A player stitched into the tapestry of our history and one that will go down in the Newcastle United record books as one our greatest servants in the Premier League era. Given's unnerving consistency, he racked up 139 consecutive appearances for us between Janaury 2002 and October 2004, and unbreakable loyalty in his 12 years at St James' Park that led to him being held in the highest esteem by supporters. Few grumbled when Given's patience finally snapped during the 2008/09 season and he jumped ship to Manchester City in January before we sunk into Championship just four months later, citing a lack of progress as his reason as his reasons for leaving. Six years later and his sentiments have never rung truer with a chronic lack of ambition undermining our craving for silverware and European adventures. It speaks volumes that he was the preferred choice for seven of the eight managers he served under in just over a decade, only being usurped by Harper during the Gullit era, becoming an immovable object under Sir Bobby Robson when we dared to dream once again of Premier League glory and embarked on a roller coaster journey through Europe in the Champions League. To borrow a quote from Brett 'the Hitman' Hart, he's the best there was, the best there is and the best there ever will be. However, it would be remiss not to recall the events of Highfield Road in November 1997 when Given was dubbed "the only Irishman who doesn't know where Dublin is," after Dublin sneaked up behind the Irishman to score after he rolled the ball out in preparation to make a clearance. A rare blemish on an otherwise distinguished career in black and white.
