History of Newcastle United F.C.

For a statistical breakdown by season, see Newcastle United F.C. seasons.

Newcastle's 1910 FA Cup winning team

Newcastle United is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. Formed by a merger between Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End in 1892, the club was elected to the Football League, which they entered in 1893.

Newcastle are England's eighth most successful club of all time, four times League champions (in 1905, 1907, 1909 and 1927) and six times FA Cup winners (in 1910, 1924, 1932, 1951, 1952, and 1955). Newcastle have played in England's top league from 1898-1935, 1948-61, 1965–78, 1984–89, 1993–2009, and since 2010, playing in the second flight at all other times.

Newcastle also won the 1909 Charity Shield and the 1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, have been FA Cup runners-up seven times, and League Cup runners-up once (in 1976).

The Creation (1881-1895)

Club kit, 1892-94

Kit, 1894-97

During November 1881, the Stanley Cricket Club of South Byker decided to form an association football club. They won their first match 5-0 against Elswick Leather Works 2nd XI. Just under a year later, in October 1882, they changed their name to East End FC to avoid confusion with the cricket club in the town of Stanley, Co.Durham. Shortly after this, another Byker side, Rosewood FC, merged with East End to form an even stronger side. Meanwhile, across the city, another cricket club began to take an interest in football and in August 1882, they formed West End FC. West End played their early football on their cricket pitch, but later moved to St. James' Park.

West End soon became the city's premier club. East End were anxious not to be left behind and lured Tom Watson into becoming the club secretary/manager in the close season of 1888 and from that point, never looked back; Watson made several good signings, especially from Scotland, and the Heaton club went from strength to strength, while West End's fortunes slipped dramatically.

The region's first league competition was formed in 1889 and the FA Cup began to cause interest. Ambitious East End turned professional in 1889, a huge step for a local club, and in March 1890, they made an even more adventurous move by becoming a limited company with capital of 1,000 pounds in ten shilling notes. During the spring of 1892, in a season during which their results were at an all time low, and in which they had lost to their bitter rivals, East End, five times, West End found themselves in serious trouble. They approached East End with a view to a take over, the directors having decided that the club could no longer continue.

What actually happened was that West End wound up, while some of its players and most of its backroom staff joined East End. East End also took over the lease on St. James' Park. By December 1892, they decided to give the club a new name and a new image. At a public meeting, several new names, including Newcastle Rangers and Newcastle City, were suggested, before all agreed on Newcastle United. The FA agreed to the name change on 22 December, but the new title was not legalised until 6 September 1895, when Newcastle United Football Club Co. Ltd. was constituted.

The First Glory Era (1895-1914)

United then developed a side which became Edwardian England's master outfit, but not before the Tynesiders went through a worrying period due to lack of support at the turnstile and lack of money at the bank. But through the help of their directors the club was propped up and they survived to become a force in the game.

Newcastle started to purchase talented players, especially from Scotland, and soon had a squad to rival all of England. With players like Colin Veitch, Jackie Rutherford, Jimmy Lawrence and Albert Shepherd, the Black'n'Whites had a team of international talent. There was Bill McCracken, Jimmy Howie, Peter McWilliam and Andy Aitken too. All were household names in their day. However, in 1908 they faced the humiliation of a 9-1 home defeat to bitter local rivals Sunderland, still the record English home defeat to this day.

The Magpies lifted the League Championship on three occasions (in 1905, 1907, 1909). They also reached five FA Cup finals in the years leading up to World War I in 1914, winners in 1910, and FA Cup runners-up in 1905, 1906, 1908 and 1911. Geordie fans had enjoyed ten years of being the team everyone wanted to topple. United played a style of football celebrated in the game's history. It was possession football in an entertaining, rousing fashion.

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  Against Aston Villa in the 1905 FA Cup final.

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  Against Woolwich Arsenal, 1906 semi-final

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  1911-12 "Newcastle United AFC" squad

Interwar Success (1919-1939)

St James' Park, 1930

After World War I, the Twenties was just as eventful. The Black'n'Whites lifted the FA Cup at Wembley in 1924 defeating Aston Villa - only the second ever final to be staged at the famous stadium. Record signing & Scottish international centre-forward Hughie Gallacher captained United to another Championship trophy three years later in 1927, the last to date.

