The History and Legacy of Newcastle United

Newcastle United was founded in 1892 when Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End merged into one. The club was elected into the Football League in 1893 and remained in England’s top flight until 1934.

They have been a prominent name within football ever since, winning the ninth-highest trophies by an English club (14), including four league titles.

With such a prestigious history, BetMGM is here to delve deeper into the lineage of one of England’s most notable clubs, and official partners, Newcastle United.

Newcastle Throughout The Years

Pre-1930s Success

Newcastle United were a formidable force in the early 1900s. Between 1905 and 1910 the black and white stripes of the club reigned supreme over English football, winning the First Division on three occasions (1905, 1907 and 1909).

They may have had to wait until 1927 for their next First Division crown but the Magpies did not stop earning silverware domestically.

In 1910, Newcastle won their first FA Cup by beating Barnsley in the final. A second FA Cup success followed in 1924, with Harry Hampton scoring two goals in a victory over Aston Villa. Post-war Downfall and Rebirth

Relegation became a realistic fear for Newcastle United in 1930 when legendary players like Hughie Gallacher left the club and their struggles came to forefront during the 1933/34 season when, after 35 seasons, they were relegated to the second tier.

However, it wasn’t long until Newcastle were back rubbing shoulders with England’s best. They were promoted back to the First Division in 1948 and enjoyed a significant spell of success upon their return; during the 1950s the Magpies lifted the FA Cup three times in five years, including back-to-back triumphs in 1951 and 1952 under Stan Seymour.

Newcastle’s next major trophy was won in 1969. They were victorious over Ujpest across two legs to lift the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, with two goals from iconic central defender Bobby Moncur.

The Keegan and Robson Eras

Tumultuous years followed as Newcastle bounced between the First and Second Divisions. However, that would all change when Kevin Keegan was announced as manager in 1992.

In his first year at the helm, Keegan guided Newcastle to a place in the newly-named Premier League. His debut season in England’s rebranded top flight provided similar successes, with a third-placed finish, the highest the club had managed in almost 70 years.

Nicknamed ‘The Entertainers’, Keegan’s attacking style of play earned his side consecutive runners-up medals in 1995/96 and 1996/97. He left in 1997 with Bobby Robson ultimately taking the reins in 1999.

When Robson took the job, Newcastle were at the bottom of the Premier League table. He guided them to safety and over the following years achieved fourth, third and fifth-placed finishes, earning the Magpies European football in two of those three campaigns.

The Mike Ashley Years

Mike Ashley became the owner of Newcastle United on the 7th June 2007. Between 2007 and 2010, Newcastle had six different managers, a relegation, a promotion and were put up for sale.

After their promotion to the Premier League in 2009/10 under Chris Hughton’s tutelage, the Magpies were enjoying a solid start to life back in the big time. However, in what was a surprise to many, Hughton was giving his marching orders and replaced by Alan Pardew in December 2010. A modest 12th-placed finish followed – highlighted by a memorable 4-4 comeback draw at St James’ Park against Arsenal.

Pardew had the best spell of his tenure during the 2011/12 season, starting the season with 11 games unbeaten and shepherding Newcastle to fifth place in the Premier League and securing Europa League football. His momentum as manager stalled in the following seasons and he was eventually replaced by John Carver, who was swiftly ushered out by Steve McClaren, before Rafa Benitez finally secured a spot in the dugout in 2016.

The Spaniard could not prevent a second relegation under Ashley’s regime, although he did get them back into the Premier League at the first attempt. Several years of midtable finishes saw Benitez reject a new contract and Steve Bruce checked into the manager’s chair in 2019.

Modern Era

After 14 years as owner, Ashley stepped aside in 2021 and sold his shares to the Saudi Arabian consortium consisting of Public Investment Fund, RB Sports and Media and PCP Capital Partners.

New owners meant a new beginning on Tyneside and an air of optimism returning to the north-east. Since the reported £305 million sale, and Eddie Howe’s appointment in 2021, Newcastle have placed themselves back amongst the upper echelon of teams in England. They qualified for the 2023/24 Champions League and have begun beating off Europe’s best for talented signings – including Alexander Isak and Sven Botman.

Newcastle’s first European campaign in over two decades ended in the opening stages but contained some thrilling matches in the consensus ‘group of death’ alongside AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and eventual finalists Borussia Dortmund.

The 2024/25 campaign will not have any European football at St James’ Park but Howe’s men will be dead set on being back among the continent’s best beyond this season and long into the future.

Legendary Players and Managers

Players

Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer is the quintessential Newcastle player.

Born in Gosforth, Shearer grew up a fan of the Magpies and eventually joined his boyhood club in 1996 from Blackburn Rovers. He enjoyed an incredible first season at St James’ Park, scoring 25 times in 31 appearances and securing the club a second consecutive second-place finish.

Shearer once again showed his insatiable appetite for goals during the 2001/02 campaign with 23 goals in 37 matches, becoming the catalyst for Newcastle’s return to major European football.

Across his decade with the club, he scored a total of 206 times in front of the Toon Army, cementing himself as a Newcastle legend and their all-time record goalscorer.

Jackie Milburn

Shearer took the all-time scoring record away from Jackie Milburn – or ‘Wor Jackie’ to Newcastle fans.

Milburn held the long-standing record before Shearer came along, with 201 goals while donning the black and white stripes.

