Newcastle United: Triumphs, Tribulations, and a New Era
My initial memories of Newcastle United
I came across for the first time of Newcastle United is in 1996 when they signed Alan Shearer for a then world record fee of £15 million. I was in 9th grade then and following Euro 96 as a childhood spectacle, where Shearer won the Golden Boot for scoring 5 goals in the tournament. And first time I saw them play was from my friends house in 2001 when they beat Manchester United 4-3 which ended as a Premier League classic. Satellite TV was becoming popular in rural areas in my country(India) by the beginning of this century.
Newcastle United Football Club
Newcastle United is a club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Since the formation of club in 1881, they played their games in St James Park with black and white stripped shirt. The club has won four League titles, six FA Cups, one League Cup and an FA Charity Shield, as well as the 1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the ninth-highest total of trophies won by an English club. Clubs most successful period was between 1904 and 1910, where they won three League titles and an FA Cup.
| Tournament | Season |
|---|---|
| League Titles | 1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1926–27 |
| FA Cup | 1909–10, 1923–24, 1931–32, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1954–55 |
| Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | 1968–69 |
| Football League Cup / EFL Cup | 2024–25 |
Long dry spell of trophies
Though 9th position in terms of trophies in England, Newcastle had a long dry spell for major titles since 1955 FA Cup win domestically and 1968–69 Inter cities Fairs cup continently. They jinxed league title when they were leading against eventual winners Manchester United in 1995-96 season by 12 points at the top of the table. It includes defeat against Liverpool, a game often considered the greatest game in Premier League history. They repeated second place finish in 1996-97 season in league.
Football League Cup win and New Saudi ownership
On 16 March 2025, Newcastle broke their 70 year old jinx by winning the Football League Cup. They defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium. It was their first major domestic trophy since 1955 FA Cup win. Historic celebrations were held in the city to commemmorate Eddie Howe's team's achievement. Their feat coincided with their new and controversial ownership by Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund from 2021.
What is your first-time memory about Newcastle United?