Famous names continued to pull on the Newcastle striped shirt. Apart from the legendary Gallacher (the most prolific goals per game scorer in the club's history), the Magpies fielded the likes of Neil Harris, Stan Seymour and Frank Hudspeth. Seymour was to become an influential figure for the next 40 years as player, manager and director.

It was back to Wembley in 1932 to compete in the infamous 'Over the Line' FA Cup final with Arsenal. United won the game 2-1 after scoring a goal following a cross from Jimmy Richardson which appeared to be hit from out of play - over the line. There were no action replays then and the referee allowed the goal, a controversial talking point in FA Cup history.

Newcastle boasted master players like Sammy Weaver and Jack Allen, as well as the first player-manager in the top division in Scottish international Andy Cunningham. But after glory at the Twin Towers of Wembley, Newcastle's form slumped and by 1934 they had been relegated for the first time in their history.

Amazingly in the same season as they fell into the Second Division, United defeated Liverpool 9-2 and Everton 7-3 within the space of a week! A rebuilding process took place in the years leading up to the Second World War and by that time former star winger Stan Seymour had been appointed to the Board of Directors. A determined character, he set the foundations of United's next great period.

The Wartime League (1939-1946)

Newcastle United won no Wartime League trophies, but Jackie Milburn made his debut in 1943 in a "Stripes vs Blues" match. Jackie's side was losing at half-time 3-0, but following a switch from midfielder to centre forward, he scored 6 goals to help them win the match 9-3. Jackie went on to score 38 goals in the next 3 years of the leagues life. A record many debate should stand among his 200 professional goals.

Postwar Success (1946-1978)

Ted Robledo, 1953; he appeared in the 1952 FA Cup Final-winning side alongside his brother George.

By the time peace was restored in 1945, Seymour was at the forefront of affairs, manager in all but name. He ensured that the Magpies possessed an entertaining eleven full of stars, a mix of home-grown talent like Jackie Milburn, Bobby Cowell and Ernie Taylor, as well as big signings in the shape of George Robledo, Bobby Mitchell, Joe Harvey, Len Shackleton and Frank Brennan.

Newcastle spent the first couple of years post-war in the Second Division. Crowds were high after the return to football, and in 1946 Newcastle recorded the joint-highest victory in English League Football history, defeating Newport County 13-0. Len Shackleton, playing his debut in that match, scored 6 goals in the match, another record for Newcastle.

Newcastle returned to the First Division in double quick time. Promotion was achieved in 1948 in front of vast crowds. An average of almost 57,000 at every home game saw United's fixtures that year, a national record for years to come. That was just the start of another period of success.

During the Fifties decade United lifted the FA Cup trophy on three occasions within a five year period. In 1951 they defeated Blackpool 2-0, a year later Arsenal were beaten 1-0 and in 1955 United crushed Manchester City 3-1. The Magpies were known in every corner of the country, and so were their players; 'Wor Jackie' Milburn and Bobby 'Dazzler' Mitchell the pick of a side that was renowned the nation over. Other players of this time were Frank Brennan (like Mitchell a Scot), Ivor Broadis, Len White and Welshman Ivor Allchurch.

Despite having quality players throughout the era, stars like Allchurch, White and George Eastham during the latter years of the decade, United slipped from the First Division in 1961 under the controversial management of ex-Manchester United star, Charlie Mitten. It was a huge blow to the club.

An old war-horse returned to revitalise the Magpies in the shape of Joe Harvey, who had skippered the club to much of their post-war success. He teamed up with Stan Seymour to rebuild United and the Black'n'Whites returned to the elite as Second Division Champions in 1965. United then became very much an unpredictable side, always capable of defeating the best, but never quite realising their huge potential until very recently.

