Young Magpies Pick Up Awards

By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Newcastle United youngsters Owen Gallacher and Michael Newberry were among the winners at Sport Newcastle's annual awards dinner on Monday night.

The black tie ceremony at the city's Civic Centre celebrated the cream of North-East sport over the past year, with United well represented by their two young talents.

Scotland Under-16 international Gallacher - whose father, John, broke into the Newcastle first team in the late 1980s - picked up the coveted Jack Hixon Award, named after the scout who discovered United's all-time record goalscorer Alan Shearer.

Former IBF world cruiserweight champion Glenn McCrory presented 16-year-old Gallacher with the award, which has been won by Adam Armstrong, Freddie Woodman and Alex Gilliead in the past.

The promising forward made his debut for both United's under-18 and under-21 sides this season, making his bow for Dave Watson's Academy team against Stoke City last August before making the step up to Peter Beardsley's under-21s in November against West Brom.

Northern Ireland Under-19 defender Newberry, meanwhile, became the latest in a long line of Newcastle players to collect the Wor Jackie Award.

The 18-year-old centre half follows in the footsteps of Armstrong, Rolando Aarons, Sammy Ameobi and, further back, Andy Carroll, Paul Huntington and Peter Ramage.

Newberry has been on the Magpies' books since 2009, when he joined from Red House Farm boys club, and has made four appearances for the under-21s so far this season.