Shaka Hislop

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hislop's first season at Newcastle United was spent battling with incumbent goalkeeper Pavel Srníček for the starting role. After starting strongly and being the starter through until December 1995, Hislop suffered an injury against Chelsea that allowed Srníček to regain the starting role. Hislop then did not return until April 1996 for the final six games of the season. That season Newcastle lost a 12-point lead in January to finish the season in second place. In 1996–97, Hislop started the first league game of the season against Everton but then remained on the bench thereafter. He had to watch Srníček tend the nets until a perceived dip in form and a number of mistakes from Srníček allowed Hislop to take the starting role back again in December 1996, and he made only his second league start of the year on 26 December 1996 against Leeds United. Hislop successfully retained the starting position until the final 4 games of the season when Srníček returned, as Newcastle finished second, ahead of Arsenal by 2 points and Liverpool by 4 points. Hislop's role further came under threat when new manager Kenny Dalglish opted to purchase a former player of his own from Blackburn Rovers. Dalglish brought in Shay Given, costing £1.5 million, in July 1997 for the 1997–98 season. Given initially started the season, but after a string of defeats and five games without a win, Dalglish went back to Hislop in November and he stayed there until an injury in February allowed Given back into the frame. With his contract running out, and having not yet managed to play a full season at Newcastle, Hislop chose to leave on a free transfer.

In Their Own Story

The 1996–97 season saw Hislop start the first league game against Everton, then watch from the bench as Srníček held the nets. But after a dip in form and mistakes from Srníček, Hislop took back the starting role in December 1996, making only his second league start of the year in a 7–1 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur. He held the position until the final four games, when Srníček returned, and Newcastle pipped Arsenal and Liverpool to second place on goal difference. The next season, new manager Kenny Dalglish brought in Shay Given for £1.5 million, sparking a season-long battle. Given started, but after a string of defeats and five games without a win, Dalglish went back to Hislop in November. Hislop stayed there until an injury in February let Given back in. With his contract running out and having never played a full season at Newcastle, Hislop left on a free transfer.

Reader's Guide

Hislop's time at Newcastle United was marked by competition and near-misses. He joined for £1.575 million in 1995 after Reading narrowly missed promotion. In his first season, he started strongly until an injury against Chelsea in December 1995 let Srníček reclaim the role; Hislop returned only for the final six games as Newcastle lost a 12-point lead to finish second. The following season, he battled Srníček again, starting just two league games before December, then holding the role until the final four games as Newcastle secured second place on goal difference. When Dalglish signed Given, the fight for the number one spot intensified. Hislop regained the starting role in November after a poor run, but an injury in February 1997 opened the door for Given. Unable to play a full season and with his contract expiring, Hislop left on a free transfer. His legacy at Newcastle is one of resilience in a squad that finished second twice, though he never fully secured the starting role for an entire campaign.

Did You Know?

• Hislop was part of the Newcastle United team that finished second in the Premier League for two successive seasons under Kevin Keegan.
• He signed for Newcastle United for £1.575 million in the summer of 1995.
• Hislop's first season at Newcastle saw him start strongly until an injury against Chelsea in December 1995 allowed Pavel Srníček to regain the starting role.
• In 1996–97, Hislop made only his second league start of the year on 26 December 1996 against Leeds United.
• New manager Kenny Dalglish brought in Shay Given for £1.5 million in July 1997 for the 1997–98 season.