When looking at the current Premier League table, it certainly isn’t unusual to see the names of Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United occupying three of the top four positions in the standings.
However, the fourth side currently in the top four is a little more surprising, with the North East club of Newcastle United sitting pretty in third position, with their eyes firmly focussed on the prize of Champions League football.
Whether the Magpies ultimately make it to Europe’s top table remains to be seen. Tottenham Hotspur are only three points back in fifth spot – albeit having played a game more – but whatever happens, fans of the “Toon Army”, are no doubt delighted to see their side fighting for European football rather than battling to beat the drop, as has often been the case in recent seasons.
Happily for the St. James’ Park faithful, the 2022/23 season has so far proven to be a story of success, with the club now hitting the Premier League news for all the right reasons, and attracting the attention of punters assessing the best new sports betting sites uk.
For those unfamiliar with the club based on the banks of the River Tyne, here we take a look at a few interesting facts and stats from the club’s history.
Newcastle United: Facts and Stats
- Established in 1892, when the two clubs of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End “United” to become one.
- The side plays their home games at the 52,305 capacity St. James’ Park, located on a hill in the heart of Newcastle City Centre.
- The side has played in the Premier League in all bar three seasons since the competition made its debut in the 1992/93 season.
- With a total of 14 domestic and European trophies to their name, Newcastle United are currently the ninth most successful club in the history of English football.
- Newcastle have been English League champions twice, but never in the Premier League era – coming closest when giving up a 12-point lead to lose out to Manchester United in the 1995/96 season.
- The side's most recent win in a major domestic competition came when lifting the FA Cup back in 1955.
- More recently, Newcastle triumphed in the Texaco Cup of 1974 and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup of 1969. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of these competitions, as both have long ceased to exist.
- Alan Shearer is the club’s all-time leading scorer, with a total of 206 goals in 405 appearances. With 260 strikes in the top flight over the course of his career, Shearer is also the overall top scorer in the history of the Premier League.
- Other famous names to have worn the black and white stripes include Kevin Keegan, Paul Gascoigne, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Faustino Asprilla.
- The late Ghana International, Christian Atsu, served the Magpies well – racking up over 100 appearances for the club, between 2016 and 2021.
- Newcastle United’s biggest rivals are the Black Cats of Sunderland, with the Tyne-Wear derby being the most fiercely competitive game in North East football.
Takeover Sparks Improvement in Form
Newcastle United’s renaissance has been triggered by the long-awaited takeover, which was finally completed in October of 2021. The club is now owned by a consortium, which includes the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. That move instantly transformed the Magpies from perennial strugglers to the richest club on the planet - if measured solely by the wealth of their owners.
Whilst many may point to Newcastle United’s newfound wealth as the reason for their excellent season – and no doubt it has paid a roll – to cite that as the only contributing factor would be to do a disservice to the stellar work done by Eddie Howe and his coaching staff.
The future certainly looks bright for Newcastle United, and progress will surely only accelerate should the club qualify for the Champions League well ahead of schedule.