Joe Harvey's side qualified for Europe for the first time in 1968 and stunned everyone the following year by lifting the Inter Cities Fairs Cup; the forerunner of the UEFA Cup. United possessed a solid eleven and Newcastle's tradition of fielding a famous Number 9 at centre-forward since earliest years continued as big Welshman Wyn Davies was prominent along with the likes of Pop Robson, Bobby Moncur and Frank Clark.

In the years that followed European success, manager Harvey brought in a string of talented entertainers who thrilled the Gallowgate crowd. Pleasers like Jimmy Smith, Tony Green and Terry Hibbitt. And especially a new centre-forward by the name of Malcolm Macdonald.

Nicknamed 'Supermac', Macdonald was one of United's greatest hero figures. Brash, arrogant and devastating in front of goal, he led United's attack to Wembley in 1974, against Liverpool in the FA Cup. But the Magpies failed to bring the trophy back to Tyneside, and a complete lack of success in any of the competitions the next season resulted in Joe Harvey being sacked in mid-1975.

Blackburn manager Gordon Lee was appointed to replace Harvey, and despite a mediocre league campaign in 1975-76, led the club to its only ever League Cup final, which ended in defeat by Manchester City. Despite Macdonald controversially being sold to Arsenal for a cut price deal, the following season saw United's best League campaign for years, and by Christmas the club looked to have an outside chance of winning the title. However, Lee walked out on the club to take over at Everton at the start of 1977, and inexperienced coach Richard Dinnis was put in charge of the team after the players demanded that he be given the job. United's form initially remained quite consistent under Dinnis, and they secured 5th place and a UEFA Cup spot at the end of the season. However, the team totally fell apart the following season, and Dinnis was sacked after a run of ten straight League defeats and a thumping UEFA Cup exit at the hands of French team SC Bastia. Bill McGarry took over as manager, but was powerless to prevent United from being relegated in statistically their worst season ever. The only mercy they had was Leicester City's terrible goal average preventing United from finishing bottom of the table.

Bouncing between divisions (1978-1992)

Arthur Cox

McGarry remained in charge of the club, but only managed two midtable finishes before being sacked in the wake of an uninspiring start to the 1980-81 season, and it was Arthur Cox who steered United back again to the First Division with ex England captain Kevin Keegan the focus of the side, having joined the Magpies in a sensational deal in 1982.

The football inspired by Keegan captivated Tyneside and United stormed into the top division in a style only bettered by Kevin's own brand of football as a manager in the next decade. Alongside Keegan were youngsters Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle, as well as more experienced and older players including Terry McDermott and David McCreery. The club was rocked however when Cox resigned after the board refused to offer him an improved contract, and, surprisingly, accepted an offer to take charge of Derby County - who had been relegated from the Second Division.

One of English footballs greatest talents, Paul Gascoigne or 'Gazza', emerged as a youngster at the club during this period, under manager Jack Charlton (who later went on to take Republic of Ireland to two World Cup finals tournaments). Asides from that, Charlton's reign as manager was short-lived and unpopular, and a year later former player Willie McFaul succeeded Charlton. Newcastle consolidated their place in Division One but then a period of selling their best players (Beardsley to Liverpool, and Waddle and Gazza both to Tottenham), rocked the club and led to supporter unrest, as did a share-war for control of the boardroom. The effect of this on the pitch soon proved evident, as McFaul was sacked after a shaky start to the 1988-89 season, and new boss Jim Smith proved unable to turn Newcastle around, resulting in them finishing at the foot of the first division for the first time ever.

United almost bounced back in the 1989-90 season, but struggled all season for consistency and missed out on automatic promotion by one place, before enduring a humiliating play-off exit at the hands of bitter rivals Sunderland. The intensifying boardroom battle soon took its toll on the club, and Smith resigned early in the following season with the side stuck in mid-table. Ossie Ardiles became the club's new manager, and despite being probably the club's most popular manager since Joe Harvey, presided over a terrible run of results over the next two seasons, resulting in United being at the foot of the second division by the time he lost his job in early 1992. With the club hovering on the brink of a further, potentially catastrophic, relegation Newcastle United needed a saviour. They not only found one, but two, as Sir John Hall and Kevin Keegan joined forces to salvage Newcastle's reputation.

