When discussing prominent sports families in Britain, the Longstaffs undoubtedly stand out. Known not only for their deep-rooted passion for Newcastle United but also for their involvement in ice hockey, cricket, and netball, the Longstaff family embodies a true sporting legacy. With members who have represented England over 100 times across various sports, it’s clear that athletic talent runs in their veins. Despite their diverse sporting interests, one thing unites the Longstaffs: their unwavering loyalty to Newcastle United. In this article, we spotlight Sean Longstaff, a standout player for The Magpies who has carved his own path in the world of football.
Our biography of Sean Longstaff dives into his early years, exploring his childhood, family background, and the influences that shaped him. Learn about his parents, David and Michelle Longstaff, his brother Mathew Longstaff, and the rich family background that has truly played a significant role in his journey.
In essence, we share the complete story of Sean Longstaff, often dubbed “The New Michael Carrick,” providing a comprehensive look at his rise from a talented young footballer to a standout player.
Discover the full narrative of Sean Longstaff’s life, from his formative years to his notable achievements, in our detailed account of his personal and professional journey.
While it’s well-known that Sean Longstaff, like Mateo Kovacic, excels in the box-to-box midfield role and can also shine as a number ten, his biography is equally fascinating and deserves a closer look. So, let’s dive into the intriguing story of Sean Longstaff and uncover the details that make his journey truly remarkable.
Sean Longstaff Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
To kick off his biography, let’s start with the basics: Sean David Longstaff was born on October 30, 1997, in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, to his parents, David and Michelle Longstaff.
Growing up in a vibrant sporting family, Sean was always surrounded by athletic influences. He and his younger brother, Matthew, were raised in an environment where sports were more than just a passion—they were a way of life. Their parents’ love for sports extended beyond Newcastle United to include ice hockey, cricket, and netball, shaping the Longstaff family’s dynamic and fueling Sean’s own sporting journey.
Did you know?… Sean Longstaff’s father, David, was a former Great Britain ice hockey player who featured for the national side more than 100 times. Also, Sean Longstaff’s mum was a former netballer who also excelled in the sport.
Judging from his parents’ occupation, you’ll realize that sporting blood indeed runs through Sean Longstaff’s veins.
Due to his father’s commitment to both national and club duty, Sean Longstaff’s family’s stay in England was short-lived.
At some point in his early life, Sweden became his second country. Sean’s father, David, played for one of the topsides in Stockholm, Sweden.
Education and Career Buildup:
Early on in his life, Sean Longstaff developed a dogged approach to sporting education early on as a child. This he took to the modern-day.
Today’s doggedness is linked part down to his childhood experience, where he spent most of his time playing hockey on the Swedish ice rink.
At this point (pictured above) in his early life, there was no sight of Sean Longstaff wanting to become a footballer. All he wanted was to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a professional ice hockey star.
Despite Ice hockey and Netball being the major trades, all the members of the Longstaff family still retained their love for Newcastle United, one which was very hard to let go of.
In fact, both his mum, dad, brother, sister, uncle and aunt were all lifelong and die-hard fans of The Magpies. At some point, Sean Longstaff’s dad took his family back to England.
Upon returning fully to England from Sweden, Sean Longstaff began receiving cricketing education from Tynemouth Cricket Club. Early on, he helped his teammates in winning his first trophy.
While playing cricket, Sean Longstaff also attended John Spence Community High School. At school, he fell in love with football and saw himself abandoning cricket.
Back then, his teachers at the high school knew Sean Longstaff was destined for great things as they watched him hone his skills on their football fields.
So when Longstaff bagged the call-up to attend trials in Newcastle United’s academy, their pride knew no bounds.
Sean Longstaff Biography – Early Career Life:
The humble, highly driven and confident Sean Longstaff, at the age of 9, saw himself passing trails and getting enrolled into Newcastle academy, where he was given the stage to showcase his talent.
Early on with the club, Sean was probably of the same quality and stature just as everybody else at the under-9 level.
However, it took no time before he began building his character, turning into a prodigy in the process. At this time, Sean Longstaff became streets ahead of his mates in terms of manners, resilience, and technical ability.
This feat saw him making serene progress across different age groups and projecting himself into senior football.
Road to Fame Story:
After ending his youth career with Newcastle, Sean Longstaff felt the time was right for him to make a bold decision.
He decided to leave England on loan to Kilmarnock Football Club, commonly known as Killie. This is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.
At the club, Sean Longstaff spent a lot of time working on his defensive discipline and passing techniques, which later became his biggest strength.
Being a very hardworking and exceptionally considerate pupil paid off as Sean Longstaff got called upon for another loan spell with Blackpool.
While playing for the seaside club, Longstaff began to show how powerful he was in his ability to get forward.
