Happy 140th birthday to Newcastle United Football Club. Formed on this day in 1881 by young lads from Stanley Street in Byker as Stanley FC. #NUFC #1881 #NUFC140 🏴🏳️
Here's something I wrote about Newcastle United's forgotten history: #NUFC
medium.com/soccer-stories/the-forgotten-history-of-newcastle-united-football-club-8e41404552de?sk=f70efc75362d2b717d83e90f6c30f922
The 1881 logo used in this thread is adapted from a date stone panel rescued from the old Newcastle Library (or Free Library), which was demolished in the 1970s. It is now embedded, along with other rescued stones, in the wall at Prudhoe Chare, off Northumberland Street.
Newcastle United began life as Stanley FC on this day in 1881. The club was formed during a meeting of the Stanley Cricket Club on Shields Road, Byker, on 24 November 1881 and played its first match two days later, on 26 November 1881:
Stanley FC changed its name to East End FC, shuffled around Byker, then set up home at Heaton Junction, just off Chillingham Road. As East End, the club competed in the Northern League and FA Cup, built up a loyal fan base, won silverware, and fielded some great players. #NUFC
In the summer of 1892, East End moved to a city centre ground that had been vacated by former rivals West End. West End had suffered a ‘heavy financial loss’ and disbanded. Contrary to popular belief, there was no merger. The ground was called St James' Park. #NUFC
The club was still called East End and played in red shirts. At a meeting on 9 December 1892, it was proposed that the club should change its name to Newcastle United. It wasn't until 1894 that the club changed its colours to black and white stripes. #NUFC
Newcastle United was formed in 1881 as Stanley FC, just as Man United was formed in 1878 as Newton Heath and Arsenal was formed in 1886 as Dial Square. So why doesn't #NUFC remember its early history or celebrate today's 140th anniversary? More here: medium.com/soccer-stories/the-forgotten-history-of-newcastle-united-football-club-8e41404552de
Paul Brown
@paulbrownUK
Writes about stuff: history, football, true crime, rocketbelts. New book: The Tyne Bridge: tynebridgebook.com Newsletter: singulardiscoveries.com