Newcastle United have a long history as one of the biggest football clubs in England. Their story dates back to 1892 when Newcastle East End and West End FC merged to found United. While Eddie Howe is now overseeing the start of a new era with Saudi-backed owners.
Club name
Newcastle took on the name of Newcastle United owing to the joining of forces between Newcastle East End and West End FC. The two clubs were the powerhouse duo of the city in the last 1800s. But West End FC endured financial issues, leading to the merger as most of their players joined East End.
Newcastle United badge
It was not before 1969 that Newcastle adopted an official club badge by embracing the city’s Coat of Arms. Yet the Magpies had used the city’s crest sparingly since 1911 to represent the area. The Toon also continue to embrace the city’s crest for their badge still today, with it last altered back in 1988.
Newcastle used their first club badge depicting the city’s crest from 1969 to 1976 with it embracing a Noman-era castle and two seahorses. But the Toon would switch to their first club-specific badge in 1976. It featured a magpie to reflect their nickname in front of Castle Keep, along with the River Tyne.
The badge remained in use until 1983 before Newcastle embraced a new crest which only featured ‘NUFC’ and a magpie. This design would only last five years before the Magpies embraced the badge in use now. Newcastle also used a grey and gold version to mark their 125th anniversary in 2017/18.
Kit history
Black-and-white striped jerseys are synonymous with Newcastle’s history. But it was not before 1894 that the Toon adopted the design for their shirts having used the red shirts of East End FC over their first two years. The Magpies also permanently moved away from blue shorts to black shorts in 1920.
League history
Newcastle have only ever played in the top-flight or second-tier of the English game throughout the club’s league history bar 1892/93. The Magpies joined the Northern League for their inaugural term before entering the old English Football League in Division Two from the 1893/94 term to 1897/98.
The 1930s and 1940s saw Newcastle return to and remain in Division Two before brief spells again in the 1960s, 1980s abd 1990s. But the Magpies have only played outside the top-flight for two seasons since 1994. The Toon lifted the rebranded Division One title in 1992/93 to enter the Premier League.
Only in 2009/10 and 2016/17 have Newcastle since competed in the Championship, during seasons in which they won the title. The Toon endured relegation in both the 2008/09 and 2015/16 Premier League seasons in 18th place before securing an immediate return as champions of the second-tier.
Newcastle United trophies
Newcastle’s trophy cabinet features a number of titles from throughout the Magpies’ history across multiple competitions. The Toon are also four-time champions of the top-flight of the English game. But the club have not won a top-flight honour since lifting the old First Division crown in 1926/27.
Two Premier League seasons have seen Newcastle finish as the runners-up so far. While the Toon’s trophy cabinet further features four second-tier titles plus six FA Cup winners’ medals. The Magpies have also lifted the Charity Shield, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, Intertoto Cup and Anglo-Italian Cup once.
Players and managers
Newcastle’s history is full of legendary players and managers from Alan Shearer and Rob Lee on the pitch to Kevin Keegan in the dugout. Frank Watt, meanwhile, oversaw their first top-flight title and FA Cup trophy during his 40-year tenure as the club’s secretary from 1895 all the way up until 1935.
Legendary players have often graced St James’ Park through Newcastle’s rich history with Andy Cole and Les Ferdinand modern-day greats. But Keegan made his mark on the pitch on Tyneside between 1982 and 1984 before returning to the club in 1992 as their manager and coaching The Entertainers.
Keegan’s squads dazzled as he led the Magpies out of the second-tier and to the verges of top-flight glory. He also brought Shearer back home from Blackburn Rovers in 1996 for a world-record £15m. The striker would go on to be Newcastle’s (206) and the Premier League’s (260) all-time top scorer.