Seeing these improvements began to tempt Newcastle about thinking about a possible return of their very own son from his loan spell.
Sean Longstaff Bio – Rise to Fame Story:
After hearing enough good news of their loanee shining in Blackpool, Newcastle United decided to recall their very own Sean from the loan.
This happened at a time Rafa Benitez was having a midfield crisis- injuries to Jonjo Shelvey and Mo Diame,
Sean Longstaff was given the opportunity, and he was immediately impressed. This meteoric rise to fame saw him becoming the most exciting talent to have come out of the club’s academy in recent years after Michael Carrick.
Sean Longstaff’s ability to make games look simple became known by fans. He unleashed a playing style that combines the elegance of a Rolls Royce with the engine of a Mustang, making Newcastle fans sing praises of him.
The biggest turning point of Sean Longstaff’s success came in the 2018/2019 season when he won the penalty that gave Newcastle a 2–1 win over Manchester City in January 2019.
Since that day, his name has been on the transfer radar of top clubs, among whom is Manchester United. At the time of updating Sean Longstaff’s Bio, he, alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Jonjo Shelvey, is in the quest to bring back the Newcastle glory days. Let’s not forget academic products like Lewis Miley.
With huge support from their Saudi-led owners, the club would soar high. The rest of his Bio is now history.
Personality:
Getting to know Sean Longstaff’s personal life away from the pitch of play would help you get a complete picture of him.
Starting off, he is a quiet, shy and happy guy. In reality, Sean Longstaff is someone who is able to withstand all sorts of pressure without a mood swing.
He can turn his hand to just anything you throw at him, whether it’s cricket, badminton, table tennis or football.
All this is tied to his good-guy approach to life, his genetic makeup and his sporting family roots. Sean Longstaff is someone who gets fascinated by his balance symmetry, and he is a good conventional listener.
LifeStyle:
Starting off, he earns a healthy salary from his professional career as a footballer. This, however, does NOT transcend into a glamorous lifestyle, an example which is seen below.
As at the time of writing, Sean Longstaff is not allowed to live a lavish lifestyle, e.g. spending out of control, showcasing a fleet of exotic cars, girls and the buzz. He doesn’t have much trouble managing his football money and saving some for a rainy day.
Sean Longstaff Family Life:
Sean’s success boils down to his upbringing at both his family home and his education at John Spence Community High School in North Shields. Now let’s give you some info about his family.
About Sean Longstaff’s Father:
David Longstaff was born on the 26th of August 1974. Judging from his date of birth, David had Sean when he was around 23.
David Longstaff kicked off his career with his local team, the Whitley Bay Warriors. In 1995, he made a move to the Sheffield Steelers, where he truly began to make his mark. At Sheffield, David enjoyed a series of victories and celebrated success in numerous league and playoff games, solidifying his reputation as a skilled and accomplished player.
Did you know?… David Longstaff, during his prime, was awarded the Young Player of the Year and Superleague Player of the Year awards. Below is a photo of him during the time he dominated the world as a hockey star.
As of the time of writing, David Longstaff is still active as a player-coach for the Whitley Warriors.
About Sean Longstaff’s Mother:
Unlike her husband, David, very little is known about Sean Longstaff’s mother, who goes by the name Michelle Longstaff. Just like her husband, she is also a sportsperson who is focused and does well in netball.
About Sean Longstaff’s Brother:
As of the time of writing, Sean Longstaff’s younger brother is part of the under-23s team at Newcastle.
The fact that both boys have become successful in the club clearly means they both have skills, thanks to the values that have been instilled in them from an early age.
About Sean Longstaff’s Relatives:
Sean’s dad, David Longstaff, is the cousin of former England international Alan Thompson, who literally is Sean’s uncle.
Untold Facts:
Comparison with Declan Rice:
Did you know?... At the time of writing, some fans thought that comparing Sean Longstaff with Declan Rice was like comparing the stats of Frank Lampard to Paul Scholes.
Back then, while Paul Scholes held more experience, Lampard had the stats. In this case, despite being a year younger, Rice is clearly the more experienced player, but Longstaff does hold his own when it comes to football stats.
As of the time of writing, both Longstaff and Rice are currently staking their claim for inclusion to the English national team. But the press at the time of writing has not spoken much about the two young central midfielders.
Final Note:
Thank you for diving into Sean Longstaff’s story with us. It’s clear that his surprise at Newcastle’s decision to suggest his close friend Anthony Gordon might leave the club in 2024. We aim to deliver accurate and fair stories about English footballers, much like we do for players like Tommy Doyle and Joe Gomez. If you notice anything that seems off or has any thoughts to share, please let us know in the comments below. We truly value and appreciate your feedback.