Club History Version 2 1890s The origins of Newcastle united football club belong to victorian tyneside and two local sides Newcastle east end and Newcastle west end.Situated on either side of the city these two pioneering teams developed from humble beginnings as offshoots of cricket clubs during the early years of the 1880s decade.A great rivalry between the two factions took place for years until 1892 it was east enders who had become the dominant club.West end ran into financial problems and on their demise east end moved across the city and took over west ends ground St James' park.Very soon they changed there name to Newcastle United and also changed there red and white colours to the now famous black and white stripes.They were elected to the football league in 1893 and started over on over a century of incident that has made the magpies one of the games headlines. 1900s Just prior to the turn of the century Newcastle gained promotion to the top division after a series of test matches an early version of the present days play offs.United then developed a side which became Edwardian Englands master outfit but not before the Tynesiders went through a worrying period due to a lack of support or money.However though the help of their directors the club was propped up and survived to become one of the major forces in the game. 1920s After world was one the twenties decade was just as eventfull .The black and whites lifted the fa cup at wembley in 1934 defeating aston villa only the second final to be staged at the famous stadium.And a record signing of scottish forward Hughie Gallacher made sure United collected another championship trophy three years later in 1927.Famous names continued to pull on the black and white shirt the likes of Niel Harris,Stan Seymour and Frank Hudspeth.Seymour was to be an influencial figure for the next 40 years as player , manager and then director. 1930s It was back to wembly in 1932 to compete with the infamous over the line fa cup final with Arsenal.United won the game 2-1 following a cross from Jimmy Richardson which appeared to be hit from out of play over the line.There were no action replays in those days and the referee allowed the goal a contrevertional talking point in fa cup history.Newcastle boasted master players like Sammy Weaver and Jack Allen aswell as the first player manager in the top division in scottish international Andy Cunningham.But after glory at the twin towers of wembley Newcastles form slumped and by 1934 they had been relegated for the first time in there history.Amazingly the season United were relegated they beat Liverpool 9-2 and Everton 7-3 within a week!. 1940s A rebuilding process took place in the years leading up to the second world war and by the time former star winger Stan Seymour had been appointed to the board of directors.A determined charachter he set the foundations of united's next great period.By the time peace was restored in 1945 Seymour was at the forefront of affairs,manager in all but name.A mix of home grown talent like Jackie Milburn , Bobby Cowell and Ernie Taylor aswell as big signings in the shape of George Robeldo,Bobby Mitchell and Joe Harvey and Frank Brennan Newcastle returned to the first division in quick style.Promotion was acheived in 1948 infront of crowds at an average 57,000 at every home game saw uniteds fixtures that year.This was just the start of another period of success. 1950s During the 50s decade united lifted the fa cup on three occasions within a five year period.In 1951 they beat Blackpool 2-0 a year later Arsenal were beaten 1-0 and in 1955 united crushed Mnchester City 3-1.The magpies were known in every corner of the country and so were there players "wor Jackie"Milburn and Bobby Dazzler Mitchell the pick of a side that was renowned the nation over.Despite aving quality players throughout the era and stars like Ivor Allchurch George Eastham and Len White during the latter years of the decade united slipped out of the first division in 1951 under the contreversial management of ex manchester united star Charlie Mitten.A huge blow to the club.Stan Seymour lifted the secound division title in 1965.Newcastle became very much an unpredictable team capable of beating the best but never quite realising there full potential until recently. 1960s Joe Harveys side qualified for europe for the first time in 1968 and stunned everyone by lifting the inter cities fairs cup the fore runner of the UEFA cup.United possesed a solid eleven and Newcastle's tradition of fielding a number 9 at centre forward since years continued as big welshman Wyn Davies was prominent with the likes of Bryan Pop Robson , Bobby Moncur and Frank Clark. 1970s In the years that followed the european success manager Harvey brought in a string of entertainers who thrilled the Gallowgate crowd.Pleasers like Jimmy Smith,Tony Green and Terry Hibbitt.And especially a new centre forward by the name of Malcolm Macdonald nicknamed Supermac Macdonald was one of uniteds gretest heroes.Brash,Arrogant and devestating in front of goal he led uniteds attack to wembley both in 1974 and 1976 against Liverpool in th fa cup and against Manchester City in the league Cup.But on both occasions the magpies failed to bring the silverware back to tyneside. 1980s At the start of the eighties decade United had declined dramatically and were languishing in the second division.Gordon Lee had replaced Harvey as boss yet he in turn soon gave way to Richard Dinnis and then Bill McGarry.But it was Arthur Cox who steered United back again to the first division with ex england skipper Kevin Keegan the focus of the side having joined the magpies in a sensational deal during 1982.Keegan captivated everyone to tyneside and United stormed into the top division in a style only bettered by Keegans own brand of Football in the next decade.Alongside Keegan were youngsters Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle as well as seasond campaigners like Terry McDermott and David McCreery.Paul Gascoign soon followed as did Jack Charlton as manager.Newcastle consolidated there place in division 1 but then a period of selling there best players-Beardsley,Waddle and Gazza rocked the club as did a shares-war for control of Newcastle united.The Magpies tumbled back into the second division and were in a perilous state.They had little money , star players headed south and crowds dwindled. 