From Keegan to Robson (1992-2004)

Kevin Keegan

When Kevin Keegan returned to Tyneside to replace Ardiles as manager on a short term contract on 5 February 1992, taking what he claimed to be the only job that could tempt him back into football, United were struggling at the wrong end of the old Second Division. Sir John Hall had all but taken control of the club and he needed a minor miracle to stop the Magpies from falling into the league's third tier for the first time in their history.

If Sir John was to transform the near bankrupt club they simply had to survive relegation. Just as before, Keegan's mere presence captivated the region. United's disgruntled supporters became excited, expectant ones over-night. St James' Park was regularly packed to capacity once again and United confirmed their Second Division survival with a win on the last day of the season. Hall now turned his attention to a masterplan to develop Newcastle United into one of the superclubs of Europe. Kevin Keegan stayed on as manager and both swung into action.

The club's finances were transformed; St James Park redeveloped into one of Europe's finest club stadiums, now accommodating over 52,000. Keegan brought in new players, including many international superstars. It was the start of an exciting five years under his guidance.

The initial modern St James's Park held just over 36,000 all-seated spectators, but this was a great deal less than such an ambitious club required, and in 1995 Hall announced that he was considering the possibility of moving the club to a new 50,000-seat stadium at Castle Leazes. However, the relocation never happened and the decision was made to expand the club's existing stadium instead.

Spearheaded by the prolific striker Andy Cole and David Kelly, who were ably supported by midfielders Paul Bracewell, Gavin Peacock, Rob Lee, and Brian 'Killer' Kilcline (a tough free transfer defender who Keegan later claimed was his best signing) Newcastle secured promotion to the Premier League by winning the First Division Championship, often simply overwhelming opponents along the way (a 7-1 victory over Leicester City being particularly memorable). The Magpies joined the elite for the 1993-94 season and very quickly became recognised as a serious force, claiming two second place spots and just missing out on the title over the next few seasons.

Newcastle United league positions, 1992-2009

The first team built up a reputation for playing an attacking, almost cavalier, brand of football under Keegan - their occasionally leaky defence was not a major problem, as the team could almost always score more than they conceded. In a shock move in January 1995 however, hugely influential striker Andy Cole joined Manchester United in £6 million exchange for £1Million midfielder Keith Gillespie. Fans were saddened and confused with Keegan for selling Cole, leading to Keegan publicly confronting the fans explaining his reasons for doing so.

Sir John Hall's millions allowed the club to invest heavily in players, and United's squad became a virtual all international one, containing players from across the globe. Exotic foreign players like David Ginola and Faustino Asprilla, and British stars like the popular and effective veteran Peter Beardsley, and striker Les Ferdinand brought glamour and excitement back to the North East.

Although Newcastle had a 10-point lead at Christmas in the 1995/96 season, Manchester United won the league by four points. The 'mind games' of Manchester's manager Alex Ferguson (who provoked an infamous live-on-TV rant from Keegan), that teams impressive post-Christmas form, or the alteration of Newcastle's direct attacking playing style, and of personnel, that was required to accommodate the mercurial, somewhat unpredictable Asprilla have all been blamed by supporters to explain the devastating capitulation that occurred that season. A more likely explanation is that their lack of defensive nous, coupled with occasional losses in winnable games, proved to be their undoing over the full season.

Alan Shearer

At the beginning of the 1996/1997 season, all of the club's summer spending would be used on one player, as Keegan beat Alex Ferguson to sign England international Alan Shearer for Newcastle, his home-town club. Thousands of fans welcomed him home outside the stadium, and he struck up a prolific partnership with fellow England international striker Les Ferdinand, albeit only for one season.

The club started the season on a low point being defeated by Manchester United 4-0 in the charity shield, but in a match which is still held in the highest regard by Newcastle fans and critics, Keegan hit back at Alex Ferguson's mind-games with a 5-0 thrashing of United in a premier league epic on 20 October 1996.

Keegan's resignation on 8 January 1997 came just days after a 7-1 victory for his club, against Tottenham Hotspur. Fans surrounded the stadium devastated at Keegan's deaparture, but many acknowledged it had been brewing for some time following the collapse of the 1995 season title race, and the fact that the Magpies were still looking like strong contenders for the 1996-97 Premiership title.

