that season propelled the Magpies to within inches of their first Premier League title, eventually finishing as runners-up to Manchester United. In his quest to deliver a first top-flight crown since 1927, Kevin Keegan spent £15 million bring Alan Shearer back to his hometown club with Ferdinand graciously surrendering the no.9 jersey to his new strike partner. The pair formed a formidable connection at the apex of Newcastle's attack, plundering 50 goals between them despite Keegan resigning mid-way through the next season. Kenny Dalglish stepped into the hotseat and it was to mark the beginning of the end for Ferdinand as he was sold to Tottenham, ironically on the same weekend that Shearer suffered a serious long-term injury in a pre-season tournament. Dalglish mounted a last-ditch attempt to convince Ferdinand not to join his boyhood club but it was too late and Newcastle endured a dreadful season as a consequence.
