St James' Park

[Whitley mag]

It’s certainly different but the seating layout with steep stands looks impressive.

[JigsawGoesToPieces]

Newcastle’s players asked for their walkout song to be changed. It hasn’t gone down well - The Athletic

 

As Newcastle United players walked out at St James’ Park before two recent home matches, unfamiliar sounds greeted them.

Against Fulham on October 25, the PA system failed, so there was no music, only puzzled chanting and chatter. Ahead of facing Athletic Club on November 5, a modern version of Blaydon Races, a much-loved Geordie folk song written by George Ridley in 1862, was played over the speakers. The second came at the players’ request.

 

Mark Knopfler’s 1983 song Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero — or Local Hero as it is commonly known — was still heard on that Champions League night, but earlier in the running order. That felt somewhat incongruous to regular match-going fans, who have become accustomed to hearing the lyric-less saxophone piece, which evokes a traditional roar of encouragement from the crowd just as it finishes.

Local Hero has almost exclusively been Newcastle’s walkout anthem since the early 1990s, according to the club’s website. It has become iconic — and, for many supporters, is a cherished part of the pre-match routine.

 

Yet Local Hero immediately preceding Blaydon Races, it seems, was not a one-off.

 

That is set to be the order again when Newcastle face Manchester City on Saturday. The plan “at the request of the players and coaching staff” is for the swap to continue, at least for now, because the team “want to hear the fans signing right at kick-off”, which is not possible with Local Hero given it has no words.

 

Curiously, rather than ask a coach or a player to explain the change, or consult supporters beforehand, the tweak was made and then communicated via a social-media statement from Wor Flags — an independent fan group responsible for pre-match displays — the day before Newcastle hosted Athletic Club.

 

The switch-around has proven controversial. 

 

A poll on X cannot be viewed as universally representative of the entire fanbase, but it can be indicative, and the response was clear.

 

Of 2,343 respondents, 58.2 per cent said they disliked the change, compared to 14.5 per cent who liked it.

 

More than a quarter of voters are yet to reach a verdict, however, with 16 per cent “reserving judgement” until they have experienced the alteration over a longer period, and 11.2 per cent “unsure”.

In the replies, opinions ranged from “dreadful”, “baffling”, “horrendous”, “change it back” and that this move is “crossing a line” beyond the players’ domain into the fans’ sphere, to “not really a**ed”, queries over the version of Blaydon Races being used rather than the alteration itself, greater “concern about the team’s performance than a song”, and those who believe “the idea is really good” but needs to be better thought-out.

 

“Hey Jude” — which fans replace with “Geordies” during the chorus — has featured since the 1960s and divides supporters, though some insiders insist it always gets the crowd singing the loudest, and a minority have suggested they would welcome that as a pre-game tune.

 

Ben Spratt’s response was particularly interesting. He said, “You can’t put out soundbites about how great the crowd/atmosphere is, then make changes nobody asked for with the apparent aim of improving it.”

 

And that is what has been most surprising. The club have been extremely sensitive to fan opinion when it comes to a potential redesign of the emblem, and they insist the same will be true when determining the stadium redevelop-or-move question.

 

Yet on this matter — which, unlike the crest, does not fall under FA ‘heritage’ rules and so does not require mandatory supporter consultation — there was no dialogue with fans, while there has been scant communication on it through official club channels.

 

“For me, it should have gone through fan consultation because players and coaches come and go, whereas fans remain,” said Chris Heron, a Wor Flags member. “We’re not a voice for all the fanbase, so it could have been approached differently.

“The group as a whole seems representative of the wider fanbase on this, with mixed views. On a personal level, I associate Local Hero growing up with Alan Shearer, so I hold that song dear. It’s Newcastle, to me.

“I see the logic behind the Blaydon Races at the same time, but I see it as more of a celebratory song we should do at full time. If there were to be a song sung at the start, I think a slower one we can sing together in unity should be chosen.”

 

The Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) has received lots of messages regarding the song-order change, the majority of a negative tone, and has advised members to complete the club’s digital matchday experience surveys and provide that feedback directly.