The striker played a pivotal role during Newcastle’s FA Cup triumphs in the early 1950s. His brace against Blackpool in the 1951 final secured the trophy for the Magpies and, while he did not score in the following year’s showcase, he was a key member of the team that beat Arsenal and claimed back-to-back victories in England’s premier cup competition.

His memorable FA Cup showpiece moments don’t stop there. In 1955, ‘Wor Jackie’ scored after just 45 seconds which stood as the fastest goal in an FA Cup final for 40 years.

The Milburn Stand has since been created in his honour at St James’ Park.

Malcolm Macdonald

Scoring 138 goals in 258 appearances, Malcolm Macdonald has earned his place among the pantheon of prolific goalscorers in Newcastle United history.

It should have been obvious from his debut game at St James’ Park when the future England international fired home a hat-trick infront of the Toon Army. He ended his first season in the north-east with 30 goals in 52 games – finishing as Newcastle’s top scorer.

That honour was not his last for the Tyneside outfit as he finished as their most fruitful finisher for the following four years in succession. His most memorable goals came in the 1973/74 FA Cup semi-final against Burnley when he slotted home a brace to secure Newcastle’s spot at Wembley.

Macdonald has since been inducted into the Newcastle United hall of fame.

Managers

Stan Seymour

When you are known as ‘Mr Newcastle United’, you are certainly a club legend. Having played for the Magpies in nine years during the 1920s, Seymour first took the managerial position in 1939. However, it would be throughout his second tenure he would find the most success in the St James’ Park dugout.

After retaking his post in 1950, Seymour went on to become the most decorated boss in Newcastle’s storied history, overseeing their back-to-back FA Cup victories in 1951 and 1952.

His style of play and impressive results propelled Newcastle United to the forefront of English football once again.

Bobby Robson

Newcastle were on the cusp of relegation in 1999, sitting bottom of the Premier League. Step in, Bobby Robson.

Robson would enjoy the perfect debut game as manager, beating second-bottom Sheffield Wednesday 8-0 at St James’ Park and lifting the Magpies off the foot of the Premier League. He won 14 of his 32 matches that season, catapulting Newcastle to an 11th-place finish.

His next few years in the dugout would be nothing short of sensational, guiding the Toon to fourth, third and fifth-placed finishes across the next three seasons.

The former PSV boss also helped Newcastle to a prolonged run in Europe during the 2003/04 campaign with a semi-final exit in the UEFA Cup.

Kevin Keegan

Kevin Keegan could be on this list as a player after 48 goals in 78 appearances for Newcastle but his impact the football club, and the city, as a manager cannot be underestimated.

He arrived at St James’ Park in 1992 and managed to steer the Magpies away from relegation in his first campaign in charge. Due to finishing 20th, his side played in the newly-formed First Division for the 1992/93 season. Keegan guided Newcastle to the summit of the First Division and secure promotion to the Premier League.

Newcastle’s inaugural Premier League season under the stewardship of Keegan went remarkably well. The club finished third, qualifying for European football for the first time since the 1970s.

Arguably his most notable season as manager came in the 1995-96 campaign when they were embroiled in a heated title race with Manchester United. Newcastle eventually finished second but it was a historically impressive feat from a side that was in the division below three years prior.

Achievements

Newcastle United have amassed the ninth-highest total of major trophies won by an English club. Their most notable honours are listed below:

English First Division (4) – 1905, 1907, 1909, 1927 FA Cup (6) – 1910, 1924, 1932, 1951, 1952, 1955 Community Shield (1) – 1909 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1) – 1968-69 Intertoto Cup (1) – 2006

Biggest Transfers

Newcastle have secured numerous notable signatures throughout their history, with some playing their way into the fabric of the football club. Here are a few of their most crucial additions:

Alan Shearer (Blackburn Rovers, £15 million)

A £15 million transfer fee was a world record when Shearer swapped Blackburn Rovers for Newcastle United – but nobody can argue it wasn’t worth it. Returning to his boyhood club, Shearer ascended to god-like status in the black and white for the Magpies, scoring 206 times in 405 appearances. He retired in 2006 holding the record for the most goals in Newcastle and Premier League history.

Hughie Gallacher (Airdrieonians, £6,500)

Making the switch from Airdrieonians to Newcastle in December 1925, Gallacher played a huge role in the Magpies success during the back end of the 1920s. Most notably, he netted 36 times in 38 appearances throughout the 1926/27 title-winning campaign.

Shay Given (Blackburn Rovers, £1.5 million)

Given joined Newcastle in 1997 from Blackburn. A 12-year career at St James’ Park followed for the Irish international, including appearances in the Champions League during the 2002/03 season. In total, Given made 463 appearances in front of the Toon Army, winning the club’s player of the year award on three seperate occasions.

Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad,- £63 million)

Isak’s arrival was symbolic of a new era in the north-east. The Swedish international had just hit 10 or more goals across all competitions for the third consecutive year in Spain and helped Sweden top their group at the previous European Championships before joining Newcastle. Since, he has proven to be a shrewd acquisition for the Magpies by scoring 35 times in 67 appearances and finishing as the Premier League’s third-highest scorer last season.

Partnering with BetMGM

BetMGM is thrilled to be partnering with Newcastle United ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season. As the gold-standard in sports and casino, we are excited to continue our association with the biggest clubs in sport.

BetMGM and Newcastle United – it’s showtime!

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