All 21 Of Newcastle's Premier League Opening Day Fixtures

Date: 19 August 1995

Venue: St James' Park

Result: 3-0

Starting XI: Hislop; W. Barton, Peacock, Howey, Beresford; Gillespie, Lee, Clark, Ginola (Fox); Beardsley, Ferdinand.

Goals: Lee (7), Beardsley (82, pen), Ferdinand (83)

Debuts: Hislop, Barton, Ginola, Ferdinand

Manager: Kevin Keegan

What Happened?

After a summer of rebuilding, which included St James' Park being expanded to 36,000, Newcastle began the 1995/96 season on fire and with a new number nine to worship. Les Ferdinand, the belated replacement for Andy Cole, made his debut along with three other Keegan signings in a new look Magpies side. Rob Lee broke the deadlock after seven minutes before Peter Beardsley made it two from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute. Ferdinand then sprinted onto Lee's pass, deftly toed the ball around the on-rushing Coventry goalkeeper before dispatching it into the net from the corner of the 18-yard box in front of an adoring Gallowgate. 

He remains the only Newcastle player to score a debut goal on the opening day of the season.

League Position: 1st

Was It A Sign Of Things To Come?

This victory set the tone for one of the most exhilarating seasons of Newcastle's Premier League existence. Keegan's side built up a 13-point lead at the top and looked a shoo-in to win the title, only for Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson to roar back, prompting King Kev's famous "I'll love it" war cry, and steal the title from under his nose.

Final League Position: 2nd