 

Lisa Mole, NUST chair, said: “From the communication we’ve received, it seems the majority don’t understand why this has come about and don’t like it. We hope the club will take this into consideration and potentially change it back for future games.”

 

Seemingly, though, players were keen for an alteration. Dressing-room discussions took place, in which it was decided that greater fan involvement through their collective singing voice would be beneficial.

 

Howe was asked at his pre-Brentford press conference earlier this month about whether the move was dressing-room-led and said: “I’m not directly involved, I’ve been putting all my focus on the team, but I know there have been discussions about the pre-match environment and making sure it’s the best it can be.

 

“We’re constantly evaluating to try to make sure it’s the best experience, not just for supporters, but for players. There were a few tweaks made. Obviously, I’m not out there at that moment, so I’m not the best person to judge whether that’s a success. Hopefully, everyone’s enjoying the changes.”

 

Seemingly, that is not the case.

 

The exact match for which Local Hero was first played as the St James’ walkout tune is disputed, though research provided by encyclopedic fan website nufc.com places the starting point as likely being at some stage in 1993. It is audible on footage ahead of the 7-1 hammering of Leicester City by Kevin Keegan’s promotion-winning side on May 9, 1993, but may have been used before earlier fixtures.

 

It was jointly credited as an idea thought up by Sir John Hall, the former owner, and Alan Robson, a local radio-show host who was in control of stadium PA duties.

On his website, Robson writes: “My first job for the club was to bring in a proper theme, so I introduced The Theme From Local Hero by Mark Knopfler. It is now a huge part of the experience, and I’m proud to say that was down to me.”

 

But Local Hero has not immediately preceded kick-off at every Newcastle home match for more than three decades.

According to nufc.com, Ruud Gullit, during his tumultuous spell as manager, changed the pre-game tune at the start of the 1999-00 season to a medley of the Chemical Brothers, followed by Right Here, Right Now by Fatboy Slim. For the last home match of that campaign against Arsenal, when Gullit was gone, Local Hero returned.

 

Across the 25 years since, it has been an almost ever-present part of the pre-match ritual, aside from a few occasions when tunes including If the Kids Are United by Sham 69, O Fortuna by Carl Orff, Thunderstruck by AC/DC, and The Longsands’ version of Blaydon Races have been played instead.

 

Newcastle insist they will listen to feedback and are receptive to alternative ideas, with the suggestion being that the order could revert or a different walkout song could be found.

When change is introduced, there tends to be an initial negative reaction. Whether that subsides remains to be seen. Players walking out to Local Hero has become synonymous with Newcastle home matches, so replacing that was always going to be contentious.

 

 

 

 

Terrible decision by the club, Local Hero is our walk out song and has been for 30 years

 

Also Hey Jude is abysmal song in general, wish we would stop playing it tbh

[OpenC]

4 minutes ago, JigsawGoesToPieces said:

Ben Spratt’s response was particularly interesting. He said, “You can’t put out soundbites about how great the crowd/atmosphere is, then make changes nobody asked for with the apparent aim of improving it.”

 

Bang on Ben  

[Turnbull2000]

12 minutes ago, JigsawGoesToPieces said:

Also Hey Jude is abysmal song in general, wish we would stop playing it tbh

 

Not just that. Other clubs fucking play it too.

[nufcjb]

There was a fantastic aerial image of SJP from behind the Leazes end and overlooking the city lights as Sky was closing their coverage. Wish someone would have taken that picture and polish it up. Would make for an absolute glorious image for anything.

 

 

Edited November 22, 2025 by nufcjb

[TheBrownBottle]

3 hours ago, JigsawGoesToPieces said:

Newcastle’s players asked for their walkout song to be changed. It hasn’t gone down well - The Athletic

 

As Newcastle United players walked out at St James’ Park before two recent home matches, unfamiliar sounds greeted them.

Against Fulham on October 25, the PA system failed, so there was no music, only puzzled chanting and chatter. Ahead of facing Athletic Club on November 5, a modern version of Blaydon Races, a much-loved Geordie folk song written by George Ridley in 1862, was played over the speakers. The second came at the players’ request.