Keegan's replacement as manager was Kenny Dalglish, who it was felt would help solidify the team defensively. In their first half-season under his guidance Newcastle qualified for the 1997–98 Champions League but failed to win the title (see 1996–97 Newcastle United F.C. season).

Falling behind the pack

During the summer, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand were sold to Tottenham Hotspur, and in a pre-season friendly match Alan Shearer sustained a horrific ankle injury which would keep him out for half the 1997–98 season. Dalglish's several signings did not achieve the success of the players who had left. Despite a memorable 3-2 home win over Barcelona with a hat-trick by Tino Asprilla, and an FA Cup run, the team's Premier League form was poor and they were beaten in the FA Cup final 2-0 by Arsenal.

Kenny Dalglish's cautious brand of football proved unpopular with supporters used to Newcastle's previous swashbuckling style; more importantly this cautious style was not producing results. A poor start to the 1998/99 season led to Dalglish being sacked and replaced by Ruud Gullit. The team again started promisingly, and reached the FA Cup final that season. Unfortunately this time around they were to lose to Manchester United 2-0. Less forgivably, he also fell out with several senior players, including Alan Shearer, and the club captain Rob Lee. A humiliating loss to arch-rivals Sunderland, and a dreadful start to the 1999/00 season prompted his resignation.

Back with the leading pack

Bobby Robson

Veteran ex-England manager and self confessed Geordie, Bobby Robson was brought in to replace Gullit. His first home game in charge was particularly memorable and impressive; with an 8–0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, which remains the club's record Premier League home win. He ensured Newcastle's survival in the Premiership. This was achieved, with the expense of stylish attacking football and with Lee and Shearer back onside. For his first two seasons the club remained in the bottom half of the table, however during this period Robson built up an exciting young squad, as well as getting to an Inter-Toto Cup final against Troyes AC, which they lost on away goals after a 4-4 draw at home. Players such as Kieron Dyer (a Gullit signing), Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert ensured the team were capable of once again punching their weight in the league. An unlikely Top 4 challenge emerged in the 2001/2002 season, and Newcastle achieved qualification for the lucrative Champions' League finishing 4th Place.

The 2002/2003 season was a particularly colourful one for Newcastle on the European stage. In the first group stage, Newcastle lost their first three matches in a row, then won their last three, including a shock win over Italian giants Juventus 1-0 at St James' Park, to progress from the group in unlikely circumstances. In the second group phase they were eliminated by Barcelona in the last group game. United finished the season 3rd in the Premier League, entering the qualification rounds for the Champions League in the 2003/04 season.

The qualification rounds however did not see Newcastle through to the Champions League 2003/2004 season, they beat Partizan Belgrade 1-0 away from home, but then lost 1-0 at St James' Park and were eliminated via the penalty shootout. This defeat dropped Newcastle into the first round of the UEFA Cup. Newcastle reached the semi finals of the UEFA Cup in the 2003/2004 season, defeating NAC Breda, FC Basel, Vålerenga, Mallorca and PSV along the way, before eventually being knocked out by Olympique Marseille 2-0 on aggregate.

Newcastle finished 5th in the Premiership at the end of the 2003/2004 season, which ensured qualification for the UEFA Cup once again for the 2004/2005 season. Many fans were left disgruntled that United did not make it into the Champions League.

In and Out of Europe (2004-2007)

See also: Newcastle United F.C. season 2004-05, Newcastle United F.C. season 2005–06, and Newcastle United F.C. season 2006–07

