1996 Charity Shield runners up: Shearer's search for a winners medal began against the side he turned down to return to his hometown club. The Magpies were thrashed 4-0 by a rampant Manchester United.

1997 Premier League runners up: Newcastle may have finished seven points behind Man Utd but the Magpies could have easily finished top had they converted draws - against Wimbledon, Sunderland, Sheffield Wed, West Ham and the Red Devils - into wins during their last nine fixtures.

1998 FA Cup runners up: Shearer netted the only goal of the semi-final against Sheffield United but crashed to Arsenal 2-0 in the final at Wembley.

1999 FA Cup runners up: A two-goal semi-final match-winner this time against Spurs was as good as it got as Newcastle surrendered meekly to Man Utd in the final.

2000 FA Cup semi-finalist: Shearer got an assist for Robert Lee in a last four tie they dominated only to lose out at Wembley to eventual cup winners Chelsea 2-1.

2004 UEFA Cup semi-finalist: The goal hero and his injury-ravaged side endured more semi-final heartache losing 2-0 in a two-legged affair against French side Marseilles.

2005 FA Cup semi-finalist: Three days after Sporting Lisbon knocked the Magpies out of the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, they had their wings clipped by a yet another rampant Man Utd display, 4-1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.