Venison made his debut of the Magpies on 15 August 1992 in the 3–2 league win over Southend United at St James' Park, Venison enjoyed a tremendous beginning to his Newcastle career as they won their first eleven league games in a row, leaving them runaway Leaders of Division One and looking uncatchable in the promotion race by October. The run came to an end when they lost to a last minute goal at home against Grimsby Town; they fell just 2 games short of the record 13 straight victories that had been set seven years earlier by Reading in the old Third Division. Keegan got his team to play in an exciting, attacking way with them becoming a talking point within the game for their exuberant style of play along with their mean defence which included a revitalised Venison as well as the likes of John Beresford and Steve Howey. Newcastle went on to become Division One champions, winning the title with a 2–0 away win, coincidentally at Grimsby, thus gaining promotion to the Premier League.