Graeme Souness

After nearly five years in charge, Sir Bobby Robson was dismissed on August 30, 2004 following a very poor start to the 2004-05 season and alleged discontent in the dressing room. Graeme Souness replaced Robson on September 13, two days after the Magpies' match against Souness' former club Blackburn Rovers. After initial good results, the team soon became mired in the bottom half of the table, finishing in 14th place in 2004/05. Craig Bellamy (a main asset for the strike force) was loaned to Celtic for most of the season after telling team-mates he was going to fake an injury, for which he refused to apologise. Newcastle's dip in performance due to the absence of Shearer through injury worried fans, who debated whether Bellamy should have departed the club (he was sold to Blackburn the following season), and whether they could now match the quality of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Deportivo La Coruna knocked Newcastle out of the Intertoto Cup at the start of the 2005/06 season. Souness had sold Patrick Kluivert, Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Hughes, and Andy O'Brien in the summer. He signed Emre, Nolberto Solano (his second spell at Newcstle), Scott Parker and Craig Moore, as well as Albert Luque for £10 million, and in August 2005 Michael Owen for £17 million from Real Madrid, surpassing the previous club record £15 million for Alan Shearer.

Shearer and Owen gained a reputation as the most dangerous strike partnership in the Premiership, but a metatarsal injury to Owen stopped him from playing in most of the remainder of the season. In early February 2006, after poor results, manager Graeme Souness was sacked from his position as manager. Former players Shay Given, Robbie Elliot and Alan Shearer since stated that the fans never really took to him, as well as his favourism of players damaging the teams morale as well as injuries taking their toll had led to his departure.^{[citation needed]}

Glenn Roeder

United's Youth Academy Director, former West Ham United manager Glenn Roeder was put in charge as caretaker. Roeder guided the team from 15th place to 7th place by the end of the season; winning 9 out of the remaining 14 Premier League games, seeing the club qualify for the Intertoto Cup. Despite the exit from the FA Cup to Chelsea, Roeder was praised by the fans and critics for amazingly achieving a European spot having seen the prospect of a relegation battle when he joined. At the end of the season he was given a two year contract by chairman Freddie Shepherd. Alan Shearer, who had scored a club record 206 goals with Newcastle, retired at the end of the 2005/06 season.

The summer transfer window saw Roeder sign fan favourites Obafemi Martins from Inter Milan and Damien Duff from Chelsea. Michael Owen missed most of the season with a leg injury sustained during the World Cup 2006, one of several injuries in the Newcastle squad. Newcastle were embarrassed 5-1 at home by Birmingham City in an FA Cup replay, and lost in the UEFA Cup Round of 16 on away goals to AZ Alkmaar - but Newcastle did win that season's Intertoto Cup by progressing the furthest in the UEFA Cup of all the sides who qualified through the Intertoto.

There was discontent in the dressing room; more than one player refused to play in the final games of the season. Despite the long awaited return of Michael Owen on 30 April 2007 against Reading, results did not see them qualify for Europe, and Glenn Roeder resigned before the end of the 2006/07 season.

New ownership and Sam Allardyce

See also: 2007–08 Newcastle United F.C. season

Billionaire businessman Mike Ashley successfully acquired Sir John Hall's majority stakehold in the club in May 2007, taking over control from chairman Freddie Shepard, who appointed ex-Bolton boss Sam Allardyce as Newcastle manager, before Shepherd was also forced to sell his stake to Ashley. Ashley brought in lawyer Chris Mort as club chairman.

Allardyce signed David Rozehnal, Claudio Cacapa, Habib Beye, Alan Smith, Joey Barton and Mark Viduka. The season started well for Newcastle, but thereafter they won only 5 Premier League games out of 25. In January 2008, three days after an FA Cup draw with Championship club Stoke City, Allardyce was surprisingly sacked by owner Mike Ashley after pressure from the fans, who were unimpressed with his exclusion of fan favourites from the starting line-up and poor results.

Keegan's brief return (2008)

See also: 2007–08 Newcastle United F.C. season

It was announced on 16 January 2008 that Kevin Keegan would be returning to the club for a third time, after previous spells both as a player and manager. Shortly after his appointment, Dennis Wise left his position as Manager at Leeds United and was hired by Ashley as Newcastle director of football, a new role at the club. Tony Jimenez joined the club as vice president of player recruitment, and Jeff Vetere became technical co-ordinator. The arrangement proved questionable among the critics and fans, but both Wise and Keegan insisted that the manager would have the final say in all matters regarding the squad.