 

Mark Knopfler’s 1983 song Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero — or Local Hero as it is commonly known — was still heard on that Champions League night, but earlier in the running order. That felt somewhat incongruous to regular match-going fans, who have become accustomed to hearing the lyric-less saxophone piece, which evokes a traditional roar of encouragement from the crowd just as it finishes.

Local Hero has almost exclusively been Newcastle’s walkout anthem since the early 1990s, according to the club’s website. It has become iconic — and, for many supporters, is a cherished part of the pre-match routine.

 

Yet Local Hero immediately preceding Blaydon Races, it seems, was not a one-off.

 

That is set to be the order again when Newcastle face Manchester City on Saturday. The plan “at the request of the players and coaching staff” is for the swap to continue, at least for now, because the team “want to hear the fans signing right at kick-off”, which is not possible with Local Hero given it has no words.

 

Curiously, rather than ask a coach or a player to explain the change, or consult supporters beforehand, the tweak was made and then communicated via a social-media statement from Wor Flags — an independent fan group responsible for pre-match displays — the day before Newcastle hosted Athletic Club.

 

The switch-around has proven controversial. 

 

A poll on X cannot be viewed as universally representative of the entire fanbase, but it can be indicative, and the response was clear.

 

Of 2,343 respondents, 58.2 per cent said they disliked the change, compared to 14.5 per cent who liked it.

 

More than a quarter of voters are yet to reach a verdict, however, with 16 per cent “reserving judgement” until they have experienced the alteration over a longer period, and 11.2 per cent “unsure”.

In the replies, opinions ranged from “dreadful”, “baffling”, “horrendous”, “change it back” and that this move is “crossing a line” beyond the players’ domain into the fans’ sphere, to “not really a**ed”, queries over the version of Blaydon Races being used rather than the alteration itself, greater “concern about the team’s performance than a song”, and those who believe “the idea is really good” but needs to be better thought-out.

 

“Hey Jude” — which fans replace with “Geordies” during the chorus — has featured since the 1960s and divides supporters, though some insiders insist it always gets the crowd singing the loudest, and a minority have suggested they would welcome that as a pre-game tune.

 

Ben Spratt’s response was particularly interesting. He said, “You can’t put out soundbites about how great the crowd/atmosphere is, then make changes nobody asked for with the apparent aim of improving it.”

 

And that is what has been most surprising. The club have been extremely sensitive to fan opinion when it comes to a potential redesign of the emblem, and they insist the same will be true when determining the stadium redevelop-or-move question.

 

Yet on this matter — which, unlike the crest, does not fall under FA ‘heritage’ rules and so does not require mandatory supporter consultation — there was no dialogue with fans, while there has been scant communication on it through official club channels.

 

“For me, it should have gone through fan consultation because players and coaches come and go, whereas fans remain,” said Chris Heron, a Wor Flags member. “We’re not a voice for all the fanbase, so it could have been approached differently.

“The group as a whole seems representative of the wider fanbase on this, with mixed views. On a personal level, I associate Local Hero growing up with Alan Shearer, so I hold that song dear. It’s Newcastle, to me.

“I see the logic behind the Blaydon Races at the same time, but I see it as more of a celebratory song we should do at full time. If there were to be a song sung at the start, I think a slower one we can sing together in unity should be chosen.”

 

The Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) has received lots of messages regarding the song-order change, the majority of a negative tone, and has advised members to complete the club’s digital matchday experience surveys and provide that feedback directly.

 

Lisa Mole, NUST chair, said: “From the communication we’ve received, it seems the majority don’t understand why this has come about and don’t like it. We hope the club will take this into consideration and potentially change it back for future games.”

 

Seemingly, though, players were keen for an alteration. Dressing-room discussions took place, in which it was decided that greater fan involvement through their collective singing voice would be beneficial.

 

Howe was asked at his pre-Brentford press conference earlier this month about whether the move was dressing-room-led and said: “I’m not directly involved, I’ve been putting all my focus on the team, but I know there have been discussions about the pre-match environment and making sure it’s the best it can be.

