Newcastle United F.C.

The club began life as Stanley in 1881. Due to confusion with the commercial company they altered the name to Newscastle East End in 1882. They merged with Rosewood club at a later date. The St. James stadium was at that time used by the Newcastle West End football club. They went out of existence in 1889. This remaining members of the west end club invited the east end club to use the St. James ground.

The east end club accepted, and members of each club agreed the call the new club Newcastle United. The beginning of the 1900's was a successful period for the club, the 1910 FA Cup winning side included nine international players for example. The two which were not capped were internationals by the following season. The 1950's was another successful time for the club, they U won the FA Cup trophy on three occasions.

The team featured perhaps the most famous player in the clubs history, Jackie Milburn. They also won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968, the only European trophy the club has ever won. The 70's also saw another powerful Newcastle side which featured Malcolm Macdonald, they reached two FA Cup but failed to bring any silverware back to Newcastle. The 80's was largely a disappointing decade for the club, a Kevin Keegan inspired team did win the second division title. But apart from this the club went into decline.

The return of Keegan as manager in 1992 saw the fortunes of club dramatically improved. Gaining promotion to the Premier League they played an exciting and attacking style of football. They finished 3rd in their first season in the big league, sixth the season after, and narrowly missed out on winning the league in 1996. Top for the majority of the season, nerves got the better of the team, and a strong finish by Man Utd sealed their fate. The club then signed Alan Shearer for a then world record transfer fee of £15 million.

A native of the city, not since the days of Jackie Milburn was a player so loved and adored by the fans. After Keegan left the club Kenny Dalglish and Ruud Gullit spent unsuccessful and short periods as manager. Sir Bobby Robson did improved results as manager, finishing 4th place during one season. Silverware has still alluded the club however. Managers Graeme Souness, Glenn Roeder and Sam Allardyce have come and gone.

The fans remain restless for silverware, in a passionate football mad city the managers job has become somewhat of a poisoned chalice. Kevin Keegan has returned as manager for 2008, time will tell whether he can turn the club's fortunes around for a third time. Without doubt one of England's most under achieving club.