St James' Park

Lore & Background

The site of St. James' Park was originally a patch of sloping grazing land, bordered by Georgian Leazes Terrace, and near the historic Town Moor. The first football team to play there was Newcastle Rangers in 1880. Newcastle West End took over the ground in 1886. West End were wound up in 1892 and effectively merged into their rivals Newcastle East End, who took over the lease of St. James' Park and became Newcastle United later that year. On 3 September 1892, Newcastle East End played its first game on the football ground. Throughout its history, the desire for expansion has caused conflict with local residents and the local council, leading to proposals to move at least twice in the late 1960s, and a controversial 1995 proposed move to nearby Leazes Park. Reluctance to move has led to the distinctive lop-sided appearance of the present-day stadium's asymmetrical stands. Notably, Newcastle United initially wore blue and white stripes in their first season (1892–93), then switched to red and white shirts from 1894 to 1904.

In Their Own Story

The fog rolls in off the Tyne at half-time, curling between the floodlight pylons like something alive. A kid in a navy-and-white scarf presses his face to the railing on the Leazes End, breath fogging the metal, and he can feel the vibration in his chest — not from the speakers, not from the PA, but from thirty thousand people breathing as one. The away end is a thin strip of silence, a pale smear of colour against the dark. Someone in row C starts the chant, low at first, a rumble, and then it builds, swells, swallows the fog. The goalkeeper wipes his hands on his shorts, looks up at the stand, and for a moment the whole world is just that stand, that sound, that impossible wall of noise pressing down on the pitch. The ball is dropped. The kid in row C stops breathing. The ground exhales.

Reader's Guide

St. James' Park has been used for international football, at the 2012 Olympics, for the rugby league Magic Weekend, rugby union World Cup, Premiership and England Test matches, charity football events, rock concerts, and as a set for film and reality television. The stadium's capacity is 52,719. The Gallowgate End is named after the nearby gallows of the city, last used in 1844.

Did You Know?

• The first football team to play at St. James' Park was Newcastle Rangers in 1880.
• Newcastle United initially wore blue and white stripes in their first season (1892–93), then switched to red and white shirts from 1894 to 1904.
• The second-ever rugby league test match was played at the ground in 1908.