By Saj Chowdhury

It took the man from Gosforth more than nine years of trying, but on Saturday 4 February, 2006 Alan Shearer became Newcastle United's all-time leading goalscorer.

ALAN SHEARER Newcastle career: 1996 - Games: 394 Goals: 201

The 35-year-old striker grabbed his 201st goal in 394 games in the Premiership clash with Portsmouth, to break Jackie Milburn's 49-year record.

Shearer has suffered injury and heartache with the Magpies and brought his England career to a premature end in order to help the team win silverware.

Trophies have yet to materialise for the number nine and Newcastle, but he is safe in knowing that when he calls time on his career at St James' Park he will leave having achieved one of his major goals.

There have, however, been many other legendary strikers to have graced the black and white shirt.

Where does Shearer rank alongside them?

When pint-sized Hughie Gallacher arrived on the doorsteps of St James' Park in 1925, he brought with him an amazing goal scoring reputation.

Newcastle career: 1925-1930 Games: 174 Goals: 143

With Aidrieonians he won the Scottish Cup the previous year and left the club having scored 91 goals in 111 games.

Of course it would have been a tall order to repeat a similar feat, but Gallacher did just that, and more.

He helped Newcastle to their last top-flight title back during the 1926/1927 season.

The Scotsman's pace, amazing dribbling skils and eye for goal made him arguably the best British centre-forward of that era.

Gallacher, who also won 20 caps for Scotland, made 174 appearances for United and scored 143 goals - which to this day remains as the most impressive goals to games ratio in Magpies history.

During the 1950s, Newcastle were blessed with two great centre-forwards, Jackie Milburn and Len White.

Newcastle career: 1953-1962 Games: 269 Goals: 153

When White joined Newcastle back in 1953 from Rotherham for a relatively pricey �12,000, he came into a side which was basking in the glory of two recent FA Cup triumphs.

With Jackie Milburn firmly in place as the leading forward, the stocky diminutive figure of White often found himself playing second fiddle.

But despite this, White rattled in the goals and was instrumental during Newcastle's FA Cup winning campaign of 1955.

Once Milburn ended his career in the late 1950s, the Yorkshire hotshot took centre-stage and began to increase his ratio of goals.

White left Newcastle for Huddersfield in 1962.

There are few players past and present who are mentioned in the same breath as legends Sir Tom Finney and Sir Stanley Matthews.

Newcastle career: 1946-1957 Games: 397 games Goals: 200

But Jackie Milburn is one of them.

"Wor Jackie" was a local lad who took the game by storm with his electric pace and knack of scoring spectacular goals, similar to those struck by fellow Ashington legend Bobby Charlton.

Milburn, having worked down the pits, made his debut against Barnsley in 1946.

Three years later he won the first of his 13 England caps - a number deemed as paltry by many who thought Milburn's prolific scoring deserved better.

His goals in the 1951 and 1955 FA Cup finals elevated the forward to superstar status around Newcastle and the rest of the country.

Milburn left the club in 1957 for Northern Ireland having scored more goals for the club than anyone else - a record which still stands today.

His working-class roots and humble nature endeared him to many.

Milburn's funeral in 1988 brought the city of Newcastle to a standstill - a fitting testament to player affectionately known as Wor Jackie.

Manchester United worshipped George Best, Liverpool shone with Kevin Keegan, Manchester City were dazzled by Rodney Marsh while Newcastle had their own superstar.

Newcastle career: 1971-1976 Games: 228 Goals: 121

Super Mac, aka Malcolm MacDonald, joined the Magpies from Luton in 1971 for �180,000.

He cut an impressive figure - tall, muscular and sporting the biggest sideburns seen on Tyneside.

Super Mac made his home debut against Liverpool and stole the show, scoring a hat-trick to help Newcastle to a 3-2 win.

MacDonald was the best thing the St James' Park faithful had seen since Wor Jackie and it was not long before he was picked for England.

Two of his most memorable performances came against Cyprus, when he scored five goals at Wembley and when he struck to help England to a win over World Cup champions Germany in 1975.

Despite MacDonald's remarkable record in front of goal, Newcastle boss Gordon Lee opted to sell him to Arsenal during the 1976/77 season.