1990s With the club hovering on the brink,Newcastle united needed a saviour and Sir John Hall and Kevin Keegan joined forces to create a formidable duo.When Keegan returned to Tyneside to replace Ossie ardiles as manager in 1992 united were struggling at the wrong end of division two.Sir John had all but taken control of the club and neede a small miracle to stop the magpies tumbling into the third division for the first time in their history.If sir John was to transform the near bankrupt club they simply had to survive relegation.Just as befor Keegans mere presence captivated the region.Uniteds disgrunted supporters became excited expectant ones over night.They packed St James park again and united survived.Sir John Hall now turned his attentions to a master plan to develop Newcastle united into one of the superclubs of europe.The clubs finances were transformed St James' redeveloped into a stadium as good as any,planned to accomodate almost 52,000.Keegan brought in new players,many international superstars.It was the start of a special 5 years under his guidence.The first championship was secured and premier league clubs were faced with a new influence in the game,the balck and whites claimed 2 runners up spots and just missing out on the title trophy.The club invested heavily in international players from around the world.Players like Tino Asprilla and David Ginola from abroad,and brittish stars like Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson. The club has built up a reputation for playing an attacking brand of soccer and under the management of Kenny Dalglish Newcastle entered the champions league and reached the fa cup final only to fall to Arsenal.With another huge personality in control Ruud Gullit,the magpies reched the final again in 1999.And now with Bobby Robson as manager United are a major power in the game on and off the feild.A club with a proud tradition and a club with fervent and loyal support.Newcastle united is without doubt one of the biggest clubs in europe. HISTORY COURTESY OF CLUB HISTORIAN PAUL JONNOU. United in the premiership. Newcastles premieship history has been very exciting to say the least.The club finished 3rd in the table in the 1993/94 season under the guidence of Kevin Keegan.The season after (1994/95) Newcastle finished 6th and the next 2 seasons the club were just pipped to the title by Man utd but sensationally in 1997 Kevin Keegan resigned.Kenny Dalglish was to take over and fail,despite guiding United to the champions league the club finished a very dissapointing 13th in the 1997/98 season.Kenny was sacked the following season and the club hired Ruud Gullit as manager but he wouldnt do much better.Infact United only took 1 point from 5 matches under his guidence in the 1999/2000 season so the club brought in Bobby Robson to save the club from unthinkable relegation.Newcastle finished a respectable 11th that season and finished the same position the following season.This season thigs are looking much better and Newcastle united are definately on the right lines again. To find out more about the premiership years go to the premiership history page. Recent european history United qualified for europe in 1994 after finishing an incredible 3rd in the table.There first test would be Royal Antwerp of Belgium.Newcastle won the away leg 5-0 and it's a game that Rob Lee will surely not forget,he bagged a hat-trick of headers Scott Sellars and Steve Watson were the other scoreres in the game.In the return leg united won 5-2 with goals from Cole(3) Lee and Beardsley.In the next round Newcastle met Athletic Bilbao of spain and were 3-0 up in the home leg with goals from Cole,Beardsley and Fox but the game ended 3-2 and the away goals for the spanish side would prove vital as they won the return leg 1-0 to dunp united out of the competition. After a year absent from the competition Newcastle returned in the 1996/97 season and they returned with style,they beat Halmstads of Sweden 4-0 in the home leg with goals from Ferdinand ,Asprilla,Albert and Beardsley.They lost the away leg 2-3 but this tie was already done and dusted.In the next round Newcastle faced 15 times Hungarian champions Ferencaros and lost the away leg 2-3 but happily gained 2 away goals.In the return leg United turned on the style winning 4-0 with goals from Asprilla(2) atruely stunning goal from Ginola and Ferdinand.In the next round they met Metz and peter beardsley earned a draw for united in france and won the home leg 2-0 with 2 delightfull goals from Asprilla.They faced arguably the toughest team in the competition next when Monaco were pulled out of the hat.United lost the home leg 0-1 and the away leg 0-3 to see there european dream come to an end.Season 1997/98 saw United make there Champions league debut.They were grouped with Barcelona,Psv and Dynamo Kiev.Barcelona were the first team to face and no one will ever forget the night when Tino Asprilla scored a hat trick as united won 3-2.The next game was away at Kiev in a hostile atmosphere .United claimed a 2-2 draw thanks to 2 unlikely goals from John Beresford.They were away at PSV next and lost 0-1 in Eindhoven and the following week they lost 0-2 at St James'.Newcastle then visited the nou camp but the stadium was well below packed as United lost 0-1.Newcastles last Champions league game saw them beat Kiev 2-0 at St James but this win was too little too late and United were out of the Champions league.The following season (1998/99) under the guidence of Ruud Gullit Uniteds presence in the uefa cup was all too breif.They faced Spartak Moscow in the first round and won the home leg 2-1 but lost 0-1 in Moscow and went out on the away goals rule.Season 1999/2000 under the guidence of Bobby Robson Newcastles first hurdle was CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria,They won the away leg 2-0 with goals from Solano and Ketsbaia and they drew the home leg 2-2 to see them throught to the next round 4-2 on aggregate.Newcastle then faced Fc Zurich and won 2-1 in Switzerland and 3-1 at St James.The european dream was ended in the next round when a brave Newcastle side lost 0-1 to italian giants Roma in the away leg and could only manage a goaless draw in the home leg.Uniteds most recent european experience was the Intertoto cup campaign when they failed by a whiska to qualify for the uefa cup. Please also look at: History 1 Past Season Reviews