 

“We’re constantly evaluating to try to make sure it’s the best experience, not just for supporters, but for players. There were a few tweaks made. Obviously, I’m not out there at that moment, so I’m not the best person to judge whether that’s a success. Hopefully, everyone’s enjoying the changes.”

 

Seemingly, that is not the case.

 

The exact match for which Local Hero was first played as the St James’ walkout tune is disputed, though research provided by encyclopedic fan website nufc.com places the starting point as likely being at some stage in 1993. It is audible on footage ahead of the 7-1 hammering of Leicester City by Kevin Keegan’s promotion-winning side on May 9, 1993, but may have been used before earlier fixtures.

 

It was jointly credited as an idea thought up by Sir John Hall, the former owner, and Alan Robson, a local radio-show host who was in control of stadium PA duties.

On his website, Robson writes: “My first job for the club was to bring in a proper theme, so I introduced The Theme From Local Hero by Mark Knopfler. It is now a huge part of the experience, and I’m proud to say that was down to me.”

 

But Local Hero has not immediately preceded kick-off at every Newcastle home match for more than three decades.

According to nufc.com, Ruud Gullit, during his tumultuous spell as manager, changed the pre-game tune at the start of the 1999-00 season to a medley of the Chemical Brothers, followed by Right Here, Right Now by Fatboy Slim. For the last home match of that campaign against Arsenal, when Gullit was gone, Local Hero returned.

 

Across the 25 years since, it has been an almost ever-present part of the pre-match ritual, aside from a few occasions when tunes including If the Kids Are United by Sham 69, O Fortuna by Carl Orff, Thunderstruck by AC/DC, and The Longsands’ version of Blaydon Races have been played instead.

 

Newcastle insist they will listen to feedback and are receptive to alternative ideas, with the suggestion being that the order could revert or a different walkout song could be found.

When change is introduced, there tends to be an initial negative reaction. Whether that subsides remains to be seen. Players walking out to Local Hero has become synonymous with Newcastle home matches, so replacing that was always going to be contentious.

 

 

 

 

Terrible decision by the club, Local Hero is our walk out song and has been for 30 years

 

Also Hey Jude is abysmal song in general, wish we would stop playing it tbh

It’s gone down well with me.  Local Hero is pap.  It’s absolutely desperate of the Athletic to claim that the roar before kick off is inspired by a fucking sax solo ending.  For most of the club’s history the team came out to Blaydon Races, when they came out to anything at all.  Alan ‘Make Some Noise’ Robson was responsible for it Local Hero being played - the ne plus ultra of MOR DJs playing MOR music. 

 

 

Edited November 22, 2025 by TheBrownBottle

[Stifler]

5 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

It’s gone down well with me.  Local Hero is pap.  It’s absolutely desperate of the Athletic to claim that the roar before kick off is inspired by a fucking sax solo ending.  For most of the club’s history the team came out to Blaydon Races, when they came out to anything at all.  

 

 

 

Our fan aren’t singing Blaydon races like Liverpool sing YNWA, and Arsenal sing London forever (which I’m convinced is a new thing, never remember them singing it or at all until recently).

It’s a song to be sung during the game.

It’s a shame because our fan had just started to hum to Local Hero in recently in anyway. I also think our traditional tunnel anthem (O’ Fortuna) is the best for building up anticipation.

 

Like anything though, I think our atmosphere on these things depends on the crowd and occasion. Sometimes are fans are up to it for key games, sometimes they are a little on edge, and other times they are generally apathetic. You can have anything playing and it won’t change.

[Whitley mag]

Blaydon Races much better before kick off tonight just need to play a better more traditional version.

 

Some good noise around the ground tonight level 7 corner doing the Leazes proud for a change.

 

Barnes Barnes will tear you apart again

[TheBrownBottle]

3 minutes ago, Stifler said:

Our fan aren’t singing Blaydon races like Liverpool sing YNWA, and Arsenal sing London forever (which I’m convinced is a new thing, never remember them singing it or at all until recently).

It’s a song to be sung during the game.