Keegan's comeback initially did not live up to expectations, with a run of 8 games without a win, an FA Cup exit, and talk even of a relegation dog fight. But a 7-game unbeaten run meant Newcastle finished in 12th place on 43 points.

In May 2008, Keegan announced that Champions League football or title challenges would not be possible unless Ashley, who was rumoured to have lost millions in a stock venture, provided him with the financial backing he required.

At the start of the next season, 2008–09, James Milner left Newcastle for Aston Villa. Keegan claimed he was not consulted about Milner's contract renewal. Keegan tendered his resignation on 4 September, citing a lack of control over transfers and interference from the board, reflecting upon Milner's sale and the arrival of Xisco, a player he claimed to have known nothing about. Public anger was directed at Ashley, Wise, Jimenez, and chairman Derek Llambias, who were seen to have forced Keegan out of the club.

A legal battle developed between Ashley and Keegan, with Ashley rumoured to be claiming damage to his public image and Keegan claiming for breach of contract, with backing from the League Managers Association. Keegan eventually received £2 million compensation from the club.

Relegation from the premiership (2008-2009)

See also: 2008–09 Newcastle United F.C. season

Assistant manager Chris Hughton took over as caretaker manager for several weeks, but Newcastle lost all their league matches. On September 26, 2008 Joe Kinnear was appointed "interim manager", but he quickly fell out with the media. Under Kinnear, Newcastle managed 5 wins, 10 draws, and 11 losses, but in February he was hospitalised with heart problems, and Hughton once again took charge of the team.

Mike Ashley then brought in club icon Alan Shearer as the club's interim-manager on 1 April. Director of football Dennis Wise resigned and was not replaced. Shearer hired Iain Dowie as his assistant coach and began his reign facing Chelsea at St.James Park, which Newcastle lost 2-0. A further two defeats and two draws left the club second from bottom. Shearer recorded his first victory on 11 May against fellow strugglers Middlesbrough, beating them 3-1, but the following week Newcastle slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by Fulham, and, in the final game of the season, a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Newcastle United were relegated to the championship for the first time since 1993.

Owner Mike Ashley announced that he would try to sell the club, saying "It has been catastrophic for everybody. I’ve lost my money and I’ve made terrible decisions. Now I want to sell it as soon as I can." Dennis Wise claimed the club were still paying him £80,000 a month in severance pay, one of several financial factors that made the club unattractive to buyers.

Return to the Premiership (2009 - date)

Newcastle players celebrate the club's promotion in 2010

With no new owner and no player signings, Newcastle sold several players before beginning the 2009–10 season in the Championship With neither Shearer nor Keegan enthusiastic about returning as manager, Chris Hughton was appointed permanent manager in October 2009. On the same day, Ashley announced that the club was no longer for sale. Hughton led Newcastle to win the 2009–10 Football League Championship, securing automatic promotion on 5 April 2010 with five games remaining, and securing the title on 19 April 2010; Newcastle's Kevin Nolan was named the Championship player of the year.

In the 2010–11 season, Chris Hughton was controversially sacked on 6 December 2010 following Newcastle's 3–1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion. The club's board stated that "the board now feels an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward." Peter Beardsley was appointed caretaker manager until 9 December 2010, when Alan Pardew was appointed as manager, on a five and a half-year contract On 31 January 2011, striker Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool for a club record of £35 million. Despite the loss of their top scorer of the season, Newcastle were able to finish 12th at the end of the 2010–11 Premier League, and Pardew remained manager (see 2011–12 Newcastle United F.C. season).

Chairman history

As of 5 August 2008

Name	Nat	From	To
George Rutherford		1936	1953
Wilf Taylor		1953	1957
William McKeag		1957	1960
Wally Hurford		1960	1963
Lord Westwood		1963	1978
Bob Rutherford		1978	1981
Stan Seymour Junior		1981	1988
Gordon McKeag		1988	1990
George Forbes		1990	1992
Sir John Hall		1992	1997
Freddy Shepherd		1997	2007
Chris Mort		2007	2008
Derek Llambias (Managing Director)		2008	Present

See also

• Newcastle United F.C. in Europe