Every football fan has dreamed of playing for their club.
Most Newcastle United fans dream of scoring at the Gallowgate or scoring at Wembley to win the FA Cup, however, very few actually get to live those dreams.
And in recent years, to the naked eye, it can appear that Newcastle have stalled in their production of ‘homegrown’ first-team players.
But, is this true? Does the data provided below agree with that perception?
Research, conducted by OLBG.com, has calculated the number of ‘homegrown’ players in each Premier League first-team squad - and it makes for fascinating reading.
Note: A ‘homegrown’ player is any player that has trained with the club for at least three years before their 21st birthday.
Here, we have listed the clubs from worst to best in their production of ‘homegrown’ talents:
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13. Everton - 5
Football on Merseyside is hugely popular and so it’s not surprising to see Everton have a core of homegrown players in their squad - even when you take into account the huge squad upheaval and transfer spending in modern-times. (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images) Photo: Paul Thomas
14. Aston Villa - 6
As one of England’s most traditional clubs, Villa look to be solidifying their future by bringing a fair amount of homegrown players into their first-team squad. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Photo: Ryan Pierse
15. Newcastle United - 6
For years, Newcastle fans have been wanting their academy to produce more first-team players, however, according to this research, the club seems to be doing a decent job in getting homegrown players into the first-team. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images) Photo: LINDSEY PARNABY
16. Southampton - 7
The last non-traditional ‘top six’ side on this list is, probably unsurprisingly, Southampton. The Saints have been one of the very best in producing first-team players, although they do often struggle to keep hold of them once the ‘big boys’ come knocking on the door. (Photo by Peter Cziborra - Pool/Getty Images) Photo: Pool