It’s a shame because our fan had just started to hum to Local Hero in recently in anyway. I also think our traditional tunnel anthem (O’ Fortuna) is the best for building up anticipation.

 

Like anything though, I think our atmosphere on these things depends on the crowd and occasion. Sometimes are fans are up to it for key games, sometimes they are a little on edge, and other times they are generally apathetic. You can have anything playing and it won’t change.

Neither O Fortuna nor Local Hero predate the Sky era.  Blaydon Races isn’t a song to be sang during the game, it can be sung at any time, and was sang before the game regularly for a century before Alan Robson pushed his shite tastes on everyone - and those of us who can remember it will remember that Local Hero wasn’t exactly popular when Robson started playing it. 

 

I agree though that what is played hardly makes a difference. 

[Danh1]

8 minutes ago, Stifler said:

Our fan aren’t singing Blaydon races like Liverpool sing YNWA, and Arsenal sing London forever (which I’m convinced is a new thing, never remember them singing it or at all until recently).

It’s a song to be sung during the game.

It’s a shame because our fan had just started to hum to Local Hero in recently in anyway. I also think our traditional tunnel anthem (O’ Fortuna) is the best for building up anticipation.

 

Like anything though, I think our atmosphere on these things depends on the crowd and occasion. Sometimes are fans are up to it for key games, sometimes they are a little on edge, and other times they are generally apathetic. You can have anything playing and it won’t change.

That North London forever is new, think it’s a couple years old.

 

I agree though, our fans don’t even sing along to Blaydon Races. It’s half arsed and just racket. Same with the dire Hey Jude. If we had an anthem people would sing along to I’d be all for it, but we don’t. 

[Whitley mag]

Thing is the Blaydon Races is our anthem and when sang correctly like in years gone by it’s authentic and not some contrived shite like that Arsenal song and some others.

 

This comes back to our fans singing at 100mph which doesn’t lend itself to much.

[Danh1]

1 minute ago, Whitley mag said:

Thing is the Blaydon Races is our anthem and when sang correctly like in years gone by it’s authentic and not some contrived shite like that Arsenal song and some others.

 

This comes back to our fans singing at 100mph which doesn’t lend itself to much.

Absolutely agree - that version they play is dire but BR isn’t a song that would get people singing along in the same way YNWA is for example. Tough one. 

[Yorkie]

4 hours ago, JigsawGoesToPieces said:

Terrible decision by the club, Local Hero is our walk out song and has been for 30 years

 

Unless I'm having a brain fart we haven't walked out to it for years, though. It's shoehorned in after the PL music and because it's so long players are often stood around waiting for it to finish, which I bet is why they've requested it tbh.

[Whitley mag]

Just now, Danh1 said:

Absolutely agree - that version they play is dire but BR isn’t a song that would get people singing along in the same way YNWA is for example. Tough one. 

Possibly some version of Howay The Lads would work with the fast chant then going into the slow version. It’s simple and authentic but not sure if there’s a recorded version of it.

 

To be honest if we had a large scale standing area you could just switch off the music 5 mins before kick off and let it build. Maybe read out the players names and leave it at that.

 

 

 

[Magic Rat]

On 20/11/2025 at 22:40, Gottlob said:

I don't know if it has been discussed and it's probably incidental when it comes to us and our stadium plans, but there was an article in the New York Times yesterday saying that due to numerous missteps PIF is low on cash and rethinking the way it does business.

Reading the whole article it does sound as if the PIF is restricting it's spending on its investments where it can while it restructures.  No suggestion of how long that will take but it won't happen overnight.  And they have just promised Trump a trillion dollars of investment in the USA.  Replacing SJP could be a long way down their priority list given that we could stay at SJP.  If this is the reason why there has been no announcement on a new ground, we beat no hold out breath.

[TheBrownBottle]

7 hours ago, Whitley mag said:

Thing is the Blaydon Races is our anthem and when sang correctly like in years gone by it’s authentic and not some contrived shite like that Arsenal song and some others.

 

This comes back to our fans singing at 100mph which doesn’t lend itself to much.

Yep - I can't advocate for the New Monkey / Colosseum radgie 500bpm megamix that our support seems to go for when singing it, nor for that utter wank one they play over the tannoy with a stupid drum over it.  Just get a fucking brass band on the pitch and play it at the correct tempo, and let the crowd do the rest.

[TheBrownBottle]

On 21/11/2025 at 09:40, Gottlob said:

I don't know if it has been discussed and it's probably incidental when it comes to us and our stadium plans, but there was an article in the New York Times yesterday saying that due to numerous missteps PIF is low on cash and rethinking the way it does business.

 

On 21/11/2025 at 13:13, JT24 said:

 Aye, no wonder the decision-making keeps getting delayed.

 

 

On 21/11/2025 at 13:52, McDog said:

PIF is broke? Ummm......

KSA and PIF are utterly useless with investments - PIF has existed since the 70s and been a funnel for most of the profits of KSA oil products, yet they control a smaller fund than Norway's.  Decades of mismanagement including by the present lot is the reason (and shitloads of corruption).

 

They're business geniuses if you listen to some of our support, though.

[TheBrownBottle]

On 21/11/2025 at 20:32, AyeDubbleYoo said:

 

That seems insanely big

 

On 21/11/2025 at 20:56, Wallsendmag said:

 

You can't knock their ambition but aye, given their fanbase and their historical crowds it does seem a bit on the big side.

 

I suppose they'll look at Birmingham being the 2nd biggest City in the UK so they'll think the people are out there and it's just a case of tempting them in. If you look at Sunderland as an example. Their average gate in the 10 years leading up to building their new 42k stadium was around 16,000 so on the face of it building a 40k+ stadium seemed ridiculous but they hooked people in through novelty factor, extremely cheap (and in many cases free tickets to schools/colleges/Unis etc) and pretty much built themselves a brand new fanbase due to a new stadium and more than doubled their crowds. 

 

Assume Birmingham will go down the same route.

15th highest average crowds in English football historically, despite having spent more of their history outside of the top flight than in it, never finishing higher than 6th and with only two LCs to shout about.  A successful BC could be a big club.

[Danh1]

4 hours ago, TheBrownBottle said:

 

15th highest average crowds in English football historically, despite having spent more of their history outside of the top flight than in it, never finishing higher than 6th and with only two LCs to shout about.  A successful BC could be a big club.

Would be lovely if they could knock Villa off their perch down there. 

[bobbydazzla]

So SJP is on the list of venues for the 2035 women's world cup.

 

For those who aren't that good at maths, that's 10 whole years away. A decade. 

 

Looks like we ain't getting no new stadium boys and girls....

 

 

Edited November 28, 2025 by bobbydazzla

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 minute ago, bobbydazzla said:

So SJP is on the list of venues for the 2035 women's world cup

 

For those who aren't that good at maths, that's 10 whole years away.

 

Looks like we ain't getting a new stadium boys and girls....

 

Is that set in stone 10 years out?

[bobbydazzla]

Just now, AyeDubbleYoo said:

 

Is that set in stone 10 years out?

 

Think it's mainly steel and concrete that they use for building stadiums these days

[bobbydazzla]

Manchester United's proposed new Old Trafford stadium is one of 22 venues named in the UK's bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup.

Old Trafford was not considered for the 2028 men's European Championship and its redevelopment is still in its planning stage.

 

Whereas SJP has the 2028 Euros and is listed in the 2025 WWC venues.

 

You do the math.

[Turnbull2000]

4 minutes ago, bobbydazzla said:

So SJP is on the list of venues for the 2035 women's world cup.

 

For those who aren't that good at maths, that's 10 whole years away. A decade. 

 

Looks like we ain't getting no new stadium boys and girls....

 

 

 

 

There absolutely was something going on between Newcastle council planning, design consultants and NUFC related to St James' Park and Leazes Park.

 

That's not to say PIF have since abandoned the project though.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 minute ago, Turnbull2000 said:

 

There absolutely was something going on between Newcastle council planning, design consultants and NUFC related to St James' Park and Leazes Park.

 

That's not to say PIF have since abandoned the project though.

Why would they abandon the project?